What Is An AWS Managed Service Provider? (+ Benefits)

Managing Amazon Web Services (AWS) isn’t easy for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It requires a blend of expertise, continuous monitoring, and resource optimization, all of which can strain the limited IT resources of an SME. 

The alternative of hiring a full-time team of cloud engineers skilled in AWS services like EC2, S3, and RDS can be prohibitively expensive for SMEs. This is why many SMEs are turning toward AWS consulting services or managed service providers (MSPs). They offer the same expert advice and support without the overhead costs of a full-time team.

AWS MSPs bring certified expertise in DevOps, architecture design, and security. They deeply understand AWS-native tools like AWS CloudFormation (for Infrastructure as Code) and AWS Systems Manager (for operational insights). With their help, SMEs can optimize cloud management and focus on growing their business while getting the most out of AWS.

AWS MSP partners assist organizations at every stage of their cloud journey. This includes: 

• Initial setup and configuration
• Security and compliance
• Data migration and architecture design
• Cost optimization and ongoing monitoring 

They can also help you automate patch management, backups, incident monitoring, and user access management. 

How can AWS managed service providers help?

AWS MSPs simplify cloud management and optimize AWS environments for performance, cost efficiency, and security. Their proactive approach helps businesses maintain uptime and run operations smoothly. 

Cloud strategy planning 

AWS managed service providers start by creating a custom cloud adoption roadmap based on your business goals and operational needs. They evaluate existing workloads to determine which AWS services you’ll need, for example, Amazon EC2 for computing, Amazon S3 for storage, or Amazon RDS for databases.

MSPs also evaluate your company’s readiness for migration through the AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP). This involves analyzing your infrastructure, estimating costs, and spotting potential challenges. They then determine the best approach for each workload: lift-and-shift, refactoring, or re-platforming.

Infrastructure deployment and migration 

You can rely on AWS MSPs for service configuration and data migration. They can help you with infrastructure deployment tasks like:

• Setting up a virtual private cloud (VPC) for secure networking
• Implementing auto-scaling and elastic load balancers for fault tolerance
• Deploying CI/CD workflows using AWS CodePipeline and CodeDeploy

Managed service providers are also skilled in using tools like AWS Migration Hub and AWS Database Migration Service for secure migrations. They can use Snowball to handle the process efficiently for large-scale data transfers. MSPs help you minimize downtime through blue-green deployment strategies or canary releases.

Backup, patch management, and disaster recovery 

AWS cloud managed service providers help SMEs monitor their AWS environments. They can use tools like Amazon CloudWatch to track performance metrics and AWS X-Ray to trace applications. They also use event-driven automation with AWS Lambda and AWS Systems Manager to detect and resolve issues.

You can rely on MSPs to implement backup using Amazon S3 Glacier or AWS Backup. Depending on your workloads, they can design a disaster recovery strategy using AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery. What’s more, MSPs can automate patching processes with AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager for operating systems and applications.

Security and compliance management 

AWS MSP partners help SMEs adopt a multi-layered security approach and manage compliances. Here’s what they can help you with:

• Control roles and permissions using AWS Identity and Access Management
• Encrypt data with AWS Key Management Service
• Discover and protect data using Amazon Macie
• Assess AWS environments for vulnerabilities using AWS Security Hub
• Monitor adherence to regulations using AWS Artifact

AWS MSPs can help you meet regulatory standards like GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, or SOC 2. 

Cost optimization 

MSPs have the expertise to analyze instance usage and recommend suitable tiers using AWS Cost Explorer and AWS Trusted Advisor. They provide detailed cost breakdowns and budget assistance through AWS Budgets, helping optimize your cloud expenses.

Now that you know how AWS MSPs can help, let’s understand how they’re different from AWS consulting services.

AWS MSP vs. AWS consulting servicers 

The main difference between them is in their focus and scope. 

AWS MSPs offer end-to-end management and optimization of AWS environments. They serve as a long-term partner for your cloud operations. In contrast, AWS consulting services are usually project-based. They can help you with specific needs like migrations or implementations. 

AWS managed service partners provide ongoing support to optimize your AWS environment. They handle everything from cloud monitoring and cost optimization to security, compliance, and scaling as your business grows. 

Instead of handling one-off tasks, MSPs serve as an extension of your IT team. They’re a great fit for SMEs looking for a long-term partner to manage AWS complexities, freeing up your IT team to handle strategic priorities.

AWS consulting services are usually project-based, focusing on specific tasks. For example, consultants may help with cloud migration, setting up a new AWS service, or designing a custom architecture. Their goal is to deliver a clear outcome within a set timeline. Work with AWS consultants if you need help with a one-time project or expertise for a specific AWS solution.

AWS fully managed services vs. unmanaged services: 

The main difference lies in how much responsibility you handle versus what AWS takes care of. Fully managed services manage tasks like maintenance, scaling, and updates. Unmanaged services offer you more control and flexibility but need you to manage setup, scaling, and maintenance.

Benefits of using an AWS managed service provider 

Partnering with an AWS MSP can help you ensure service availability, proactively monitor applications, optimize costs, and improve cloud security.

Expertise and knowledge 

AWS MSPs are trusted, certified partners with a solid track record in delivering end-to-end AWS solutions. They help businesses at every stage of the cloud journey, including planning, design, migration, operations, and optimization. This partnership ensures you benefit from the latest AWS features and best practices without maintaining extensive in-house expertise.

Security and compliance 

AWS MSPs use over 150 managed guardrails and automated security checks to keep your cloud environment safe. They use AWS-native tools like AWS IAM for access control, AWS GuardDuty for threat detection, and AWS Security Hub for compliance monitoring. 

MSPs secure infrastructure and ensure your AWS setup meets industry standards. Meeting these standards reduces the risk of breaches and helps you comply with regulatory requirements.

Scalability 

AWS MSPs make it easy for you to scale infrastructure as demands change. They ensure your cloud environment can effortlessly handle everything, from traffic spikes to new apps. MSPs can set up tools like AWS Auto Scaling and Elastic Load Balancing to help you handle more workloads. 

MSPs also offer you the flexibility to innovate by integrating new services like AWS Lambda for serverless computing or Amazon ECS/EKS for containerized workloads.

Cost optimization 

AWS MSPs continuously monitor your cloud environments to help you get the most out of their cloud budgets. 

They review your AWS setup to spot underused resources, like idle EC2 instances or oversized databases. Then, they can suggest cost-saving options like spot instances, savings plans, or reserved instances.

Moreover, they use tools like AWS Cost Explorer to provide insights into spending. These actionable tips help you increase savings significantly without compromising scalability.

24/7 monitoring and support 

AWS MSPs use monitoring and incident management tools to proactively spot and fix issues before they cause downtime. As a result, you experience fewer disruptions and more time for your team to focus on your core business.

Curious to explore how AWS MSPs can make a difference for your business? Check out the case studies below.

Now, let’s look at how you can assess AWS MSPs.

Qualities to look for in an AWS MSP 

The best way to evaluate AWS MSPs is to look for the following qualities:

• Technical expertise: Ensure your AWS partner holds certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or DevOps Engineer. These certifications show they have the skills to design, implement, and manage AWS environments. Choose an AWS MSP that passed a rigorous third-party audit. 
• Service offerings: Ideally, you want an AWS MSP that can support your cloud journey with a full suite of services. These services should range from workload analysis and data migration to monitoring and performance optimization. 
• Security and compliance capabilities: Your preferred managed service provider should also be well-versed with encryption, threat detection, and incident response. They should be proficient with tools like AWS IAM, AWS Shield, and AWS Security Hub for audits, compliance, and data protection. 
• Track record: Once you have shortlisted a few MSPs, consider evaluating how they have solved challenges for businesses like yours or within your industry. You can also ask your peers for references. Finally, confirm the MSP’s AWS partnership status and performance in the AWS MSP program audit.
• Communication and support: Ensure your MSP provides detailed, periodic updates on system optimizations, cost-saving measures, and security patches. It's also a good idea to choose an AWS MSP that assigns a dedicated account manager so you have someone to contact in case of queries.

Is it difficult to migrate to AWS?

Yes, AWS migration can be challenging, regardless of the size of your organization. 

Ideally, you should start by assessing your company’s migration readiness. This assessment must consider factors like your IT environment, resources, and budget. Also, reflect on the benefits you expect from AWS migration. 

Start the ‘mobilize’ phase by creating a comprehensive migration plan. Consider using the AWS Application Discovery Service to collect usage and configuration data from on-premise servers and plan cloud migration.

Your cloud journey doesn't have to be cloudy 

Dealing with cloud migration, security, cost optimization, and scaling can be tough. 

AWS MSPs help you take care of the heavy lifting so you can focus on growing your business. They save you money with AWS Cost Explorer and keep your environment secure with AWS GuardDuty. Moreover, they offer real-time monitoring and proactive incident management using Amazon CloudWatch and AWS Systems Manager. 

Ultimately, they ensure your applications run seamlessly, so you don’t have to stress about downtime.

Looking to deploy more than two cloud computing services on a network architecture? Learn how multi-cloud can help and when you should use it.