MSP or RMM

[215HAN]

Hi

 

I’m wanting to know thoughts/opinions on whether a MAT should opt for a MSP or RMM.

 

If RMM, what do you recommend.

To any other MAT’s in this forum, what are you using?

Thanks

Edited November 27, 2023 by 215HAN

[Roberto]

I’m not going to say a MSP can’t work, but I would say that MSPs need to have very specific, very tightly defined SLAs, be managed by an extremely knowledgeable contact, etc, and ultimately are going to be acting in their en best interests and not those of the schools, staff, and students they’re supporting, which is a huge difference between them and directly employed staff that cannot be understated.

 

I do feel strongly that services like IT are ripe for centralised management and streamlining in a MAT, but ultimately you still want staff who are properly invested in success of the schools and that means well trained, properly compensated and directly employed.

Edited November 28, 2023 by Roberto

[Jcx500]

If your going for an RMM , definitely would recommend n-able n central

[Aprice]

We use Syncro as our RMM software. It's priced per admin rather than per endpoint, so was rather cost effective for us.

Does all the Helpdesk side of stuff as well.

[215HAN]

Thank you for your responses.

 

We’re looking into a few RMM solutions with Syncro being one of them.

[Oaktech]

Our MAT provides N-Able for onsite devices and Rubrik for cloud. Both are excellent, Rubrik is a bit over-spec for the job we ask it to do to be honest.

[215HAN]

Our MAT provides N-Able for onsite devices and Rubrik for cloud. Both are excellent, Rubrik is a bit over-spec for the job we ask it to do to be honest.

 

How does it compare to Syncro? I’m assuming its cost is higher. Could be wrong

[Oaktech]

Rubrik was more more expensive against Syncro but it is really very good to use! N-Able very similar in price

[215HAN]

Rubrik was more more expensive against Syncro but it is really very good to use! N-Able very similar in price

 

N-Able similar in price to Syncro or Rubrik?

[snagrat]

Syncro here as well.

 

Constant moans on the Fb group but most of which we don’t use - like billing

[215HAN]

Syncro here as well.

 

Constant moans on the Fb group but most of which we don’t use - like billing

 

What’s the FB group called?

[snagrat]

What’s the FB group called?

 

Syncro User Group

[XiJ]

Going back to the OP, I work for an MSP which is an education specialist and so only supports schools. It’s fair to say there’s a huge variance in MSP’s out there but I think an Education specific one suits the schools better.

 

For example we have not only techs and account managers but but dedicated project managers and ex teachers who help with training needs. Training is a huge part of what we do.

 

If you’re going MSP route, communication is key. If it’s not a true partnership it doesn’t work for either party. The MSP needs to understand your school/trust and where you want to go. How can IT help that along etc.

 

For RMM I’m a big Datto fan. I’ve used it at a couple of places now and find it can do an awful lot to automate things. Especially using a bit of powershell / scripting.

[KarlGoddard]

I've been looking at RMM for a short period now... not wanting to get deluged with sales phone calls, I've not taken the plunge and touched base with any of the RMM companies recommend to me (Datto / N-Able mainly)

 

What sort of pricing model do they tend to employ? Endpoint / per admin?

 

Without asking for business ops information but what sort of figure is a ballpark figure for a secondary? (probably asking how long a piece of string is....)

[Edu-IT]

https://www.action1.com/

 

Worth a look. Just started to give it a try and seems really good. Free for up to 100 endpoints too.

[215HAN]

We’ve looked at Syncro and Atera which pricing is based on per user with unlimited endpoints.

 

Ninjas price model is per device which amounts to quite a lot of £££.

[215HAN]

Going back to the OP, I work for an MSP which is an education specialist and so only supports schools. It’s fair to say there’s a huge variance in MSP’s out there but I think an Education specific one suits the schools better.

 

For example we have not only techs and account managers but but dedicated project managers and ex teachers who help with training needs. Training is a huge part of what we do.

 

If you’re going MSP route, communication is key. If it’s not a true partnership it doesn’t work for either party. The MSP needs to understand your school/trust and where you want to go. How can IT help that along etc.

 

For RMM I’m a big Datto fan. I’ve used it at a couple of places now and find it can do an awful lot to automate things. Especially using a bit of powershell / scripting.

 

I appreciate your response. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s the name of the MSP (If you’re allowed to mention the name that is, if not can DM me)

 

Thanks

[XiJ]

We’ve looked at Syncro and Atera which pricing is based on per user with unlimited endpoints.

 

Ninjas price model is per device which amounts to quite a lot of £££.

 

I think datto is per device too, although I didn’t have anything to do with the purchasing side of it.

[Edu-IT]

I think datto is per device too, although I didn’t have anything to do with the purchasing side of it.

Yes, it is.

[localzuk]

The choice by the OP seems to be a little odd to me? RMM is a tool, and going to an MSP is outsourcing entirely. They're not really an "either/or" situation? An MSP will use RMM.

 

The way you run your IT at a MAT depends on your needs. Personally, I find the idea of an MSP too restrictive - having in-house staff allows total flexibility as to the needs of the MAT.

 

Having RMM in place is a no brainer in either situation. Though, how you implement that varies on needs as well.

 

For us, we have Config Manager in place for many aspects of RMM, and we've just purchased Service Desk Plus which has another aspect of it. Our focus is more on ITSM than RMM at the moment - as RMM is a "solved" issue for us through Config Manager (which is included in our MS volume license for no extra cost).

[PotNoodleTech]

I have always believed organisations are much better off fostering talent in house rather than outsourcing to a company who's literal main aim is to make as much profit as they can from you (and from your Students)...

 

A lot of organisations take the easy route (phone MSP, pay MSP, use MSP) which is ok if you have no time/little choice but if you can go the route of building a strong in house team they will serve the organisation much better and are usually actually better value for money.

 

For evidence, you only have to look at the huge list fortune 500's who've outsourced whole departments lock stock and 2 smoking barrels and then a year or 2 later had to reverse the decision with their tail between their legs and try and build up internal teams again from scratch which is not an easy thing to do.

 

It's hard to attract talent, it's extremely easy to lose talent! So attract it and don't lose it and your organisation will be all the better.

 

Sadly I kinda don't practice what I preach as I could lose my in house team at any point as the salaries are pathetic (yes my salary is pathetic too) thus to make in house teams really work in the long term you need to pay above average.

[synaesthesia]

Definitely going to be a larger, different topic. IMO the more you need an MSP, the less value they bring. So if you only *need* someone for a day or so, they're probably better value for money than someone on site, but if you need someone for multiple days and have ongoing projects, an MSP is more than likely a waste of money.

[215HAN]

I have always believed organisations are much better off fostering talent in house rather than outsourcing to a company who's literal main aim is to make as much profit as they can from you (and from your Students)...

 

A lot of organisations take the easy route (phone MSP, pay MSP, use MSP) which is ok if you have no time/little choice but if you can go the route of building a strong in house team they will serve the organisation much better and are usually actually better value for money.

 

For evidence, you only have to look at the huge list fortune 500's who've outsourced whole departments lock stock and 2 smoking barrels and then a year or 2 later had to reverse the decision with their tail between their legs and try and build up internal teams again from scratch which is not an easy thing to do.

 

It's hard to attract talent, it's extremely easy to lose talent! So attract it and don't lose it and your organisation will be all the better.

 

Sadly I kinda don't practice what I preach as I could lose my in house team at any point as the salaries are pathetic (yes my salary is pathetic too) thus to make in house teams really work in the long term you need to pay above average.

 

Thanks for the response. It’s exactly what our current thoughts are as we just don’t use a MSP enough to justify the cost of an MSP.