FAQ
Get the clarity you need
Everything you need to know about partnering with Development Guru — from managed IT services and cybersecurity to how we support your business day to day.
Managed IT essentials
Managed services, explained
What managed IT actually covers, whether a small business needs it, and how pricing works.
What are Managed IT Services and how can they help my business?
Managed IT Services refer to outsourcing your IT infrastructure and support to a dedicated provider who proactively monitors, maintains, and secures your systems. This means rather than reacting to issues, the provider prevents them. At Development Guru we deliver a full Assess, Implement, Maintain model that gives you predictable monthly costs, improved reliability, and access to advanced enterprise tools such as endpoint protection from SentinelOne, backup and disaster recovery from Veeam or Datto, and cloud via Microsoft 365 and Azure.
I’m a small business — do I really need a Managed Service Provider (MSP)?
Yes — especially if you don’t have an in-house IT team or you’re spending too much time putting out tech fires. MSPs free internal resources to focus on core business, reduce downtime and risk with proactive monitoring, and give you enterprise-grade tools such as firewall and intrusion prevention via Fortinet and MFA via Okta at a fraction of the cost. Many SMBs find that the cost of outsourcing is less than hiring even one full-time IT person. Through Development Guru you gain a virtual IT department tailored for companies in Orange County and beyond.
What is the difference between an MSP and a MSSP?
An MSP (Managed Service Provider) manages your IT infrastructure — networks, end-user devices, servers, cloud, and more. An MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) focuses on cybersecurity: threat monitoring, incident response, and vulnerability assessments. At Development Guru we integrate both, so you get full-stack IT plus cybersecurity. We partner with best-in-breed security platforms such as SentinelOne for endpoint protection, Microsoft Defender for cloud and endpoint, and SIEM/SOC services from trusted providers.
What are key services I should expect from a full-service MSP?
At a minimum, look for 24/7 monitoring and help desk, patch management and threat protection, cloud migration and management (Microsoft 365 / Azure), Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR), network and Wi-Fi design with secure infrastructure, and strategic IT planning (vCIO). We deliver all of the above, and we also offer newer capabilities like AI and agentic solutions — voice bots and LLM automation — so you stay ahead.
How much do managed IT services cost?
Pricing varies significantly based on your number of users and devices, service level (on-site vs remote), complexity of your industry and regulations, and add-ons such as AI or agentic automation and custom integrations. Many MSPs use per-user or per-device pricing models. At Development Guru we aim for transparent, fixed monthly pricing tailored to your business size and requirements. We’ll provide an audit and roadmap so you know exactly what you’re getting and what you’ll spend.
Security & continuity
Protecting your business
The tools worth having, how business continuity and disaster recovery work, and what happens when something goes wrong.
What cybersecurity tools should I look for?
Best-in-breed cybersecurity for SMBs should include endpoint protection (SentinelOne, Microsoft Defender), firewall/UTM (Fortinet, Cisco Meraki), multi-factor authentication (Okta, Duo), email security and phishing protection (Mimecast, Proofpoint), backup and disaster recovery (Veeam, Datto), and security operations monitoring such as SOC-as-a-Service. We incorporate these tools into our package so you benefit from enterprise-grade security with local support and affordable pricing.
What is Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (BC/DR) and why is it important?
BC/DR ensures your business can operate during and after a disruptive event such as a cyberattack, outage, or natural disaster. Business continuity is about keeping things running; disaster recovery is about getting back up quickly. We help you map out RPO/RTO (Recovery Point Objective / Recovery Time Objective), implement onsite and cloud backups with Veeam or Datto, test restores, and build documentation so you’re ready. Our 42-minute turnaround plan is designed for rapid recovery.
What happens if one of my systems goes down or gets hacked?
AI monitoring should alert you and your MSP immediately. Your MSP then follows an incident response plan: isolate systems, contain damage, restore from secure backups, and notify stakeholders if required. After the event you perform a root-cause analysis, implement remediation, update policies, and train staff. Having a robust backup and DR solution and an MSP with SOC capabilities minimizes downtime and the cost of recovery.
Cloud, network & AI
Modernizing your technology
Cloud migration, network and Wi-Fi design, and where AI and agentic automation fit in.
What are “AI & Agentic Solutions” and how can they help my business?
AI and agentic solutions refer to intelligent automation, voice agents, and LLM-powered systems that work for you. Examples include AI phone agents (via Twilio or Google Dialogflow), automated ticket triage, document generation, chatbot support, and custom agentic workflows. These tools reduce cost, speed up service, and improve user experience. We offer these solutions in addition to traditional IT services — helping you automate repetitive tasks, leverage data, and adopt intelligent systems that scale.
I’m planning to move to the cloud — what should I know?
Key considerations for a cloud migration include which workloads to lift-and-shift versus refactor (Microsoft 365, Azure, or hybrid), security and compliance (data residency, MFA, encryption), backup and DR in the cloud, network and connectivity (latency, Wi-Fi, SD-WAN), and governance, licensing, and lifecycle management. We guide businesses through cloud readiness assessment, design and implementation using Microsoft 365 and Azure best practices, and then ongoing cloud management — so you don’t just move, you optimize.
Why is network and WiFi design important for business?
A solid network and Wi-Fi underpin all your applications, cloud access, voice and AV, remote work, security camera systems, and IoT. If your network is slow or unreliable, every other service suffers. Best-in-breed network vendors include Cisco Meraki, Aruba (HPE), and Ubiquiti UniFi for managed Wi-Fi, and Fortinet or Juniper for routing and firewall. At Development Guru we design LAN/WLAN with future-proofing — 2.5/5 GbE, structured cabling, VLANs, and heat-mapping — so you get solid performance and security.
Working with an MSP
Choosing and keeping the right partner
How to evaluate providers, how often to revisit your roadmap, how to measure ROI, and what fair contract terms look like.
How do I evaluate and choose the right MSP for my business?
Key questions to ask include: How long have you been in business, and what is your client size and vertical experience? What certifications and vendor partnerships do you have (Microsoft Gold, Fortinet, Cisco, and so on)? What is your SLA for response and resolution time? Do you offer proactive monitoring and 24/7 support? What tools and technologies do you use, and are they best-in-breed? How do you handle onboarding, ongoing reviews, and strategic planning? At Development Guru we bring 25+ years of experience serving clients in Orange County, certifications across Microsoft, Cisco, and Fortinet, and we operate with transparent SLAs and quarterly strategic reviews.
How often should I update my IT strategy/roadmap?
Ideally, technology strategy should be reviewed quarterly, with a full 1–3 year roadmap refreshed annually. Technology — and threat landscapes — evolve fast, and good MSPs provide vCIO services and strategic planning. We include quarterly business reviews and align your tech spend with your business goals so you can budget, avoid surprises, and leverage new innovations.
How do I measure the ROI of my IT investment?
You can track metrics such as system uptime and downtime minutes saved, helpdesk ticket resolution time, time saved by automation or AI agents, reduction in security incidents and associated cost, and employee productivity improvements from fewer tech-driven disruptions. We provide monthly and quarterly reporting and strategic reviews so you can see the value of your IT spend — not just the cost.
What are the typical contract terms and exit options?
Contracts vary — some MSPs lock you into long-term commitments, others allow monthly cancellation. Best practice is to look for a contract with a 30-day exit and no hidden fees, and to ask about exit procedures, data handover, and any termination charges. We believe in earning your business every month — our pricing is transparent, and you retain the flexibility you deserve.
Still have questions? Let’s talk.
Tell us what's slowing your business down. We'll assess your environment, give you a clear roadmap, and handle the rest — so your team can get back to work.