--- title: "What an MSP is and why SMEs are switching to this model" description: "Whoever bills by the hour profits from breakdowns; an MSP profits from stability. What an MSP is, what the contract should include and how to choose one." language: en url: https://www.dataroad-it.com/en/what-is-msp-managed-it-services-provider/ source: https://www.dataroad-it.com/en/what-is-msp-managed-it-services-provider/ publisher: DataRoad IT (DataRoad - IT Services and Consulting), Portugal --- > Whoever bills by the hour profits from breakdowns; an MSP profits from stability. What an MSP is, what the contract should include and how to choose one. # What an MSP is and why SMEs are switching to this model At a glance For decision-makers short on time. - 01 An MSP manages the whole infrastructure continuously and acts before operations stop. - 02 Traditional outsourcing sells hours; an MSP sells availability at a fixed cost. - 03 Check for an in-house team, a written SLA, proactive monitoring and sector experience. - 04 DataRoad has been a Portuguese MSP since 2015, based in Alfragide, with support nationwide. ### In this article A company that pays its engineer by the hour is, without meaning to, funding a model that profits when things break. That is why more and more Portuguese SMEs, especially those with 10 to 200 employees, are swapping one-off call-outs for an **MSP (Managed Service Provider)**. An MSP is paid so that nothing stops. The incentive changes, and with it the invoice. ## What exactly is an MSP? A provider that takes care, continuously and proactively, of another company's entire technology infrastructure: computers, servers, network, backups, security and user support. It does not wait for the phone to ring. It watches the systems, spots signs of failure and fixes them before the business feels it. In practice, it acts as an external IT department. The difference is that the client does not have to recruit, train or retain a technical team. **The decisive point is the incentive.** Whoever lives on billed hours benefits from every fault. Whoever receives a fixed fee benefits from stability, and therefore invests in prevention. ## Are IT outsourcing and MSP the same thing? Not exactly. "IT outsourcing" is the generic idea of handing technology to an external provider. "MSP" is a specific type of that provider: it works through continuous, proactive management, with a monthly fee and a defined service level (SLA), rather than isolated call-outs. ## Why are Portuguese companies making the switch? - **Scarce engineers** Recruiting and keeping a qualified engineer is increasingly hard and expensive, especially outside the big cities. - **Predictable budget** A fixed monthly fee is easier to plan than salary, training, equipment and cover when the engineer is absent or leaves. - **Several specialisms at once** An MSP brings together specialists in networks, security, cloud and systems, something no single hire can cover. - **More sophisticated threats** Keeping up with cybersecurity is an MSP's daily work, not an extra task. - **Management focused on the business** The board and teams stop losing hours to technology problems. ## What should a contract with an MSP include? - **Support** Remote and, when needed, on site. - **Oversight** Monitoring of servers, network and workstations; continuous 24/7 only on DataRoad's Premium 365 plan. - **Backups** Managed and with regular recovery tests. - **Updates and licences** Security patches and software licensing under control. - **Formal SLA** Response times guaranteed in writing. - **Reports** The state of the infrastructure reported regularly. ## How do you tell a genuine MSP apart? Many companies that present themselves as MSPs still work on call. Before signing, check four things: - **An in-house team**: its own engineers, with no subcontracting to third parties. - **An SLA in the contract**: response times in writing, not promised over the phone. - **Monitoring tools**: which systems it uses to detect failures before they happen. - **Experience in your sector**: a hotel, a clinic and a law firm have very different demands. For a fuller assessment, use the [eight criteria for choosing an MSP in Portugal](https://www.dataroad-it.com/en/best-msp-portugal-8-criteria/), with the warning signs for each. ## Where does DataRoad stand? DataRoad - IT Services and Consulting is a Portuguese MSP founded in 2015, headquartered in Alfragide with support across Portugal. It manages the infrastructure of 232 companies that cannot stop: hotels, clinics, embassies, universities, multinationals and demanding SMEs. In 11 years, DataRoad has never suffered a security incident. The service is called IT Unlimited: unlimited support for a fixed monthly fee, remote and on site, with proactive monitoring, alerting and preventive maintenance. There are three plans: Essential (remote and telephone only), Premium (unlimited on-site support) and Premium 365 (adds nights, weekends and bank holidays, with 24/7 support). See how it works in [managed IT for businesses](https://www.dataroad-it.com/en/lisbon-msp-managed-networks-it/) and on [DataRoad's service desk](https://www.dataroad-it.com/en/managed-it-helpdesk-portugal/). - **Network infrastructure** Design, installation and certification of cabling, Layer 3 switching and PoE. - **Business Wi-Fi 6 and 7** Coverage study, cloud management and isolated guest networks. - **Managed cybersecurity** Firewall, traffic control and threat mitigation. - **Servers and continuity** NAS, centralised backups and disaster recovery. - **CCTV** Video surveillance with continuous recording. - **NOC and monitoring** Automatic alerts and proactive intervention. - **Projects** Relocations, new units and modernisation. - **Windows and Apple** Full IT estate management. ## Where should you start? Still at the diagnosis stage? Our [IT consultancy](https://www.dataroad-it.com/en/it-consulting-diagnosis-before-investment/) carries out the survey and delivers a written report before any proposal. **More than 10 workstations · support contract · remote, on-site and telephone support.** Request a no-commitment proposal: +351 211 459 950 * or sales@dataroad.pt. **Call to a Portuguese landline.* Chosen by respected and international companies ★★★★★ 5,0 · 52 Google reviews ★★★★★ 5,0 · 52 Google reviews DataRoad ## Related articles [Managed IT and cybersecurityTeams on the move: securing laptops, phones and public Wi-FiThe real travel risk is an unencrypted lost laptop, not hotel Wi-Fi. 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For video, CAD or weak inter…12 October 2026 · 6 min read](https://www.dataroad-it.com/en/windows-365-business-cloud-pc-costs/) Numbers you can verify **11** years in business **232** clients **< 10 min** average response time **15+** IT vendor certifications **10+** Countries with clients supported **5.0 ★** 52 Google reviews Transparency ## What many providers hide, we publish. [See plans and prices →](https://www.dataroad-it.com/it-unlimited/) - **Prices upfront** Essential from €395/month + VAT, Premium from €750 and Premium 365 from €1,200. - **No lock-in** Annual contract, no lock-in and no joining fees. - **Everything in writing** What is included, the scope and the price, before you sign. - **Support without counted hours** Remote and phone in every plan; on-site support from Premium. Partners and certifications DataRoad · Business networks and Wi-Fi ## One StepAhead of IT. Every access point, switch and cable named, labelled and monitored. Business networks built to last a decade. - **15+** IT vendor certifications - **Failover** redundant internet and power autonomy - **10+** Countries with clients supported We do **IT** right. DataRoad IT Unlimited ## Does your IT depend on a single person? Documentation, inventory and one contact who answers for everything. [Request a proposal, no commitment →](https://www.dataroad-it.com/en/#contact)+351 211 459 950 **Call to a Portuguese landline · More than 10 workstations · support contract · remote, on-site and phone support[Not sure what you need? Talk to the assistant →](https://www.dataroad-it.com/en/#assistente) --- Versão HTML desta página: https://www.dataroad-it.com/en/what-is-msp-managed-it-services-provider/