Both small and large businesses can benefit by working with IT companies to improve their computer systems. By using a managed service provider or outsourcing your IT you can hire experts in your field for a fraction of the cost of building an in house IT Support team.
Both options are great choices but the terms outsourcing and managed service provider often get confused. Today we will be looking at both models and how they differ. By the end of the article, you will know if either is suitable for your business.
What is IT outsourcing?
Any time you hire an outside party to work on your business you are technically outsourcing. With IT outsourcing, providers typically run on a break/fix model where something breaks and you phone tech support and then they will talk to you over the phone on how to fix the problem.
Remote tech support may also access your computer systems via remote software and take control of your computer to fix the problem. This process takes time and often the user’s computer system is down until the problem is fixed.
A break/fix model for IT doesn’t try and prevent computer problems and because of this, you can expect to experience downtime every time a problem occurs.
Managed services are a form of outsourced services. However when people talk about managed services they generally mean an IT outsourcing company that integrates within your business. Typically this integration is a proactive IT support model.
What is a proactive IT support model?
A proactive support model is when an outsourced IT team integrates within your business. You can think of them as a consultant. They will improve your processes, and fix problems before they occur through constant monitoring and they will also suggest new fixes to keep your business running as smoothly as possible.
With a proactive IT support model, you can expect less downtime and if you do experience a problem it should be fixed quicker than your typical break/fix model.
An MSP can identify security risks, monitor your network activity and schedule maintenance tasks to keep your business running smoothly.
There are downsides to hiring an MSP that provides a proactive support model such as it’s more expensive. All of the costs are upfront before any problems have occurred as you will need to pay the consultants to monitor your system. However, this is often ok for larger companies as any downtime can be far more costly.
Choosing between the break/fix model and a proactive model will usually come down to your company’s budget. Both models work, but you will need to find the model that works for your business.
The benefits of an MSP include:
- When a problem does occur, your tech support knows your system.
- You know how much your support is going to cost each month.
- You will experience less downtime.
- You will have access to a large number of computer experts for the fraction of the cost of building an in house IT support team.
Your business will be different from another so it’s always good to talk to a tech support company like Bedrock IT. At Bedrock IT, we have been providing support and IT services in the Ottawa area for many years and our expert technicians are always happy to help.
If you would like to learn more about outsourcing your tech support please get in touch today.
Deciding which option is best for your business
Choosing the best option for your business can always be difficult so if you are stuck and don’t know which option would be best for you then we always advise talking to a tech support consultant first.
With all of that said, you can rest assured that either option is better than having to tech support at all. Hiring a managed service provider or outsourcing your problems as and when they occur will give you access to industry experts for a fraction of the cost of building an IT support team in your business.
The main difference between managed services and outsourcing
The main difference between managed services and outsourcing is that one is seen as an as and when service and another is a fixed partnership that’s invested in your business.
The break/fix model of tech support is going to fix your problems for a fee while hiring a managed service provider is going to do that while looking for ways to improve your network and business.
Tips for hiring an MSP
Hiring an MSP can be a daunting task. Business owners often don’t like surrendering control of their internal operations, and they also don’t like the idea of giving someone access to their data. These are two understandable objections that someone may have. Our advice would be to go with a reputable company that has provided these services to others in the past.
You may also want to consider hiring an MSP that has worked with clients in your niche too. That way they can understand your market and the challenges you could face.
Our final tip would be to check what is included in your service level agreement. Your SLA will outline what is provided by your managed service provider. It’s vital to check this because if something were to go wrong and you aren’t covered for it you could end up spending more than you bargained for.
Final thoughts
Whether you choose to outsource your IT support when something breaks or you would prefer to have a team in place monitoring your company’s tech, you can be sure that IT support will always benefit your business.
This article has taken a look at the differences between managed services and outsourcing. It’s also looked at the different models of tech support including the break/fix model and proactive support.
With all of this information, you should now have a better idea of what your company should be looking for when it comes to IT support.
