When it comes to IT for your business, you have a couple of options. Option one is building an in-house IT department, option two is paying an external company to manage your IT needs for you. There is also a hybrid version, known as co-managed IT. This is a mix of both, when you have a small internal team and an external IT team. This blog will tell you the benefits of each option to help you decide what is best for your business.
What is in-house IT?
In-house IT refers to hiring employees that are dedicated to managing your companies IT infrastructure and systems. They handle day-to-day IT support, maintenance, systems upgrades, IT strategy and more. This is team works solely for your business and your team, and are on-hand for any technical issues.
Benefits of having an in-house IT team
- You have direct control over priorities, workflows, and strategy decisions.
- Your internal teams understand your business and systems inside-out.
- If they’re on-site, any hardware or network issues are addresses and resolved quickly.
What is outsourced managed IT?
Managed IT services involve outsourcing your IT operations to an external provider, such as Techcare. This partner, known as an MSP (managed services provider) acts as a virtual IT department, providing round the clock support, shaping the overall IT strategy, cybersecurity services, and more. This team also provides support for a number of other businesses but have the agility to act quickly during a tech emergency.
Benefits of outsourced managed IT?
- The cost of managed IT is lower than having an internal IT team. You pay a predictable monthly fee instead of salaries, benefits, recruitment fees etc.
- You have access to a range of experts with different specialities, instead of a couple of set in-house team members.
- Outsourced IT is scalable and flexible depending on your business needs.
- Proactive monitoring and maintenance mean that problems are often solved before you even know they existed.
- MSPs have access to cutting-edge cybersecurity software that wouldn’t be cost effective for one individual company.
Should your business choose internal IT or an MSP?
There are a few factors to consider when weighing up your decision between in-house and outsourced IT.
Company size & growth plans
Small to medium businesses (SMBs) benefit from managed services due to the lower costs and access to expertise. Larger business often opt for the co-managed approach, which an internal IT team for day-to-day IT and an outsourced team for specialised tasks for overflow support tasks.
IT complexity
Consider the tasks and responsibilities that need to be covered; cloud infrastructure, remote teams, cybersecurity, etc. That’s a lot for a small internal team to manage. MSPs give you access to several IT experts to cover complex needs.
Budget & resources
Internal IT costs require significant upfront investment and monthly costs including salaries, employee benefits, and more. MSPs require predictable, transparent monthly payments that are often cheaper than internal IT costs. You also have to consider internal teams are not available round the clock, and require annual leave or sick days that leave the team understaffed.
Business priorities
If business growth is your top priority, then you don’t want to be bothered with IT headaches. An MSP can look after your technology while you can focus on innovation and customer satisfaction.
Co-managed IT: the best of both worlds
As I mentioned earlier, there is a hybrid option. Co-managed IT support includes both an internal and outsourced IT team, each with their own priorities. The internal team can handle on-site tasks and internal processes, while an MSP is responsible for strategic support, 24/7 monitoring, and technology strategy. This is a great option for businesses that want to retain internal control.
Final thoughts
The right choice depends on your budget, business plans, and internal resources. If you feel like you spending too much time on tech issues, or you’re facing cybersecurity concerns, then it’s beneficial to hand over responsibility to a team of experts.
If you need help deciding what’s best for your business, then please get in touch and we can have a chat about your options.
