IT Services in San Antonio: Cloud Provider vs. Managed Service Provider

One of the most important things to consider when looking for IT services in San Antonio is what type of services you need. Cloud providers and managed service providers (MSPs) offer different services. Depending on the size of your company and what kind of industry you’re in, one may be a better fit for you than the other. Here are the differences between the two types of IT provider:

What is a Cloud Provider?

A cloud provider gives you access to the cloud via some type of data storage technology. This is generally either some type of infrastructure framework or a software. Cloud providers set up all the cloud access points for your business; generally, that includes tools like Google Drive, AWS, and Salesforce. Unlike an MSP, they don’t customize these tools for you.

Why Go with a Cloud Provider?

If you don’t need customization or ongoing management for your cloud software, a cloud provider is ideal because it’s very affordable. You’re only paying for the installation and basic maintenance, as opposed to complete customization, so in the long run, it’s the best choice for businesses on a budget. If you have people in-house who can manage and upgrade the cloud framework themselves, you can still completely maximize the services available without spending the extra money.

What is an MSP?

While an MSP also offers cloud solutions for businesses, they go much further by offering customization and management of their products. MSPs are much more hands-off than basic cloud providers.

Why go with an MSP?

An MSP will help your company decide exactly what solutions are right for you and implement them quickly and smoothly. This is ideal for larger businesses that require complex IT services in San Antonio that are very specific to their needs. An MSP also does virtually all of the setup and maintenance work for you, so you don’t need to use your resources to maintain your cloud infrastructure. An MSP is a good option for companies of any size who don’t have IT professionals in-house who can keep the cloud software on track.

MSPs also provide extra security features that you won’t get with a basic cloud services provider. This is very important for businesses who need to protect secure data, such as financial information or secure customer details. Many MSPs will also customize their services to fit the specific industry of their customers, which is very helpful for companies in industries like finance, healthcare, and technology that may have unique requirements.

The decision of whether to use a cloud provider or an MSP is important for your company, and not to be taken lightly. It’s important to note that you can change your cloud storage solutions over time to fit the needs of your company as you grow. At ICS, our IT services in San Antonio are widely available, so contact us now to explore the specific IT solutions your business needs.

Jason Simons

ICS is a Texas-based 40-year-old technology company specializing in Managed IT, VoIP, Video Conferencing and Video Surveillance solutions for US and International businesses. ICS has over 4000 regional installations and specializes in multi-site businesses between 25 and 2500 employees. ICS’s customers enjoy the experience of ICS’s Total Care program which provides clients flat fee services with obsolescence and growth protection. Whether a customer elects to deploy their IT, Video Conferencing or VoIP in the cloud or on the customer’s premise, ICS can provide a full turn-key solution for our clients under one flat monthly fee.