subject: How do managed IT services compare to in-house IT services? [print this page] How do managed IT services compare to in-house IT services?
Companies faced with IT problems have two choices call in the managed IT services company they are outsourcing, or keep the problem solving in-house with a dedicated IT department or expert. Both options have their own pros and cons, and depending on the size of the company and the IT needs they may have, companies may benefit more from outsourcing, even if they do have a dedicated specialist on board.
The biggest advantages of considering managed IT services include the following:
Operating costs are controlled and reduced
When companies outsourced their managed IT services, many costs that are associated with hiring an employee, from management oversight, to training, health insurance, employment taxes, retirement plans and other related employee benefits are done away with.
Company focus is improved
Even if you have a dedicated IT specialist on board, chances are good that they are not responsible for only IT duties. Outsourcing managed IT services allows your company to focus on major roles, while the IT experts focus on their roles.
Get access to the best technology and latest training
Outsourcing your IT concerns to a company is skilled in their area of focus gives you the benefit of a broader range of skills within an entire company of IT experts rather than the limited experience of one professional who may not have access to the latest training and technology. Outsourced IT companies often send their technicians for training and certification, ensuring that they are constantly on the ball with latest developments and technologies.
Free internal resources for other purposes
Some companies may have an IT department, or even just an IT person but is their role entirely focused on problem resolution, or do they perform another main role in the company alongside IT problem resolution? Outsourcing managed IT services enable you to keep your employees for their skills and best usage, rather than wasting their valuable time on things that may take them longer than someone who is trained in these specific areas, such as a managed IT services company.
No dedicated IT help is on hand
On the other hand, you may not have any IT department or skilled IT person on hand. You might be considering hiring a new employee to take on this role, but once again consider the costs (and the high salaries that IT professionals deserve) of hiring a new employee over the costs of hiring managed IT services on an outsourced basis, and you will start to see why the latter is more cost-effective. Outsourcing is an excellent investment, both for short-term assistance and for the long-term.
Out of control problems or serious issues
Sometimes a problem may arise that is simply too much for one IT person to control. An entire network might go down from a virus or a server might crash and your IT expert may simply lack the experience and skills to handle the problem. IT companies are trained to deal with problems of all scale, from small quick jobs to huge disasters.
Risks are reduced with skill and experience
Trying to keep up with the technology that is needed to run a business is expensive and time consuming. IT companies work with multiple clients and adhere to industry best practices, with a high level of knowledge and experience that dramatically reduces your risk of implementing a costly decision that may not be right. This is why managed IT services are by far the best option.
