Managed IT Services vs. In-House IT: What Are The Pros & Cons?
In-House IT | IT Professional Services | Managed IT
When considering your options for IT services, there are two main options to consider. You can enlist managed IT services from a managed IT provider or set up an in-house IT department if you don’t already have one.
Depending on your current IT environment, your company’s IT needs and goals, along with the technical skill level of your staff, there are pros and cons to consider for both options.
As a managed IT provider for over ten years, LDI has helped a broad range of clients with pre-existing in-house IT departments and clients without any IT help at all. Our Managed IT division works with prospects and clients alike to meet them where they are in their IT journey to help them make the best decision for their business.
This article will feature the pros and cons of managed IT services and in-house IT. After reading this article, you will have a better idea of which option is better for your business moving forward.
What Are The Pros & Cons Of Managed IT Services?
Managed IT services involve working with a managed IT provider that monitors your IT environment and network, and offers remote and onsite helpdesk support; while keeping the IT environment up-to-date and secure.
Companies that prefer to get their IT support from a managed IT provider; do so because managed IT services are simple, effective, and provide quality work. However, partnering with a managed It provider can yield both pros and cons.
Let’s identify the main pros and cons of working with managed IT services.
PROS:
Access To Industry Experts & Specialists
Suppose your business is considering managed IT services. In that case, you most likely don’t have access to experts in the IT field, nor the knowledge of what types of technology can optimize your IT environment.
That might sound harsh but think about it. If you require IT help, a managed IT provider will not only have a team of dedicated IT technicians that can answer your questions, but they’ll be able to recommend IT solutions you may have never heard of before.
For example, after assessing your current IT infrastructure, a managed IT provider can recommend solutions that will improve your security posture, such as creating a cybersecurity plan and implementing malware protection software across all of your network devices.
In addition, a managed IT provider will be able to recommend necessary IT solutions that fit your budget and meet your current needs.
Gain Control Of IT Costs
Many service plans will often be at a flat, stable, and monthly rate of service that can either be based on the number of users or the number of devices being monitored. A massive perk of getting managed IT services monthly is that it can be easier for you as the customer to budget around.
Most importantly, your company will get an in-depth view of how much its current IT environment costs versus the cost of your optimized IT environment after applying the MSP’s IT recommendations.
There is typically no extra cost for remote and onsite support when paying for managed IT services. Remote and onsite helpdesk support is included in that monthly rate.
For example, suppose one of your employee’s computers isn’t turning on. In that case, your employee can call your managed IT provider to get support. The Managed IT representative will more than likely walk your employee through various troubleshooting methods before sending out an onsite technician who will provide a closer evaluation of your employee’s computing device.
A reputable managed IT provider will be clear and upfront about how much your services will cost and what will be covered in the fees you pay.
CONS:
Limited On-Site Availability
When considering working with a managed IT provider, most onsite technicians do not work round the clock. Therefore, if your company notices an issue at 8 pm, your managed IT provider will most likely send out an onsite technician the next day during regular business hours.
While a managed IT provider should always strive to provide optimal customer support, it’s just not possible to have onsite technicians on-call 24/7.
It Takes Time Finding The Right MSP
Not every managed services provider is the same. MSPs don’t always follow the same business model.
While some MSP’s priortize customer support, others may value getting to the root of the problem as quickly as possible. Ideally, you’d want a provider that does both.
However, you as the customer need to be prepared that your search for the right managed IT services may take some time and effort on your part. Choosing the right managed IT provider involves solidifying a long-term relationship with a provider that will more than likely act as an extension of your company.
Ideally, the managed IT provider you’re bringing on board has to align with your company values and understand your needs if the relationship is ever going to work long-term.
Which Are The Pros & Cons Of In-House IT?
Companies hiring a new employee or team to handle day-to-day IT operations are more common than you think. While small to medium-sized businesses aren’t likely to afford an entire team all at once, some prefer hiring one person to deal with their IT needs.
Whether your company is considering hiring one dedicated IT person or a whole team of IT specialists, there are pros and cons to consider.
Let’s dive into what those exact pros and cons are.
PROS:
It Involves A Hands-On Approach
Whether your company is considering hiring one or more employees for an in-house IT department or already has a team dedicated to IT tasks, your in-house IT will have to take a hands-on approach to its IT environment.
What does this mean? Well, monitoring your own IT environment involves developing an enhanced internal knowledge of your network devices, the security software you are currently using, and the current cybersecurity plan in place should a data breach occur.
Luckily, having in-house IT means that you will receive immediate support for any IT issue when needed.
However, this hands-on approach requires personnel knowledgeable in more than one area of IT and can keep calm under pressure.
Customizable
With in-house IT, your company can set the pace as to how quickly an issue gets resolved. In addition, you can create a to-do list of all the upgrades and problems that need to be addressed within your IT environment.
An in-house IT department can customize its guidelines, regulations, and access control to help mitigate security risks from unauthorized personnel.
Encouraging your in-house IT to customize your IT environment to the needs of the business can empower them to create a well-designed, secure, and productive IT environment.
CONS:
Hiring A In-House IT Department Can Be Pricey
In-house IT can be pricey.
Hiring your own in-house IT department involves higher personnel costs that include salaries, raises, insurance benefits, office supplies, training, and onboarding, as well as taxes.
In addition, factor in any possible overtime charges for after-hours security emergencies. Security emergencies can also lead to a devastating amount of money lost if your new hires aren’t as experienced at their position.
Ransomware attacks have become more rampant lately among various organizations. Ensuring that your team undergoes cybersecurity training is imperative to mitigate any security risks or ransomware attacks from occurring down the line.
Inefficient
It may seem that having an in-house IT department could help resolve potential IT issues quicker. However, your in-house IT technicians taking sick leave and vacation time can threaten your department’s level of productivity as a whole.
In addition, your other employees may not understand what constitutes an actual IT problem versus an issue they can solve independently.
Unfortunately, those same employees may take advantage of the fact that there’s an IT team dedicated to resolving issues. They may even end up walking down the hallway or calling in-house IT for any problem, no matter how small.
For example, suppose an employee does not know how to open up Microsoft Teams on their computer. An issue like that would not constitute an IT problem and, if brought up to in-house IT, can delay a severe IT issue from being resolved.
This alone can be a distraction and get in the way of solving actual IT-related problems.
Is Managed IT Services Or In-House IT Right For Your Business?
If your company is considering managed IT services or in-house IT, it will help to first evaluate your current business requirements. Let’s say your company rather not trust an outside party to handle their IT and cybersecurity needs. In-house IT may be a better fit for you.
If your company is looking for long-term IT solutions that optimize and consistently monitor your IT environment, managed IT services would probably be the better option.
Regardless of which form of IT you end up choosing. The fact is that you are ready to take the next step to improve your cybersecurity is what matters.
Our Managed IT division at LDI can help assess your IT infrastructure to recommend software, hardware, and services that best fit your needs. Speak to an LDI representative today to learn more about Managed IT Services and how they can help your business.
