Seeing how the global managed services market is set to grow from $142.75 billion in 2013 to $256.05 billion by 2018—a CAGR of 12.4 percent, according to Research and Markets—it might be worth your while to consider partnering up with a managed or hosted service provider to help cater to your company’s IT needs.

Turning to a skilled outsourcer for critical in-house functions can prove itself invaluable for business continuity but when it comes to embracing third-party IT support, you’ve got to have a clearly defined set of goals you wish to accomplish.

Here are five quick tips for choosing a managed service provider (MSP):

1.Assess their level of support: By this, “support” means level of accessibility when things go wrong. Your managed service provider of choice should boast round-the-clock, 24x7 availability. This way, you can leave the office at 5 p.m. with peace of mind knowing they’ve got your back.

2.Complete a test run: Before partnering up with any managed service provider, request a test run to get some insight into exactly what you can expect. There’s no better way of knowing how your MSP will perform than seeing it with your own two eyes.

3.Identify their local presence: Not only should you be taking note of your partner’s accessibility with support, but you should be aware of their physical availability, as well. A provider that boasts a local presence is always a plus as you can stop by and check out internal operations as well as feel that extra security only a local presence can provide.

4.Observe their track record: This one should be pretty self-explanatory, but it’s nonetheless vital for ensuring a successful partnership with your MSP of choice. Make sure your IT support is coming from a reputable and long-standing provider who as a healthy track record in the space.

5.Conduct a financial analysis before signing anything: Perhaps the most important tip is finding a provider who accommodates a predictable and realistic budget on your end. Don’t be afraid to flesh out the financial details with a provider you’re interested in.

Have anything to add to our list? We want to hear from you—share with us in the comments section below.