4 Advantages of Managed IT Over In-House IT

It’s tempting to hire an in-house IT technician, but is it the right decision for your business? If you’re like most businesses, you’re always on the lookout for ways to save money while improving results. Sometimes this means expanding your staff to include a team of tech specialists at your beck and call, but this can often be an unnecessary expense that leaves you with highly paid employees twiddling their thumbs all day. For SMEs who are looking for the best of both worlds, we recommend Managed IT services.

Put simply, Managed IT is a solution which gives you that team of specialist technicians and network experts, without the ‘quick, look busy’ element – and at a fraction of the cost. Naturally, you’d rather see your IT budget working to support your growth and kept as low as possible. That’s our focus too, and why we don’t simply maintain and repair your systems. We proactively monitor to avoid downtime and work with you to ensure your IT increases productivity and efficiency.

Whether you already have in-house IT and are auditing the value, or are curious about what having Managed IT support might look like for your business, we’ve put together a few factors to consider before making your choice:

1. Availability

Most employees work 9-5, but what happens if something goes wrong with your systems outside these hours? Your in-house technician won’t appreciate being woken at 1am and called in for emergency repairs. It’s more likely that they simply won’t answer the call (or hear it). And if they do, expect some hefty contract renegotiation come 9am. Managed IT is very different as we expect problems after hours and have support technicians ready. We know that every minute of downtime is affecting your revenue and business reputation; we prioritize getting your systems up and running asap. Additionally, these type of IT disasters are rare. We stay proactive, constantly monitoring and correcting problems before they occur.

2. Total Cost

One of the things that may have attracted you to having an in-house technician is the cost. But while you may be able to pay them a lower hourly rate, there are extra costs like hiring, training, ongoing training, healthcare, and retirement. Once you start adding up the cost of an in-house technician, you might find it’s eating up your IT budget and leaving you scrambling to fill gaps you didn’t expect. Upgrades get delayed, opportunities missed, and IT expenses become a sore point. In comparison, Managed IT is one fixed monthly rate delivering enormous value, including access to specialists across all software applications and technology.

Click here to learn more about how Managed IT can save your budget.

3. Ongoing Training

Putting aside the fact your technician will often spend entire weeks away upgrading their skills and leaving you scrambling for support while they’re gone, those training costs quickly add up. With a salaried technician, you’ll have to pay all ongoing training and certification costs, plus travel costs for industry conferences. We know how important it is to remain current, certified, and skilled in new technologies, so we spend the money to invest in ourselves so we can serve you better. We’re part of industry related communities and attend multiple conferences each year, all at our own expense.

4. Different Goals

For most employees, a higher wage is the goal and many will job-hop to achieve that. A salaried tech may be looking for higher paying opportunities, often leveraging all the training you’ve just provided.  In these modern times, switching jobs regularly is expected, with an average of only 3 years in each position. Considering how much it cost your business to acquire, train, and up-skill your technician, 3 years is an unreasonable ROI. Our goals couldn’t be more different – we aim to keep you a happy customer for as long as we can!

In the end, your business needs to find the right balance between profit and expertise. When you partner with our Managed IT, you’re securing availability, ever-increasing expertise and commitment to your success. We work closely with you to provide the very best support and protect you from costly IT disasters, taking preemptive action to keep you safe and operational.

There’s no doubt Managed IT is a better decision than hiring an in-house technician, and we’d be delighted to prove it to you.

We’d love to meet with you and further discuss how Managed IT can benefit your business.

Click here to schedule a free 15-minute meeting with Stan Kats, Client Engagement Specialist and Senior Technologist.

STG IT Consulting Group proudly serves the Los Angeles and West Hollywood area for all of your IT needs. We look forward to meeting with you!