October 23, 2024

What Are the Key Features to Look for in NoC Services for MSPs?

Patricia Arcilla

Patricia is a content writer for STAFFVIRTUAL. She’s been interested in writing since she realized...

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As a managed service provider (MSP), you’re aware that managing your client’s IT infrastructure is a big deal. It’s your bread and butter, but more than that, it’s your reputation. Your clients count on you to keep their networks running smoothly, secure from threats, and ready to grow.

But finding the right network operations center (NoC) provider isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds. There are many options, each offering different features, promises, and tools. The trick is identifying which NoC services will give you an edge.

One thing we know for sure is that downtime is expensive — very expensive. According to Information Technology Intelligence Consulting, a minute of IT downtime costs at least $5,000. It’s also possible that a severe outage can cost your business a whopping $1 million per hour (or $16,700 per server, per minute). That’s a serious hit to your business’ and clients’ bottom line that you can’t risk.

With stakes this high, partnering with a top-notch NoC provider isn’t just nice to have. The right NoC service for MSPs can keep your clients’ networks humming along, help you detect issues before they escalate, and give you the flexibility to scale as your business grows.

So, what should you be looking for in a NoC service? Let’s break it down feature by feature.

24/7 Network Monitoring and Proactive Management

Your clients expect their networks to be operational around the clock. No one cares about the why when they’re dealing with downtime. Whether it’s the middle of the night or during peak usage hours, your clients want things to work, and they expect you to keep it that way. That’s why 24/7 network monitoring is crucial.

But network monitoring alone isn’t enough. What makes the difference is proactive management; fixing problems before they even get noticed. Think of it like a constant safety net for your clients’ infrastructure.

The right NoC provider acts as your eyes and ears, keeping a close watch on things while letting you focus on other parts of the business. Proactive management also means fewer outages and fewer urgent phone calls at 3 a.m. when something goes wrong.

This level of monitoring and management saves time, prevents costly downtime, and checks that issues are identified and handled before they spiral into larger problems. As a result, your clients trust that their network will keep running without a hitch. You can spend your time focusing on expanding your business rather than troubleshooting all day.

Instant Incident Detection and Swift Resolution

Speed is very important in network management. The faster you catch an issue, the faster you can fix it. And when you’re managing multiple clients, things can go south very quickly if you don’t have a system in place for instant incident detection. In fact, IBM found that only 26% of organizations have a cybersecurity incident response plan.

A solid NoC provider helps you deal with issues the moment they arise. This leads to problems being detected immediately. But detection alone isn’t the goal — what really matters is fast resolution. The longer a problem lingers, the bigger it gets.

If your NoC agency can’t respond quickly, the issue might snowball, causing costly downtime or, worse, permanent damage to your client’s infrastructure.

It’s not enough to just know when something is wrong either. You need a team in place that can quickly take action and resolve the issue. The right NoC partner offers both incident detection and quick solutions, giving you the tools to respond effectively, even during emergencies.

Scaling Your NoC Services with Your Growing Business

Growth is the ultimate goal for any MSP, but rapid growth can also present new challenges. As you take on more clients, the complexity of managing their networks increases. More clients mean more devices, more threats, and more data to track.

A NoC service that can adapt to your business guarantees that you never have to turn away a client because your systems can’t handle the workload. Scaling requires flexibility. Your NoC provider should be able to handle everything from small startups to larger enterprise-level clients without missing a beat.

Can they manage multiple clients at once without sacrificing performance? Can they expand their services as your clients’ needs grow? These are the questions you should be asking.

If your NoC provider isn’t ready to grow with you, you’ll run into bottlenecks. And in a competitive market, those bottlenecks can cost you clients. Choose a provider that allows you to scale easily and doesn’t limit your potential.

Strengthening Security with Advanced Threat Detection

Every business today is worried about security and for a good reason. The number of cyberattacks grows every year, and the damage from a single breach can devastate a company. Data from the Identity Theft Resource Center shared by Forbes revealed that there have been 343,338,964 victims of cyberattacks in 2023.

For MSPs, your clients are trusting you to protect their sensitive data. If you can’t offer them top-notch security, they’ll look elsewhere.

This is where advanced threat detection comes in. A NoC provider that excels in security watches for known threats and has systems to detect new and emerging threats. Cyberattacks evolve constantly, and the only way to stay ahead of them is by leveraging cutting-edge technology.

Data from the IBM 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report shows that the average cost of a breach worldwide is around US $4.88 million. It’s easy to see why threat detection isn’t something you can afford to overlook. A NoC provider that offers advanced security measures will help keep your clients safe and give you peace of mind.

Smooth Integration with Existing IT Infrastructure

Your clients most likely have existing infrastructure in place, and as an MSP, you can’t afford to work with a NoC provider that makes you change everything just to accommodate them. Your NoC partner should integrate seamlessly with your client’s current IT systems.

A provider that offers smooth integration saves time and effort. It also means you won’t need to spend days (or weeks) reconfiguring everything just to make it work. Integration should be smooth, efficient, and painless. This makes your job easier and lessens any disruptions for your clients.

When evaluating a potential partner, ask about their integration process. Do they work with the systems you already have? Do they offer support if issues arise during integration? These questions will help you ensure that the NoC service you choose fits with your client’s needs without adding more complexity to your role.

Actionable Insights Through Comprehensive Reporting and Analytics

One of the biggest benefits of a great NoC provider is the data they can offer you. But it’s not just about collecting it. It’s also turning that data into something useful. Comprehensive reporting and analytics give you the insights you need to improve your clients’ networks.

Good reports go beyond the surface too. They show you where the weaknesses lie, highlight potential threats, and provide actionable steps you can take to optimize performance. The right outsourcing firm doesn’t just tell you what happened; they give you the tools to prevent issues from happening in the first place.

These insights allow you to stay one step ahead so that your clients’ networks run smoothly and efficiently. Plus, when it comes time to show clients what you’ve done, these detailed reports are a great way to demonstrate the value you bring to the table.

Choosing the Right NoC Service for Your MSP

The decision to partner with a NoC provider isn’t one to take lightly. Because it’s about more than just monitoring networks. You need to find an agency that can help your business grow.

A well-suited NoC provider does more than just keep an eye on things. They should actively help you manage and improve your clients’ networks, giving you the tools you need to succeed.

The right provider will offer 24/7 monitoring, fast incident detection, scalability, advanced threat detection, seamless integration, and detailed analytics. They’ll not only meet your current needs but also be prepared to grow alongside you as your business expands.

Choosing the right NoC partner gives you the freedom to focus on your clients, knowing that their networks are in good hands. With the right NoC service, you can build stronger relationships with your clients, improve your services, and take your business to new heights.

Take Action with STAFFVIRTUAL

Your MSP deserves a NoC partner that does more than just the basics. You need a service that offers real value — like all the features we’ve mentioned here. STAFFVIRTUAL can help you achieve all of that and more.

Our NoC services are designed to help MSPs like yours deliver top-notch network management while staying ahead of the competition. Here’s what we do for you when you partner with us: