Company that remotely manages a customer's IT infrastructure and systems on an ongoing basis.
A Managed Service Provider (MSP) delivers IT services to businesses on a subscription basis, typically including monitoring, maintenance, security, and support for infrastructure, networks, and applications. MSPs provide predictable IT costs through fixed monthly fees, access to expertise without hiring full-time staff, and proactive management that prevents problems rather than just reacting to them. Modern MSPs increasingly incorporate security services, evolving toward the MSSP model.
Why It Matters
The DSC Perspective:
MSPs enable businesses to access enterprise-grade IT capabilities without building large internal teams. For SMEs especially, an MSP provides expertise, tools, and coverage that would be impossible to achieve independently.