Managed IT vs. In-House Technician: Which option is best for your business?

Businesses utilize various technologies that are critical to their operations. From something as simple as Outlook to a SharePoint collaboration platform to software that automates payroll, technology permeates every nook and cranny of our workflow and a single IT glitch can jeopardize productivity and cause business downtime.

It is therefore vital that all company hardware and software are managed and maintained regularly to avoid unwanted interruptions due to cyber attacks or technology breakdowns. Big businesses will have no problem doing this because they have the necessary resources to put up their own IT department that will take care of any technology-related concerns. However, small- to medium-sized business (SMBs) do not have the same resources, nor the same IT needs as big companies.

You still need to manage your technology even though you may have a smaller workforce, fewer devices, and limited budget for IT support. In this case, either hiring an in-house IT expert or having remote IT support from a managed services provider (MSP) might prove to be better choices. To help you decide which set up is right for your business, let’s take a look at three critical differences between in-house IT and outsourced managed IT.

1. Cost-effectiveness

In-House IT: According to Glassdoor, a website that allows employees to review companies they work or have worked for, the average cost of hiring a regular on-site IT person in Chicago is $45,000 per year. On top of this, you will have to pay for employee benefits and shell out money for their training and development. And even after training the person, you won’t be sure that they will be the perfect fit for your company. Should they prove to be a mismatch, or should they leave, you will have to go through the rigorous process of hiring and training all over again, incurring more expenses. And these are just the costs for human resources. You will still need to buy servers, hard drives, and other data management equipment.

Managed IT: Managed IT providers, on the other hand, have existing teams of IT experts who can immediately manage your data. As experts, they already have extensive training and experience under their belts. You will have access to both human and technical resources for a fixed monthly fee, allowing you to better forecast and control your expenses. Also, the right MSP gives you more access to cost-effective technology options, because they can provide you with enterprise-level tools for monitoring and support which are otherwise cost-prohibitive or unavailable to buy direct.

2. Reliability

In-House IT: With an IT expert onsite, you might assume that someone will immediately come to the rescue when something goes wrong, but that isn't always the case. While response time can be immediate, what if that person is working on another issue and can't get to you until later? Relying on just one or two people to manage your whole infrastructure may prove to be unwise. What if a cyber attack happens during their days off? What if they suddenly call in sick? You need an IT support team that will handle multiple issues at once and watch over your system 24x7x365.

Managed IT: The managed services model gives you a team of dedicated professionals you can communicate with any time. The outsourced IT department can help multiple users at the same and also provide round-the-clock help desk support, proactive monitoring, and protection. For problems that need to be resolved on-site, your managed IT provider will send a technician to your office. 

3. Expertise

In-House IT: Technology is broad and evolves very quickly, and it’s impossible for one person to know everything about it. Even if you hired the best IT expert in town, he or she would still have limited expertise in certain areas. For example, he or she might be an expert in networking and help desk but would be lacking knowledge in security and customized applications development. You could try to find a jack-of-all-trades, but that could mean that they’re not an expert in anything. You need IT support that has both the depth of knowledge and breadth of experience to address all your IT concerns.

Managed IT: Managed IT resources serve clients in various industries and have dealt with a wide range of IT risks throughout the years. Whether its data security, SharePoint portals, Business Process Improvement or hardware concerns, MSPs have the knowledge and experience to give you the best IT support you need. When implementing new solutions, they will also test the technology on their systems first to make sure that deployment goes without a hitch. MSPs are professionals who only have one focus: to deliver robust and meticulous IT support.

Working with a Managed IT Services company is often more affordable than having your own in-house IT personnel. They also provide a higher level of reliability and expertise versus onsite staff.

If you’re considering a new IT solutions provider for your business, please contact me to schedule a Discovery Meeting. Since 2005, MXOtech has been helping SMBs in the Chicago area manage all their IT issues and concerns. Our goal is simple: to prevent IT problems before they even happen. We will help you tailor the best support plan for your business.