Every business has different IT needs. For some, especially small growing businesses, a managed service provider (MSP) is clearly the right choice. For others, an internal IT department is a must. And finally, some businesses find themselves with an IT person on staff and utilizies some services of an MSP. However, if you’re trying to figure out if an MSP or internal IT department or even both is right for you, keep reading.
An MSP is Often More Cost-Effective
Many businesses who switched from an IT staff member to an MSP report anywhere from a 40% to 60% savings on their IT costs. When you sign on with an MSP, you have a predictable monthly expense. That makes budgeting easy. Services offered are scalable. Maybe you need a select set of services today but next year (or quarter or month) you need more. Just let your MSP know and they can change your service agreement. However, if you hire an IT person with a limited skillset and your needs change, you’ll be stuck paying for their ongoing training and certifications or hiring someone new. Plus you have the added benefit that your MSP won’t take a sick day leaving you stuck when a problem happens.
Internal IT Departments/People Know Your Business Better
Although a good MSP will get to know your business, when you have someone in your business daily, they’re bound to know your business better. They are also better able to ensure that IT and social media policies are adhered to as they are in the office and know the team personally.
Response Time & Ability to Resolve the Problem
This is a category where either an MSP or internal IT team/person could claim superiority. If an IT person is in the same office, they can respond almost immediately in most cases. Unless they’re at lunch, out sick, or handling another problem with a higher priority. Depending on the contract with your MSP, they may have anywhere from one hour to 24 hours to respond to your issue. However, because an MSP is usually a team of people, they have a greater ability to resolve the issue in a timely manner.
For Many Businesses it’s Not MSP or Internal IT Team, It’s Both
There are many businesses who need someone on staff to handle day-to-day needs. However, it isn’t always cost effective for the in-house IT to handle everything. That’s why an MSP can compliment your IT needs. Many companies utilize an MSP for certain services. At Toucan, we offer custom contracts. That means whether you just need data backup and recovery, we can do that. Or, if you need someone to cover your IT person when they’re out sick or on vacation or can’t solve the problem, we can do that too. You choose what services you’d like us to provide and we’ll be there when you need us.
Interested in Learning More About How an MSP Can Help Your Business?
Call Toucan Technology Group. We offer free consultations to learn about your business and make recommendations about how we can either compliment your internal IT person or team or become your managed service provider handling your day-to-day technology needs. We offer both contracts for ongoing services as well as a la carte services for Wi-Fi testing, network installation, hardware, and more. Call (317) 376-4874 or fill out our contact form today to schedule your free consultation.
