With energy costs continuing to rise and the trend towards remote working showing no signs of slowing down, many businesses are considering removing their on-premise IT infrastructure and opting instead for a full cloud migration.

The use of on-site server infrastructure is now considered to be a costly way to run an effective IT landscape, with maintenance, cooling and running costs all adding up and impacting the bottom line.

In these uncertain times many businesses are looking to reduce operational costs whilst simultaneously facilitating remote working through a secure and industry complaint IT infrastructure.

Cloud adoption can significantly reduce operational costs alongside the added benefits of increased security and disaster recovery.

But what would be the next best steps for your business? Should you choose a CSP or an MSP? In this article we breakdown the practical differences between the two terms.

What is a Cloud Service Provider (CSP)?

A Cloud Service Provider (CSP) is a company that offers cloud computing services, such as storage, networking and software to customers over the internet.

Examples of CSPs include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

When using a cloud service provider, the individual (or in house IT team) would be responsible for several tasks such as:

1.     Choosing the appropriate cloud service provider and services to meet the business's needs, such as storage, computing, and networking.

2.     Configuring and setting up the cloud services, such as creating virtual machines, storage accounts, and networks.

3.     Managing access and security for the cloud environment, including setting up authentication and authorization and implementing security protocols.

4.     Monitoring and managing the performance of the cloud environment, including usage and ensuring that the environment is running optimally.

5.     Managing and maintaining the cloud environment, including updates, backups, and disaster recovery.

6.     Managing the cost and budget for the cloud environment.

7.     Ensuring compliance with any regulatory and industry specific requirements.

8.     Managing the migration of data and applications from on-premise environments to the cloud.

9.     Training and support for end-users to use the cloud environment effectively.

Overall the main responsibility of a person using a cloud service provider is to ensure that the IT environment they create is secure, reliable, and cost-effective, whilst meeting the business's needs.

In practical terms, a CSP allows customers to rent out cloud resources, such as servers and storage, on a pay-as-you-go basis. This allows customers to scale their IT infrastructure up or down as needed, without having to invest in expensive hardware and software. However, for a CSP environment to be successful you need an internal team of skilled engineers to ensure the system is properly configured and maintained.

What is a Managed Service Provider (MSP)?

A Managed Service Provider (MSP) such as Cloud Geeni, is a company that provides fully managed IT services.

 Some of the responsibilities of an MSP include:

1. Initial consultation and audit of resources required for a successful migration.

2. Providing ongoing end user support and maintenance of the systems and networks.

3. Managing and monitoring a client's IT infrastructure including servers, storage, and network devices

4. Offering IT consulting services to help client’s plan and implement new technology projects to drive business growth.

5. Providing data backup and disaster recovery services to ensure that a client's data is protected.

6. Managing and maintaining software updates and security patches.

7. Providing remote and on-site support as needed.

8. Providing network and endpoint security services to protect clients from cyber threats.

As an MSP we are responsible for all aspects of client's IT infrastructure and security, providing the expertise and resources needed to keep systems running smoothly and securely.

Cloud Geeni provide a fully managed service, meaning you don’t have to worry about software updates, security checks, backups or troubleshooting. Our in-house team of Microsoft Gold certified engineers are on hand during the migration process to ensure minimal disruption and provide end user support once your platform is live.

MSPs often work closely with their customers to understand their specific needs and tailor their services accordingly.

So in summary, a CSP provides cloud computing services which need to be configured, maintained and managed by an internal IT team whereas an MSP provides a fully managed IT infrastructure, assuming the responsibilities for the performance of the platform and providing end user support.

If you would like to discuss your business requirements in more detail use the button below to schedule a consultancy call.

Cloud Geeni have been an industry leading provider of private cloud managed services to the Legal, Financial and Manufacturing sectors for over 15 years.

We’ve successfully migrated hundreds of clients with thousands of end users to our private cloud platform, with a client retention rate of over 96%.