The Real Cost of an IT Migration? Downtime.
When your business is about to undertake any form of migration or implementation, what kind of preparation does your Managed Services Provider do? That question is loaded. I mean, it can be answered in a variety of different ways. However, I want to focus on one specific area. That area is downtime. For a business undertaking a migration or implementation of some kind, it really means, user impact.
A long time ago, when Auxzillium was much smaller our CEO once said, “There must be a way for us to limit or eliminate downtime during any deployment scenario. That is what much larger corporations do.” I’m paraphrasing, but the point is obvious. An MSP must be tireless not only in its efforts to migrate or implement something new but in its preparation to perform such a migration or implementation.
By nature, preparation is derived from the word prepare and both use the prefix (pre). Before ever issuing a proposal, your MSP should have repeatedly exercised or rehearsed how they are going to perform something and the guiding factor should always be the mitigation of downtime. Only then is the quote issued because they tried to account for everything.
I often tell people, long after a quote has been signed and just before the work begins, I run through what I call a “dress rehearsal”. Have you ever seen USAF Thunderbird pilots preparing for a show on the ground, not in the air? They are tireless in their efforts to limit risk while simultaneously performing at the highest level.
This is purely analogous. Auxzillium doesn’t hire Air Force pilots – even though I once wanted to be one! Ultimately, when your business is about to undertake a technical migration or implementation of some kind, there should be meetings the MSP holds internally. I was on one yesterday for a massive migration we are about to perform for a client. However, there have been numerous other meetings preceding the one I’m referring to. Other meetings have included the client. Once the project is agreed to, there will be many more meetings. The goal of this dialogue is to set proper expectations and limit downtime.
What has your business experienced with migrations or implementations? Maybe you haven’t undergone something major in a long time. Maybe you have implemented something new recently and it was a horrible experience. Maybe you have implemented something recently and it was a great experience, but it lacked the kind of communication I’ve mentioned above.
Regardless of where your business fits in, it should be prepared, aware, and inquisitive. Your MSP should be leading the charge or fostering each of those elements. Such leadership qualities come from an experience that isn’t just lengthy, but broad. You will find these qualities with Auxzillium!
