Microsoft Dynamics is a powerful piece of software capable of greatly improving the operations and processes of any business. However, for it to do that, the product needs to be managed well – something that many teams struggle with. Enter Microsoft Dynamics managed services – a suite of support and maintenance solutions designed to help teams with system maintenance, customization, proactive monitoring, user support, and more.
In this article, we will uncover the key components of Microsoft Dynamics managed services as well as their benefits. And on top of that, we’ll look into what competitive edge one may get from combining Microsoft Dynamics with Office 365 managed services and products.
Microsoft Dynamics managed services are a suite of support and maintenance offerings designed to ensure the seamless operation, security, and continuous improvement of Microsoft Dynamics applications. These services are typically provided by dedicated teams of Microsoft Dynamics experts – Managed Service Providers or MSPs, for short.
Microsoft Dynamics managed services most commonly include:
Through these services, teams can vastly improve their IT operations, reduce administrative overhead, and make the most out of their Microsoft Dynamics.
In this section, we will break down each core activity that makes up Microsoft Dynamics managed services:
MSPs employ advanced monitoring tools and techniques to assess the health, performance, and availability of Dynamics applications. These tools provide real-time insights into system usage, transactional performance, and resource utilization, allowing teams to proactively address issues before they impact business operations. For example, monitoring tools can track database performance metrics, such as query execution times and resource utilization, enabling administrators to optimize database configurations.
Managed service providers ensure timely deployment of patches, updates, and security fixes for Microsoft Dynamics applications to mitigate vulnerabilities and ensure system stability. This involves assessing the impact of updates on the Dynamics environment, testing patches in a controlled environment, and scheduling updates during maintenance windows to minimize disruption. MSPs also may conduct compatibility testing with various customizations to ensure seamless deployment of updates without compromising the system.
MSPs offer specialized expertise in customizing and configuring Dynamics applications – this includes tailoring Dynamics modules, entities, and workflows to automate specific business processes. This way, service providers can develop custom entities or fields to accommodate specific industry regulations or organizational processes to meet the specific needs of the business.
MSPs implement robust security measures, including access controls, data encryption, and auditing mechanisms, to safeguard data integrity and confidentiality. For instance, they may configure role-based access controls to restrict access to sensitive data and implement encryption mechanisms to protect data at rest and in transit, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements such as GDPR or HIPAA.
Managed services also include user support and training solutions to enhance team proficiency with Microsoft Dynamics applications. They can provide access to a dedicated help desk for addressing user inquiries and technical issues, as well as offer training sessions and self-service resources to facilitate ongoing learning and skill development.
MSPs can create robust backup and disaster recovery solutions to protect against data loss and ensure business continuity. This involves implementing automated backup processes to regularly back up Dynamics data and configurations and developing disaster recovery plans for restoring operations quickly in the event of an outage.
MSPs can conduct proficient assessments of current Dynamics usage, identifying opportunities for optimization and improvement, and developing strategic roadmaps for future enhancements. For example, they may collaborate with stakeholders to develop a roadmap for migrating to the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics, leveraging new features and functionalities to improve business processes.
Now let’s look into what specific benefits outsourcing your Microsoft Dynamics management may bring to your business:
Outsourcing Microsoft Dynamics managed services provides access to a team of experienced professionals with specialized skills in Dynamics administration, customization, and support. These experts bring in-depth knowledge of Dynamics applications and best practices, with the help of which businesses can ensure that their software environment is managed effectively and following industry standards.
Outsourcing can also result in significant cost savings and efficiency gains for businesses. External service providers often offer flexible pricing models that allow organizations to pay for only the services they need, eliminating the need for costly investments in infrastructure, staffing, and training. Additionally, outsourcing Dynamics management frees up internal resources, allowing employees to focus on core business activities rather than routine IT tasks (more on that just below).
Outsourcing allows businesses to refocus their internal resources and efforts on core business activities that drive growth and innovation. By delegating routine IT tasks, such as system maintenance, updates, and troubleshooting, to external service providers, teams can allocate more time and resources to strategic initiatives, product development, and customer engagement. This, in turn, typically leads to increased productivity, efficiency, and competitive advantage.
Working with MSPs also allows teams to adapt to changing business requirements and IT environments. External service providers can quickly scale resources up or down in response to fluctuating demand, ensuring that teams have the support they need to meet their evolving needs. Additionally, outsourcing gives businesses access to a wide range of specialized services and expertise on an as-needed basis, providing flexibility to address the most specific challenges.
Outsourcing helps companies stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and innovations in the Dynamics ecosystem, as they get access to specialized training, certifications, and resources. This way, they are always aware of all the best practices in Dynamics administration and can leverage this knowledge to implement innovative solutions and drive digital transformation initiatives.
Managed Office 365 services are another suite of solutions meant to elevate the performance, security, and versatility of Microsoft Office 365 applications. These are also performed by MSPs, with their activities ranging from initial deployment and configuration to ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and user support. They ensure that businesses can get the most out of their Office 365 applications like Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, and others.
The integration of Managed Office 365 Services with Microsoft Dynamics creates a cohesive ecosystem that fosters collaboration, strong data management practices, and business intelligence, namely:
Microsoft Dynamics managed services play a pivotal role in optimizing business operations and maximizing the value derived from Dynamics applications. By outsourcing management tasks to specialized providers – MSPs, teams can access a wealth of expertise, reduce costs, and refocus internal resources on core activities.
Moreover, the integration of Managed Office 365 Services with Microsoft Dynamics can prove a very beneficial stroke as the unified ecosystem streamlines workflows enhances productivity, and facilitates informed decision-making.
If you feel that your team may benefit from collaborating with an expert-managed service provider, don’t hesitate to reach out to OMI – our team will make your Microsoft products work better than ever.