Deciding whether to outsource your IT services? You’re not alone – many businesses are facing the same challenge. Managing technology takes away too much valuable time that could be better spent on growing your business. So, what are your options? You could hire a full-time IT department. But, if you’re a small business it doesn’t make financial sense. A better option is to hire a managed IT service provider.

We broke down the pros and cons when it comes to outsourcing your IT services, so you can find that option that best suits your company.

In-house IT support: Pros

Quick turnaround time for IT issues: By hiring a full-time IT employee, your technical issues will be resolved quickly – there’ll be minimal wait times for technology to be fixed.

Cost control: That full-time employee also comes with a full-time salary and perks. On one hand, your IT costs are fixed to the salary of the employee. On another hand, do your IT needs require full-time support? If not, you could be paying more than the cost of outsourcing.

In-house IT support: Cons

Hidden costs: Hiring a full-time IT support staff is more than just a salary. Think: benefits, a company vehicle and even covering the cost of travel. And if you have a one-person IT department, you need a backup plan for when they’re away.

Limitations: A one-person IT team, or a small IT team may still need support from an outside service. Whether that’s due to vacation, or lacking the expertise needed for a certain issue or situation. Be cautious; you may end up spending even more money on additional resources and training.

Outsourcing IT: Pros

Cost Effective: Outsourcing managed IT services is generally less expensive than having full-time staff members. You’ll save money on training, certifications, travel and more. And don’t forget you can generally negotiate a service level agreement or retainer so your costs can remain fixed the majority of the time.

24/7 Access: Most managed IT services offer 24/7 or after hours service and monitoring. And, a good IT company should be able to fix most problems through remote access to your computers – a tech doesn’t even have to be there to resolve your issue. So you don’t have to worry about a slow turnaround time for resolving tech problems.

Outsourcing IT: Cons

Distance: Depending on where your business is located, there may not be an IT company close to you. What does this mean? Your issues may have to be resolved remotely most of the time. But don’t worry – this is a best practice anyways as it gives you the quickest service. If you do have an issue that needs to be resolved in person, discuss this process with your IT company ahead of time so you can both mutually agree on the level of service you’re paying for.

Remember, a good IT company will be flexible to meet the IT needs of your business. With that being said, outsourcing will ultimately give you a competitive edge and allow you to focus on the core processes of your business.

Ready to leave the technical issues to trusted professionals? Send us a message – let’s find a solution that works for your business!