MSP & Cloud FAQs
Clear answers to the questions we hear most — managed services, the NOC and SOC, cloud computing, IaaS, and the help desk.
Cloud
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing delivers computing resources — storage, processing, applications — over the internet as an on-demand service across public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud models.
What is IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)?
IaaS delivers core infrastructure — compute, storage, and networking — over the internet, letting MSPs build flexible private or hybrid cloud offerings without large capital outlay.
What is an ASP (Application Service Provider)?
ASPs were the mid-1990s pioneers of hosted, one-to-many application delivery — the direct ancestor of today's SaaS and the managed-services model.
Operations
What is a NOC (Network Operation Center)?
A NOC is the centralized hub — increasingly virtual — where an MSP monitors and manages client systems and networks 24/7.
What is a Help Desk?
The help desk (or service desk) is the MSP's end-user support function — handling tickets, troubleshooting, and user education — distinct from the NOC.