With the proliferation of new applications and cloud computing, how can an enterprise keep up? One way is through managed network services. Today, managed services include more than just outsourced network services.

Here is a look at where managed services is headed. In each case, there is the “old” perspective and the new way of looking at managed services within the enterprise.

OLD NEW
IT expense                                                Business ROI
Network expertise                                   Application expertise
Network management                           Services in the Cloud
2-year lifecycle                                         6-month lifecycle
Solution-provider partners                    Hosting-centric partners
Proprietary software                               Open Source

Return on Investment (ROI) – The true value proposition for managed services is realized when business operations are improved. While the benefits of traditional network managed services still remain –  such as the freeing of IT resources to focus on more strategic initiatives – business benefits are even greater.  Business continuity, for one, allows the enterprise to operate seamlessly. This touches everyone, from customers, shareholders, and to employees.

Application Expertise – Enterprise IT organizations are rich with professionals with extraordinary network expertise. What is also needed today are professionals with a wide range of application expertise. This is because the number of applications developed and adopted by users (employees, customers, shareholders ) is exploding. MSPs are potential partners to complement an organization’s internal application expertise.

Cloud Services – It is no surprise that the cloud is becoming king. Not long ago, managed services meant the outsourcing of network management and to some degree managed security services. Today, services such as application management, software as a service, and others can be managed in the cloud. This is transforming business and providing new benefits. For example, with cloud services, enterprises pay only for the services they use, when they need them, and enterprises have access to updates and new technology at a fraction of the cost.

Competitive Lead Time – First to market used to mean a generous competitive lead time. Today, not so much.  Just look how quickly a new business application comes onto the market … and with managed and cloud services how quickly these applications can be distributed throughout the enterprise. With so many choices, enterprises must discern which new technologies are relevant to their own business.