When a new employee joins your organization, the onboarding experience sets the tone for their productivity, engagement, and trust in your systems. Yet many businesses underestimate the hidden costs of slow or inconsistent onboarding. Every delay—whether it’s waiting for a laptop or struggling to access email—translates into lost productivity, increased security risks, and frustrated new hires.
In today’s fast-paced business environment, onboarding needs to be fast, secure, and scalable. That’s where a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can make all the difference.
Common Onboarding Roadblocks
Even well-intentioned internal IT teams can struggle with the complexity and coordination required for smooth onboarding. Here are some of the most frequent pain points:
1. Waiting on Hardware Setup
Procurement delays, manual configuration, and shipping logistics often mean new hires wait days—or even weeks—for their devices. This downtime not only affects productivity but also impacts morale. Employees want to contribute from day one, and sitting idle sends the wrong message.
2. Delayed Account Creation
Creating user accounts manually for email, Teams, SharePoint, and other tools is time-consuming and error-prone. Missed steps can lead to incomplete access, repeated help desk tickets, and potential security gaps if permissions aren’t properly configured.
3. Inconsistent Access to Systems
Without a standardized onboarding process, access to business-critical systems can vary widely. Some employees may receive full access, while others are left waiting or granted excessive permissions that pose compliance risks. This inconsistency can lead to operational inefficiencies and data exposure.
How an MSP Streamlines the Process
Partnering with an MSP like Evident IT transforms onboarding from a reactive scramble into a proactive, secure, and repeatable process. Here’s how:
1. Standardized Setup Templates
MSPs develop and maintain setup templates tailored to your organization’s roles and departments. These templates define:
- Device configurations
- Software installations
- Access permissions
- Security policies
This ensures every employee receives a consistent, secure, and role-appropriate setup—whether they’re in accounting, sales, or executive leadership.
2. Automated Provisioning of Core Tools
Using automation platforms and integration with Microsoft 365, MSPs can provision:
- Email accounts
- Microsoft Teams channels
- OneDrive and SharePoint access
- Calendars and contacts
This eliminates manual errors and ensures new hires are ready to collaborate immediately. Automation also reduces the burden on internal IT teams, freeing them to focus on strategic initiatives.
3. Pre-Deployment of Security Measures
Security is baked into the onboarding process—not bolted on afterward. MSPs deploy:
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to prevent unauthorized access
- Endpoint protection to guard against malware and phishing
- Mobile Device Management (MDM) to enforce policies on smartphones and tablets
These measures ensure that every device and account is secure from the moment it’s activated, reducing the risk of breaches and compliance violations.
4. Coordinated Hardware Ordering and Delivery
MSPs manage vendor relationships and logistics to ensure devices arrive on time, fully configured, and ready to use. This includes:
- Pre-imaging laptops and desktops
- Installing required software
- Applying security policies
- Shipping directly to the employee’s location
This level of coordination minimizes delays and ensures a smooth Day One experience.
Bonus: Fast, Secure Offboarding
Offboarding is just as critical as onboarding—especially when it comes to protecting company data. MSPs can:
- Immediately revoke access to systems and cloud services
- Remotely wipe devices
- Archive communications and files for compliance
- Reassign licenses and hardware
This protects your business from data leaks, ensures regulatory compliance, and simplifies transitions when employees leave.
Ready to Accelerate Onboarding?
If your onboarding process feels slow, inconsistent, or risky, it’s time for a review. Evident IT can help you streamline employee onboarding for speed, security, and scalability—so your team can hit the ground running.
