IT is an integral part of most businesses these days, whether they operate online or not. From running a website to working with cloud-based systems, chances are your employees are dealing with any number of IT problems on a daily basis. For larger companies, having an in-house IT department makes a lot of sense, as it means you can handle problems instantly. For smaller companies, in-house IT personnel are less cost-effective, so in this article, we are going to examine whether paying for managed IT support is sensible for your business.
Reduced Cost
Cost is a primary factor in business decision making, and for good reason. Poor cash flow can ruin a good business, and if you don’t manage your expenditure properly, the business won’t survive.
One of the main reasons why paying for managed IT services from an external contractor makes sense for many businesses is because it is cheaper. The cost of hiring in-house IT personnel is steep, and the more people you need, the more it will cost you annually. In addition, employing people is less flexible than outsourcing, as you can’t just ‘let them go’ when you no longer need their services.
Outsourcing IT services is cheaper if systems can be managed remotely and your operation is relatively simple.
24/7 IT Support
Using external IT contractors means you have access to 24/7 IT support, 365 days a year. Whilst in-house IT people might in theory be available, they are unlikely to be thrilled at being called out on Christmas day to fix a server problem. When you outsource, staff availability is not your problem and you don’t need to worry about finding someone to sort the issue.
Greater Expertise On Hand
It’s expensive paying for in-house IT people to keep up with the latest developments in software and hardware, cybersecurity, and other relevant areas. If you have an IT department, the business will have to cover the cost of continuous professional development in addition to the usual employment costs. When you outsource, the contractors servicing your business have the latest skills and often have unique skillsets you might not find in a few employees. In addition, because external contractors have to stay up to date with the latest regulations, you don’t need to worry about remaining compliant with thorny issues such as data protection.
Simplified IT Management
Managing complex IT systems can be tricky when done in-house. Outsourcing means it can all be done remotely, which will incur fewer costs and make life a lot easier. This allows you to concentrate on more important areas of the business, such as finding new clients.
Scaleability
Scaling IT services up and down is expensive. Outsourcing lets you hire IT assistance when you need it, rather than having someone on-call all the time, even though you might not need them. Opt for a PAYG plan if this makes sense for your business.
There are some cons to using an external IT management agency, but for most businesses, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
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