IT support is crucial for growing your business and keeping it safe from cyber threats. When it comes to managed IT services, co-managed IT, and outsourcing IT, it can be tough to decide which option is best for your organization. Each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to understand what each entails before making a decision.
In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between these three options so you can make an informed decision about which is right for you.
What Are Managed IT Services?
Managed IT services are the proactive management of an organization’s IT infrastructure and end-user systems by a third party known as a managed service provider (MSP). MSPs deliver a comprehensive set of services that an in-house IT department would traditionally provide, including 24/7 monitoring, Help Desk support, security, patch management, and more.
Pros of Managed IT Services
These services have great features that transform your IT infrastructure.
- Cost-Effective: When you outsource your IT management to an MSP, you no longer have to pay for expensive in-house staff and equipment.
- Proactive Management: With managed IT services, your IT infrastructure is constantly maintained and monitored 24/7. This proactive approach can help prevent issues before they cause downtime or data loss.
- Dedicated Staff: When you partner with an MSP, you have access to a team of highly trained and experienced IT professionals. These IT professionals are solely dedicated to keeping your systems running smoothly.
Cons of Managed IT Services
While managed IT offers many benefits, the cons can outweigh the benefits for some companies.
- Scope: While MSPs offer a comprehensive list of offerings, you only receive what you signed up for. Any outside services you want later can change your monthly budget.
- Extra Communication: It’s important to remember that your MSP is not an in-house department, so communicating clearly about the ins and outs of your company is crucial to the overall success of your technology infrastructure. MSPs can provide the best service when they have open communication with your office and are treated as an extension of your team.
What Is Co-Managed IT?
Co-managed IT is a model where an organization’s in-house IT staff works hand-in-hand with an MSP. In this model, the MSP acts as an extension of the in-house IT team, providing supplemental services and expertise as needed. Co-managed IT is a great resource for organizations that have a limited IT staff or for those who want to offload some of the day-to-day management of their IT infrastructure.
Pros of Co-Managed IT
There are several benefits of co-managed IT services that can enhance your current IT infrastructure.
- Diverse Specialties: If you need a skill that your in-house IT staff don’t specialize in, then you will need to go through the costly process of hiring another employee. But co-managed IT staffs a wide variety of professionals who specialize in diverse areas of IT.
- Increased Control: Co-managed IT gives you more control over your organization’s IT infrastructure and delegated tasks than managed IT services.
- Better Coverage: Co-managed IT fills in the gaps of traditional in-house IT departments. It provides resources that can keep your business secure and competitive.
Cons of Co-Managed IT
While co-managed IT is a great option, there are a few points to consider.
- Increased Cost: Having an in-house IT department and co-managed IT services means paying for two teams, making your IT department costly. However, it’s still less expensive to pay an outsourced team rather than hire additional in-house employees.
- Friction between Teams: If your in-house IT team and the MSP don’t work well together, this can lead to tension and conflict.
- Restructuring Your Process: You might need to change the way your IT department functions in order to fully integrate the outsourced team. Restructuring takes time and also requires training.
What Is Outsourcing IT?
Outsourcing IT covers a wide range of IT services. It even includes outsourcing managed IT services. Companies can customize what services they want outsourced and to what extent. Outsourcing IT can be a good option for organizations that do not have the internal resources to effectively manage their IT infrastructure.
Pros of Outsourcing IT
Many businesses have turned to outsourcing for their needs. Here are some of the pros.
- Cost-Savings: Like MSPs, outsourcing IT saves you money on purchasing equipment and in-house expenses and salaries.
- Access to Latest Technologies: New technology helps businesses stay competitive, but buying new technology on your own is expensive. Outsourced IT makes access to the newest technologies affordable.
- Increased Efficiency: Outsourcing IT will help your business run more efficiently by streamlining your processes. A more efficient process frees up more time for your business to focus on its core competencies.
Cons of Outsourcing IT
Besides being a popular option, there are potential drawbacks to outsourcing IT services.
- Remote Outsourcing Team: Remote work requires excellent and constant communication. Since IT departments work on a ticketing system, there can be a disconnect with other departments in the company if there is no clear line of communication.
- Initial Lack of Internal Familiarity: It may take some time for your outsourced IT to familiarize itself with your business. There is a learning curve on both sides to get accustomed with the new processes and procedures.
Choose the Best Option with ITS Group
Knowing which IT option to choose is the hard part, but picking a provider is easy. At ITS Group, we offer all three options. No matter what your organization’s needs are, we can create a tailored solution that best fits your organization.
Schedule a consultation with us today!