Why you need a managed service provider

Enterprise IT managers face increasing complexities when it comes to maintaining and optimizing their infrastructure and application workloads. Each business has its own unique technology stack with many moving parts, which can often compete for priority and attention from your staff. Opting to work with a managed service provider can help mitigate internal struggles and set you up for success.

In this final installment of our series on planning your E-Business Suite (EBS) to Software as a Service (SaaS) migration, we will cover what you should consider when determining your need for managed services.

Benefits of Using a Managed Service Provider (MSP)

Using a managed service provider (MSP) can be beneficial for your overall technology stack. MSPs offer specialized skills, expertise, and resources that can optimize your infrastructure and applications, ensuring smooth operations and enhanced performance. An MSP can help fill skill gaps within your team and offset headcount costs for niche specialties.

When opting for a managed services partner, there are two main avenues to consider: Applications Managed Services (AMS) and Infrastructure Managed Services (IMS). These specialties vary in the domains which they cover and offer varying levels of support within each. You may seek a partner that can work with you for both IMS and AMS functions, or find you only need one.

Early planning helps with budgeting, resourcing, and road mapping. It ensures that your legacy EBS migration is not only successful but also sustainable in the long term.

How to determine your MSP needs

In this post, we are specifically covering considerations for companies migrating from on-premises E-Business Suite to a cloud-based solution, like Oracle Fusion. We understand there are many use cases for managed services, but we want to be prescriptive about this scenario as it will set you up for success in a large-scale digital transformation journey.

Here are some considerations for managed services in your EBS to Cloud journey:

• Where will your legacy EBS data be stored? Will you need infrastructure management for the legacy database? We covered this topic in detail, with five options for hosting your legacy EBS data.
• Will you be adopting Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC) or Fusion Data Intelligence (FDI)? If so, you will want to ensure the infrastructure is optimized and secure. Learn more about building a strong data and analytics strategy.
• What are the capabilities within your team? Transitioning from on-premises to the Cloud can often reveal skill gaps within your team. Working with an MSP helps fill these gaps by offering expertise in various services and applications.

How to choose which services you need

As mentioned above, application-managed services and infrastructure-managed services offer different advantages. To determine which is best for you, consider these offerings.

Infrastructure Managed Services (IMS)

• Security – The security of your hosted data is incredibly important and should be a priority. An IMS provider helps create a safe environment with ongoing protection.
• Advanced testing – at Apps Associates, we offer penetration testing to ensure your infrastructure is secure against attacks.
• Uptime – ensure uptime between your Cloud systems and internal corporate networks.
• Identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks that impact the system stability.
• Managing patches and updates in the systems to ensure functionality and security.
• Cloud Platform Management – Managing the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) cloud platform.
• Proactively managing your Oracle Technology licenses (database, middleware, etc..) if you opted not to use license included services on OCI

Application Managed Services (AMS)

• Data management – after going through the transformation to SaaS, you want to ensure your new cloud ERP remains clean. Apps offers master data management planning and assistance in our AMS contracts.
• Manage quarterly releases – ensure your systems remain up to date with release management assistance. You can rest assured that updates from the technology provider will not disrupt your business.
• Data Masking – ensure your personal identifiable information (PII) data is properly masked in non-production environments.
• Implement the proper governance to optimize your SaaS licenses and reduce un-necessary subscription costs.
• Proactively monitor your SaaS application to determine trends and recommend improvements.
• Create process improvements and enhancements – working with an MSP is like extending your team. At Apps, we believe that your success is our success, and we are glad to plan roadmaps that work towards your goals.
• Proactively managing your SaaS license subscription and usage to avoid unexpected usage expenses.

How to choose an MSP

Since your MSP will act like an extension of your team, it’s important that they have the right credentials and knowledge so you can trust them. For Oracle services, Oracle has a unique designation known as the Cloud Service Provider – this requires expertise in all facets of Oracle Cloud Services, internal controls for security and best practices, and an external audit of these controls and policies for adherence.

Demonstrated Benefits with Apps Associates Managed Services

Customers who have worked with Apps Associates, a leading managed services provider, have seen impressive results:

• 20% increase in uptime percentage: Enhanced application availability ensures continuous business operations.
• 50% reduction in initial response time: Faster issue resolution improves overall system performance and user satisfaction.
• 47% increase in proactive notifications for security patches: Timely updates enhance security and compliance, protecting your business from vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

Opting for managed services for Oracle Fusion (SaaS) or Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is not just a smart move—it’s a necessary one for enterprise IT managers and users. By partnering with a managed services provider like Apps Associates, you can ensure optimal performance, enhanced security, and continuous uptime for your environment.

Ready to take your Cloud Infrastructure to the next level? Contact Apps Associates today to learn more about how our managed services can benefit your organization.