Managed IT services vs. in-house IT: What does your business need?
Whether you are starting a new business or an enterprise level business, there are two solutions to managing your business’s IT structure. There may be difficulties knowing which IT solution may be best for the processes for your company’s infrastructure. So what does your business need? Managed IT Services or in-house IT? There are a few circumstances that must be considered other than just the solution’s cost.
Are you wondering why your business’s productivity is currently being hindered by your current IT solution? It may be time for your organization to consider other Information Technology options.
Comparing Managed IT services & in-house IT variables/capabilities:
Managed IT Services are simply not for every business organization. An in-house IT department may not be the right solution as well. When comparing Managed IT Services and an in-house IT solution, there has to be a deep consideration of the business’s infrastructure and what drives that business’s productivity.
If your company has fewer than 10 end-points or computers users, it may be more cost-effective to do everything in-house. On the contrary, if a company has over 200 computer users, having a Managed Service Provider may offer that business with the technology and tools to enhance that company’s network, productivity, and overall success.
There are benefits of having an in-house IT department because there will always be that one IT professional across the hall in the same building.
However, there are often times that an in-house IT department cannot provide the best technology, 24/7/365 days a year network monitoring and remote support that a Managed Service Provider can provide. A Managed Service Provider will identify and find solutions to IT issues before the problem/issue even occurs.
Managed Services VS. in-house IT:
When outsourcing Managed IT Services, your Managed Service Provider (MSP) will give you a complete detailed list of Services that will be provided.
In addition, every detail will be outlined as well as the cost of services during hours or after-hours. More often than not, your business will decide how many IT service hours are allocated for each month of service.
Whenever an issue or problem arises, your MSP will most likely have a 24/7/365 support-ticket system in place to ensure your business’s IT issues are addressed on a priority based system. An example of a priority based system is if a company were to have a back-up catastrophe and experienced data loss. This issue would take precedence over a user who forgot their logins to their workstation. Your MSP should be able to effectively and accurately prioritize any issues that arise within your company, such as aforementioned.
From the beginning of any MSP agreement, your MSP must know and understand your business and how your business’s technology lets your employees do their job the best.In comparison, an in-house IT department may be more convenient and they may understand your company’s processes. They may even know the current system inside and out but an MSP will work to fully understand all-processes even before they begin their service agreement. In addition, they will also look for places of improvement and upgrades that an internal team may not be knowledgeable of.
A Managed Service Provider will most likely have many valuable technology resources, employees, and other assets that are available to assist your company when any IT issues occur.
If your in-house IT technician is on vacation, sick, or simply not there, your business’s productivity will decrease dramatically and the issue could escalate to something serious. While a MSP may not be the best option, an MSP provider can always have a technician available if any serious issues arise. This type of solution may not be the best for every business, so it is vital for your business to research and consider what IT needs will best benefit the future of the company.
Many Managed Service Providers will provide a Free-Network Consultation and Analysis of your business to give you an idea of what your business may or may not need.
Managed IT Services VS. In-house IT: What’s the COST?
You are probably wondering by now, how much? From business to business, Information Technology costs may vary drastically. What your company spends on technology ultimately depends on how efficient and stable you want your business’s IT infrastructure to be.
The cost of Managed IT services can also go up if the current technology in your business is outdated or needs remodeling. An MSP will most likely require your business to have certain technology requirements in order to create a dependable and secure IT environment.
The short-term costs of updating equipment may seem like way too much at first. These improvements, however, can save your company from technological disasters such as a network breach, ransomware, or data loss. In addition, these incidents will cause your company downtime and possible legal and financial penalties. The short-term cost of equipment is worth the cost when comparing it to the cost of the possible penalties that come from tech disasters.
The long-term costs of an MSP are more often cheaper than having an in-house IT department. A full-time IT employee or IT department with technology capabilities equivalent to an MSP would likely be more expensive than outsourcing to an MSP. In addition, an in-house IT company will be limited by vacation days, sick leave, etc.
When it comes to the simple cost of an IT Managed Service Provider, they should charge a flat monthly fee that includes all services. This number is typically based off of endpoints and the number of computers. Your MSP will also provide Out of Scope Services and any additional costs that would incur if outside of the contracted project scope.
It is absolutely important for any business to have a clear understanding of the technology that is needed for their business. Also, it is vital for that business to know the type of IT services they will need to increase their business’s productivity and success.
At SADOS, we strive to provide each and every business with a clear understanding of the level of services their business needs in order to be efficient, productive and successful.
