Welcome back to another recap of our LookingPoint Fireside Chat, where we bring you casual technology conversations with real-world insight. In this episode, LookingPoint CEO Sean Barr sits down with Ryan Alibrando, Service Manager at LookingPoint, to break down the value of Managed IT Services—what they are, why they matter, and how they help businesses stay focused on what really matters.
What Are Managed Services—and Why Should You Care?
Ryan puts it simply: "Before I worked in managed services, I was a customer. The best part? I could hand off all the monotonous, repetitive maintenance work—and still get credit for it."
That’s the heart of Managed Services. You get a trusted partner to handle:
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Routine system checks
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Patch management
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Backup monitoring
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Log reviews
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Proactive alerting and response
This frees up your internal IT team to focus on strategic initiatives, not firefighting.
The Power of Shared Experience
One of the biggest benefits of partnering with LookingPoint? Collective intelligence.
When one customer experiences an issue, we use that knowledge to proactively protect all others. Ryan shared a real-world example where one customer experienced toll fraud. By identifying the root cause, our team implemented preventative checks across all collaboration clients—turning one customer’s challenge into a safeguard for everyone else.
Proactive Monitoring = Fewer Emergencies
A huge part of LookingPoint’s Managed Services success is rooted in our proactive approach:
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Proactive checks prevent reactive issues
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Automation ensures consistency
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Continuous monitoring ensures peace of mind
And it’s not just about technology—it’s about people. Ryan emphasizes that our team becomes an extension of your IT department. We don't just support your systems—we understand your goals, roadmaps, and business needs.
What Can New Customers Expect?
If you’re evaluating a managed service provider (MSP), here’s what you should look for—and what LookingPoint delivers:
1. Clear Onboarding
Our onboarding is simple and structured:
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Information gathering
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Access validation
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Monitoring configuration
2. Proactive Process
We catch issues before they become problems. Our automation tools handle the heavy lifting so you don’t have to.
3. Escalation & Vendor Coordination
When issues arise, you want quick answers. We escalate intelligently—to our senior engineers or directly to vendors—to keep you moving.
4. Best Practice Reviews
We bring real-world insight to your environment, flagging issues you might never see until it’s too late. Our regular reviews ensure you stay ahead of emerging risks.
Managed Services = Peace of Mind
From his days in internal IT, Ryan knows the struggle. Without a managed services partner, most IT teams rely on best effort, manual processes, and limited visibility. LookingPoint provides 24x7 monitoring, reliable support, and a proactive safety net.
"Having someone I could rely on—a team that was already checking, already watching—gave me real peace of mind," Ryan said.
Final Thoughts
When you combine structured onboarding, proactive monitoring, smart escalation, and regular best practice reviews—you get more than just IT support. You get true IT partnership.
Your team gets to focus on innovation. We take care of the infrastructure.
Learn more about managed services here.