As companies grow increasingly reliant on IT tools for their operations, they need to keep these tech solutions accessible and running smoothly at all times. Unfortunately, IT issues, such as jammed printers and forgotten passwords, are bound to happen. That’s why many businesses opt to outsource their IT requirements to a third party, either a break/fix technician or a managed IT services provider (MSP).
Both providers have pros and cons, so which one is the best choice for your company? To answer this question, let’s first understand how break/fix IT support differs from managed IT services.
What is Break/Fix IT Support?
Break/fix IT support is the traditional model of outsourcing IT, whereby businesses call on an external provider only when they experience an issue with their technology. In other words, you pay for these services only when something breaks down or needs to be fixed.
What are Managed IT Services?
Unlike break/fix IT support, managed IT services aim to prevent IT issues from escalating or even happening. An MSP achieves such a goal by proactively maintaining and continuously monitoring their clients’ IT infrastructures. This way, they can detect and resolve potential problems right away. This also enables them to keep IT systems running at peak performance at all times.
If your company opts for this service, you’ll have to pay a fixed monthly fee to your MSP for their services.
What are the Pros and Cons of Break/Fix IT Support?
The primary advantage of break/fix IT support is that you pay for the services only when you need them. This makes this type of support more budget-friendly for small businesses that have limited resources. Break/fix IT is also a good choice if your company has in-house IT personnel who can handle most of the technical issues. In such a case, you would only need to contact a technician for more complex issues.
However, break/fix IT support can be quite costly in the long run because you’re essentially paying for every single IT issue that comes up. And if the technician takes a long time to resolve an issue, you may be in for a shockingly huge bill — an unexpected expense that can mess up your company’s cash flow. If you wind up working with a dishonest break/fix technician, they may provide only quick fixes so that you’ll have recurring IT issues that need fixing. After all, they make more money when more problems occur.
Additionally, break/fix IT support is reactive, which means that technical problems could cause significant disruptions to your business operations before they’re resolved. If you can’t access your IT systems, you may miss out on potential sales and experience a drop in employee productivity.
What are the Pros and Cons of Managed IT Services?
One of the main advantages of managed IT services is that they can help businesses avoid unexpected downtime and disruptions to their operations. Partnering with an MSP can be more cost-effective in the long run, as businesses are less likely to experience unexpected repair costs.
The main downside of managed IT services is that you’ll have to pay for the MSP’s time on an ongoing basis, rather than only when something needs to be fixed.
Which Type of IT Service is Right for Your Business?
The answer depends on a number of factors, including your budget, your company’s reliance on technology, and your tolerance for downtime. However, many businesses are now shifting to managed IT services since the cost of extended IT downtime is far too much compared to the affordable, fixed monthly fee of MSPs.
If you’re still not sure which option is best for you, it’s always a good idea to speak to a professional IT consultant who can assess your specific needs and recommend the best solution for your business.
