As a business owner, you, your team, and your managed service provider (MSP) all share a common interest: ensuring your IT systems run smoothly. However, the key to success lies in understanding and clearly defining who is responsible for what. Without this clarity, the result could be confusion, finger-pointing, and inefficiencies. This article will help you understand the roles, compare IT solutions, and move forward confidently in managing your business’s IT needs.
The IT Responsibility Gap: A Common Problem
A well-functioning business relies on everyone understanding their role and responsibilities. When things aren’t clear, problems arise:
-
A critical software update gets missed. Is it the MSP’s responsibility for not flagging it? The internal team’s fault for not reporting the issue? Or perhaps, your responsibility for not setting clear expectations?
-
A security breach happens. Was it due to an employee falling for phishing, or did the MSP fail to implement proper security measures?
Such unclear lines of responsibility can lead to confusion, inefficiency, and ultimately, more IT problems than solutions. In fact, a recent study found that employees with clear role definitions reported better results:
-
86% felt highly effective in their roles
-
84% had a strong desire to stay with the company
-
75% expressed satisfaction with leadership
The solution to this problem starts by understanding the roles of three key players.
Who is Responsible for IT?
There are three main groups involved in ensuring the success of your IT setup. The following guidelines will help you understand where each party’s responsibilities lie:
1. You (The Business Owner or Manager)
As the business owner or manager, you act as the project manager for IT success. You are responsible for setting IT goals, priorities, and budgets. You also make decisions regarding services and tools, define policies, and arrange training for your team.
2. Your Internal Team
Your internal team includes both employees who use the technology and any in-house IT staff. While the internal team can handle tasks like equipment setup, updates, and troubleshooting, they must also comply with IT policies, report issues quickly, and stay updated on training.
3. Your Managed Service Provider (MSP)
Your MSP acts as your partner in IT. They help with the heavy lifting when it comes to maintenance, security, and advanced support. They offer proactive maintenance, cybersecurity, IT planning, scaling, and technical support, helping your business stay ahead of potential IT challenges.
Common Overlap Scenarios: Who Handles What?
In some situations, it can be hard to determine who’s responsible for certain tasks. Below are some examples to clarify:
-
Cybersecurity
-
You: Establish security policies, enforce compliance, and provide training.
-
Internal Team: Follow best practices such as avoiding phishing scams and using strong passwords.
-
MSP: Manage patching, firewalls, monitoring, and real-time threat detection.
-
-
Help Desk Support
-
You: Set expectations for response times and communicate these to the MSP and your staff.
-
Internal Team: Perform initial troubleshooting and report issues internally.
-
MSP: Resolve IT issues up to a certain level (e.g., level 1 and 2 issues).
-
-
Software Management
-
You: Make decisions about which software tools to use, ensuring they align with business goals.
-
Internal Team: Use the software effectively and report any issues that arise.
-
MSP: Ensure the software is updated, licenses are monitored, and integrations function smoothly. They also manage vendor relationships for critical software tools.
-
Warning Signs That Roles Need Clarification
It’s important to recognize when roles might not be clearly defined. Here are some red flags that indicate you may need to revisit responsibilities with your team and MSP:
-
Recurring Issues: Problems that keep resurfacing without clear ownership of who’s responsible for resolving them.
-
Blame Shifting: Employees or MSPs blaming one another for unresolved issues or delays.
-
Missed Updates: Critical updates are overlooked, leading to system vulnerabilities or outages.
-
Slow Resolutions: Problems linger because everyone assumes someone else will take care of them.
-
Security Risks: Insufficient training or unenforced security policies.
If you’re seeing any of these issues, it’s time to define your team’s roles more clearly.
Working with the Right MSP
Choosing the right MSP can make a significant difference in maintaining a proactive IT strategy. A reliable MSP is more than just a service provider—it’s a partner invested in your business’s success. Here’s how to identify a great MSP:
1. Proactive Communication
A good MSP keeps you informed about system health, updates, and potential issues. They should provide regular reports and check-ins, keeping you in the loop about what’s happening in your IT environment.
2. Education and Support
An MSP that is genuinely invested in your business will educate you and your team, helping you handle basic IT problems and build technical skills. While they will still handle more complex issues, this empowers you to resolve minor challenges on your own.
3. Customized Support
The best MSPs provide tailored support that complements your internal team. If you have an in-house IT expert, they can take care of basic troubleshooting, allowing the MSP to focus on more advanced tasks such as cybersecurity and infrastructure planning.
4. Scalability
As your business grows, so will your IT needs. A strong MSP partner helps you scale without the hassle of hiring more IT staff. They can also support the onboarding of new employees and help implement cloud-based solutions that adapt to your growing workforce.
5. Transparency and Accountability
Your MSP should be clear about their responsibilities in the service level agreement (SLA) and provide transparent reports detailing the work they’ve done. Accountability is key to building trust and ensuring a long-term partnership.
Conclusion
Defining roles and responsibilities between you, your internal team, and your MSP is essential for a smooth-running IT system. When everyone knows their responsibilities, IT problems are resolved quickly, and your business can run efficiently. Partnering with the right MSP can enhance your IT strategy, provide peace of mind, and allow you to focus on growing your business.