Are you a business owner? Then you will know that technology is a crucial aspect to run smooth and secure operations.
But did you know that there are two different ways to handle your IT requirements? You can choose to either manage them through an in-house team or opt for managed IT services.
The question, now, is the following: How do you know which approach is best for you?
Look no further than this article. We are about to reveal what the differences between outsourced and in-house IT are, and when you should go for managed services.
What Does a Managed IT Service Provider Do?
As the name itself suggests, a managed IT service provider is a company that specializes in the provision of technology services. The type of services can vary a bit, but in general, it includes network, application, infrastructure, and security.
To learn exactly what these services are, you can find more information here.
The services offered by a managed IT provider can be delivered either through the provider’s own data center, or via the client’s. Sometimes, managed service providers offer their own in-house built products and solutions. In other cases, they only manage third-party ones.
More and more companies are leaning towards this type of IT support as opposed to building their own IT team. This can have several benefits, as we are about to discover.
When Should a Company Choose to Outsource Their IT?
For companies around the world and operating in all sectors, the hiring process can be incredibly expensive. Imagine, then, how costly it would be to carry out this process with the aim of building an entire department from scratch. To put it plain and simple, many businesses just don’t have the budget.
These tend to be small and medium-sized companies, as well as nimble startups or solo entrepreneurs. And this is the perfect context for a managed IT service provider to thrive.
Some of the Most Striking Benefits of the Outsourced IT Approach
Bootstrapped companies that choose to outsource the management and maintenance of their IT can achieve a lot. First of all, they can save money. Managed IT providers, in fact, offer flexible, pay-per-use rates which enable clients to only pay for their effective usage.
Working with an external provider also delivers much more flexibility. If your company is suddenly experiencing a boom, they can scale up their services in accordance. Likewise, if you are going through a very quiet time, you can pause some services altogether, without having to pay for them.
A managed service provider is also a security expert, which is crucial now that cyber threats and hacker attacks are at an all-time high. External providers have unmatched knowledge of data and system security. This means that your company will always be running the latest and most sophisticated security protocols.
At the same time, their constant system and activity monitoring ensure that anything suspicious is spotted and dealt with at lightning speed.
Another impressive advantage of opting for outsourced IT? The ability to always deploy the best and most advanced software solutions. By planning out your IT roadmap and aligning it with your business goals, an external provider will always know exactly what type of technology works best for you.
Last but not least, IT providers also offer around-the-clock support. This means that they will always be able to help your company fix all types of IT issues, no matter when they occur. Having this peace of mind is often viewed as one of the most convincing factors for companies choosing the outsourced IT approach.
How About in-House IT?
At this point, you might wonder whether in-house IT should never be considered a viable option. Again, it all depends on the type of business that you are running, your available budget, and your business goals and priorities.
Larger and wealthier corporations can often prefer to handle their IT requirements in house. This entails hiring a range of IT specialists in order to build a dedicated department.
Managing your own IT can, in certain cases, generate some important advantages. For example, you can ensure top data protection and confidentiality. This can be essential, in particular, if you operate in a highly regulated sector like finance or healthcare.
In-house IT experts also have a more thorough understanding of your company’s challenges and goals. This, again, can be a significant competitive advantage for some organizations.
Another interesting aspect of hiring your own IT staff is the fact that you are building some crucial internal knowledge. Your company might become a “star” in managing the best and most productive technologies, which can set you apart from your rivals.
Discover the Advantages of Choosing Managed IT Services
Many small and medium-sized companies seem to prefer managed IT services over hiring an in-house IT team. This approach has many advantages, including higher cost-efficiency, security, and flexibility.
Bigger corporations with more sizeable budgets, though, might prefer to build their own IT department. By doing so, they can maintain closer and more thorough control over their own data and systems, and minimize external threats.
Will your company opt for managed services or in-house IT? Either way, it’s paramount that you only work with the best and most reliable IT experts.
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