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Explore the best managed service provider software by comparing MSP tools. Read our expertly researched guide now, for more details on features, pricing, and more.
Collins Ayuya
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Explore all the types of MSP software and compare the best tools in each category, including features, pricing, and more, to find the right solutions for your business.
MSP software is a range of specialized tools that managed service providers rely on to optimize their businesses and meet the evolving needs of their clients. Whether you seek ITSM solutions, CIM software, or another tool, we’ve curated the list of software tools and top providers to help you streamline your processes, automate tasks, improve productivity, and enhance your service delivery.
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Who Should Use It: MSPs that manage the creation, delivery, support, and management of IT services.
ITSM tools are crucial for any MSP involved in designing, creating, delivering, supporting, and managing IT services throughout their lifecycle. These solutions can range from IT helpdesk and support ticket systems to full-featured ITSM and ITIL service management platforms. ITSM providers typically offer free trials and demos.
The core ITSM features include incident management, asset tracking, automation, and workflow customization.
SolarWinds ServiceDesk, ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus, and Jira Service Management are some of the top ITSM providers.
Who Should Use It: MSPs that manage client IT systems such as desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and services, especially those dealing with complex and distributed IT environments.
RMM software helps administrators automate standard-managed IT functions, improve visibility into client machines, respond to threats, and streamline tasks. They often include both remote desktop software (RDS) and basic professional services automation (PSA) solutions. The providers of these tools often offer free trials to allow you to get a hands-on feel before subscribing.
RMM tools typically offer automated IT functions, infrastructure monitoring, threat response, and scripting and automation capabilities.
The top RMM providers available in the market include Atera, NinjaOne, and Pulseway.
Who Should Use It: Businesses seeking to meet clients’ expectations by providing top-notch support should consider help desk software.
Help desk tools are essential to ensure MSP offerings satisfy their clients’ needs. These tools allow MSPs to enhance, secure, and capitalize on the services they offer, ultimately fostering thriving client relationships. Some of the top help desk software tools offer a starting price between $13 and $39 per agent per month. You can expect a demo or a free trial from help desk software providers.
Help Desk software typically includes a ticketing system, knowledge base, automation tools, and reporting and analytics.
The leading help desk software providers include Zoho Desk, LiveAgent, and ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus.
Who Should Use It: MSPs looking for a complete solution to manage business operations such as project management, billing, time tracking, and resource management.
PSA software helps MSPs streamline their business processes and manage their services more effectively. With PSA software, you can optimize service delivery, improve operational efficiency, and deliver better visibility into general MSP performance. PSA software providers usually offer a demo and a free trial.
The core features of PSA software include project management tools, billing and invoice features, time-tracking tools, and resource management features.
The top PSA software providers include HaloPSA, Atera, and Autotask PSA.
Who Should Use It: MSPs responsible for managing and mitigating security incidents for their clients should use incident response software.
Incident response software provides structured methods for handling and managing the aftermath of a security breach or cyberattack. The key goal is to handle the situation in a way that minimizes damage and reduces recovery time and costs. Although many incident response software providers may not list their pricing publicly, they offer a demo to enable you to interact with their product for free.
The typical incident response software features are incident detection and reporting, incident analysis, incident response orchestration, and post-incident review and reporting.
The top incident response software providers for MSPs are CrowdStrike, Splunk, and IBM Security QRadar SIEM.
Who Should Use It: MSPs that enable businesses to move their data, applications, and other business elements from an on-premises data center to the cloud or from one cloud environment to another.
Cloud migration tools facilitate the process of transferring and managing data, applications, and other business elements to the cloud. These tools offer a range of features that help manage and streamline the migration process, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum efficiency. The cost of these tools can vary widely. Many providers offer a free trial period to allow potential users to evaluate the tool’s capabilities.
The core features of cloud migration software are migration, security and compliance management, cloud assessment, and cost management and control.
The best cloud migration software providers include Carbonite Migrate, BitTitan, and Azure Migrate.
Who Should Use It: MSPs that protect their clients’ data from ransomware attacks to ensure their business continuity.
Ransomware backup protection software protects and recovers data in the event of a ransomware attack. This type of software creates secure backups of data, which can be restored if the original data is encrypted by ransomware. Most providers offer a demo to allow you to evaluate the tool’s ransomware protection capabilities.
The typical features of ransomware backup protection software are data backup, data recovery, real-time monitoring, and encryption protection.
Some of the highest-rated ransomware backup protection software include Druva, Acronis Cyber Backup, and Veeam Backup and Replication.
Who Should Use It: MSPs that manage critical data for businesses in industries where data loss could have significant regulatory or operational implications.
Backup and recovery software is designed to create secure backups of data and systems and restore them in the event of data loss or system failure. The software usually offers options for where to store backups, including on-premises servers, off-site locations, and cloud environments. Even though pricing information is rarely listed publicly for these tools, free trials and product demos are available.
The most important backup and recovery software features are data backup, data recovery, disaster recovery, and cloud backup.
Some of the best backup and recovery software providers are Acronis, NAKIVO, and Barracuda.
Who Should Use It: MSPs that work with various channel partners and need a centralized system to manage and optimize these relationships.
PRM software simplifies the management of channel partners by automating and enhancing vendor-partner processes. These solutions allow organizations to build custom portals for partners, reward successful sales teams, manage lead and deal registration policies, and strategically develop partner relationships. PRM providers typically offer demos for their products.
The features to expect from PRM software include partner onboarding, partner performance tracking, communication and collaboration tools, and contract management.
Some of the top providers of PRM software are Impartner PRM, Salesforce PRM, and Allbound.
Who Should Use It: MSPs that need a system to manage and optimize incentive programs for their channel partners.
CIM software enables MSPs to manage their incentive programs for channel partners. This type of software can help MSPs streamline the process of creating and managing incentive programs, track program performance, and ensure that incentives are distributed fairly and effectively. Demos and free trials for CIM software are commonly available.
The core features of CIM software are incentive program management, performance tracking, incentive distribution, and reporting and analytics.
The best CIM software providers are 360insights, ChannelAssist, and Brightspot.
MSP software is varied and complex, but these tools are all viable options for MSPs looking to add or improve solutions to their operations. To determine the best software to optimize your MSP, you’ll want to first assess your needs, goals, and budget. Then, explore the software tools featured in this article and carry out further research, including demos, consultations, and free trials as necessary.
Together this information will help you make an informed decision about which types of software — and which providers — you need to provide the best service to your customers.
For tools with security functionality, be sure to review our top MSSP software.
And if you’re just starting out as an MSP, read our article on how to start an MSP business, which includes all the steps you’ll need to get up and running.
The best MSP software depends on your MSP’s needs. Factors such as the type of services you offer, your budget, the complexity of your IT environment, and your growth plans should guide your choice. The key is to select a tool that aligns with your business goals and scales with your needs.
Managed service provider (MSP) software is a suite of tools that allows MSPs to remotely manage a client’s IT infrastructure, offer support, automate processes, and monitor network health. This software helps MSPs deliver efficient IT services, manage multiple clients, and streamline their operations.
MSP software offers numerous benefits, including improved efficiency through automation, enhanced security with proactive monitoring, better client management, scalability, and reduced operational costs. It also provides tools for remote management, which is crucial for delivering timely and effective IT services to clients.
The software you need to run an MSP is based on the services you offer. For example, Remote monitoring and management (RMM) is key if you monitor and manage clients’ IT environments remotely. Professional services automation (PSA) is necessary for managing projects, billing, and customer relationships. Backup and disaster recovery (BDR) is critical for protecting client data.
Security management tools are vital for providing cybersecurity services. Help desk support software is crucial if you handle client support tickets. The right combination of these tools will be determined by your business and client requirements.
Collins Ayuya
Contributing writer
Channel Insider combines news and technology recommendations to keep channel partners, value-added resellers, IT solution providers, MSPs, and SaaS providers informed on the changing IT landscape. These resources provide product comparisons, in-depth analysis of vendors, and interviews with subject matter experts to provide vendors with critical information for their operations.
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