Did you know how much organizations spend on cloud infrastructure services? Well, research says it could cross more than $55 billion this year. When organizations use cloud services like Azure, it is important to set things up correctly. If not, it can cost a lot of money. That is why finding the right team to manage these services is super important.

Azure Managed Service Providers are helpful companions for companies shifting to the cloud. They guide businesses through every step of their cloud journey, from giving advice to moving data, managing operations, and beyond. This article helps you find the best Azure managed service providers with expert skills around DevOps, automation, and cloud-native application design to meet your customer demand and requirements.

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Understanding Azure Managed Service Providers

Managed service providers (MSPs) are external entities that offer services for operating, maintaining, and addressing issues within systems, tools, or environments. They allow you to delegate IT responsibilities and expertise, especially when internal resources are lacking. Additionally, MSPs are beneficial for those who prefer not to allocate energy or resources to basic IT tasks.

Traditionally, MSPs focused on fundamental system tasks like monitoring and troubleshooting. However, they have expanded their offerings to include software delivery, data security, and cloud migration. Leading MSPs such as IBM and Accenture now remotely oversee entire IT infrastructures for clients.

MSPs facilitate scalability, simplify resource deployments, offer 24/7 monitoring, and provide access to cutting-edge technologies, irrespective of complexity. They are particularly valuable for organizations transitioning to cloud services, as MSPs can manage workloads remotely.

6 Things to Check While Choosing an Azure Managed Service Provider

1. Domain knowledge or expertise

Before deciding to partner with Azure Managed Service Providers, it’s crucial to ensure they possess comprehensive knowledge and expertise across all facets of Microsoft Azure. Look for MSPs that hold an advanced status, such as Azure Cloud Platform Gold Partner, as this indicates an elevated level of proficiency. A reputable Azure MSP should demonstrate extensive experience in strategizing, implementing, and overseeing Azure solutions, along with holding essential certifications and adhering to best practices. Evaluating an Azure partner involves examining:

Microsoft Partner status.

The depth of Azure practice expertise.

Certifications and experience of both the MSP and its team members.

The range of solutions and services offered, tailored to specific requirements.

Beyond Azure, a top-tier MSP should possess a nuanced understanding of the cloud hosting industry, with two decades of impeccable, relevant experience.

2. How to extract complete value of Azure

Azure managed service providers can play a pivotal role in guiding organizations towards selecting the optimal Azure services tailored to their needs. By assessing your current infrastructure and application architecture, an experienced MSP can identify areas primed for enhancement and fine-tuning to leverage Azure’s scalability effectively. This approach mitigates the risk of common pitfalls and negates the need for a complete infrastructure overhaul to reap the maximum benefits of Azure. Through strategic consultation, an MSP can expedite the migration process while ensuring that your organization derives maximum value from the transition.

Consider the following inquiries:

• Can the MSP recommend the most suitable Azure services for my organization’s requirements?
• How would these services bolster the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations?
• What specific adjustments should be made to our existing IT infrastructure to seamlessly integrate with Azure?

3. End-to-end support

When evaluating Azure managed service partners, it’s crucial to consider several factors to ensure they can provide the services and support necessary for your organization’s growth and success.

Firstly, assess the range of services offered by the MSP partner, particularly in terms of planning and cloud readiness. Look for comprehensive offerings that include pre-sales consultation, infrastructure audit, and tailored planning for Azure migration.

Secondly, consider the solutions and services mix provided by the MSP to support priority applications. Evaluate whether they offer Remote Infrastructure Monitoring & Management (RIMM) capabilities, which are essential for proactive monitoring and management of your cloud infrastructure.

Also, ask about a 24×7 Network Operations Center (NOC) availability to ensure continuous monitoring and support for seamless performance.

Lastly, inquire about the level of expertise and support available from the MSP to customize or modify your existing Azure deployment. You will want assurance that they have skilled professionals who can assist with any customization or changes required to optimize your Azure environment for your specific needs. 

4. Managing Communications & Technical Assistance

An essential aspect of an Azure Managed Service Provider involves leveraging its expertise to support your organization through effective communication with your team. Ideally, the MSP should designate a dedicated manager or Single Point of Contact (SPOC) who comprehends your organizational requirements, ensuring optimal outcomes from Azure deployment.

A successful Azure MSP will offer round-the-clock support through diverse communication channels to address any challenges encountered during the integration of Microsoft Azure, thereby ensuring seamless operational continuity for your organization.

Some pertinent inquiries include:

• Will the MSP provide a dedicated manager for your organization?
• Can your organization access 24/7 support?
• What are the available communication channels for receiving support services? 

5. Providing prompt service on time

Make sure your Azure Managed Service Provider offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to your needs. These should include proactive, continuous monitoring for your systems and applications, covering aspects like application performance, log monitoring and alerts, and overall system health.

Additionally, a reliable Azure managed service partner should provide support operations management, identity and access management, configuration assistance, and robust backup and disaster recovery support. By partnering with an Azure MSP, you gain access to a suite of services that facilitate smooth operations within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem.

Consider the following questions when evaluating potential MSPs:

• What specific Microsoft Azure solutions and services does your MSP offer?
• How does the MSP assist in planning, preparing, and managing Azure deployments?
• What solutions does the MSP provide to support agile business environments in the future?
• How does the MSP enhance existing Microsoft Azure setups to scale performance according to your organization’s needs? 

6. Cost optimization

Azure managed service is a potential partner to help you with cost savings. It supports your organization by providing efficient services at a competitive price rather than hiring full-time internal staff. It may also provide free services on a limited period trial basis.

Your chosen Azure managed services should work optimally by deploying analytics to know your usage and help you precisely predict your cloud demand. Hence, it will be easier to find a solution according to your needs and pay for that only. This will also give you an option to take more or fewer services from the MSP as your organization evolves in the future.

Conclusion

Selecting the right Azure Managed Service Provider in 2024 is crucial for maximizing the benefits of cloud services. By thoroughly evaluating factors such as expertise, reliability, security measures, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and support offerings, organizations can ensure they partner with an MSP that aligns with their unique requirements and long-term goals. With the right Azure managed provider by their side, businesses can confidently navigate the complexities of cloud management, optimize performance, and drive innovation to stay competitive in today’s dynamic digital landscape.

Happy Learning!!