When looking to expand or change the way they run, most businesses will first look to which option will save them more. It’s prudent and practical: money saved in one area is money spent in another.
IT is one of the leading pillars of running a business today; no company can survive long without a strong online and digital presence. However, when something goes wrong with your IT systems, or you need expert upgrades and updates, where do you turn – break/fix or managed services? Which is the best – and most cost-effective – IT support you can give your business?
What are break/fix services?
As the name implies, break/fix services are called upon only when something goes wrong with your IT infrastructure and you need to hire a specialist to fix the issue. They charge an hourly rate to remedy the problem, and once completed, the business between your business and theirs is complete with no further expectations from either side.
This approach means you get IT services only when you decide you need them, whether it’s hardware installation, software upgrades, or network repairs.
- Only pay for what you need: rather than paying an upfront fee and then budgeting a flat fee into your monthly bills, with break/fix services you’re only paying for exactly the IT services you need, when you need them.
- Greater control over your systems: outsourcing your IT means putting your trust in an outside company that will have full access to your system. Keeping an in-house IT team means you determine when, why, and how often you allow outside parties access to your internal software.
- Unexpected problems means unexpected expenses: you can rarely determine when something will go wrong with your IT systems, which means you won’t be able to budget ahead of time. When something breaks, you’ll be forced to pay out-of-pocket whatever the technician charges.
- Hourly fee charged: as break/fix service providers charge on an hourly basis, they aren’t exactly going to be working as fast as they can to get your infrastructure sorted out.
- No guarantee this won’t happen again: break/fix services are modelled around reactive responses, not ongoing solutions. The technician will fix what you’ve asked them to fix without providing any lasting solutions.
- More breaks mean more fixes: since your break/fix technician is paid each time something breaks, they are further disinclined to implement any proactive solutions.
- Longer downtime: your system and servers will be down longer as you seek help and wait for the technicians to respond. Break/fix service providers aren’t familiar with your IT infrastructure, so it will take them extra time to tackle the problem.
What are managed services?
Managed service providers (MSPs) take a proactive approach to IT management and maintenance. The terms of the subscription are detailed in a service-level agreement (SLA) and usually includes remote proactive monitoring and maintenance of your IT systems and servers. Some businesses also choose to include advanced cybersecurity services, or cloud management.
According to Clutch, 59% of IT providers have moved from offering break/fix services to only managed IT services while others are providing both models.
- Easier budgeting: entering an SLA means you’re paying a flat monthly fee for all the MSP’s services, making budgeting much easier and removing the unhappy possibility of unexpected IT bills.
- Pay for the services you need: most MSPs these days customise their IT support plans to suit each individual business’ needs, meaning you will be able to pick and choose – and pay for -only the services you require.
- Updates bundled into the package: IT infrastructure updates and upgrades are expensive. Your MSP will ensure your software is always up-to-date, and since they’re the IT experts, you can rest comfortably that it’s top-of-the-line software, too.
- Downtime greatly minimised: it’s in your MSP’s best interests to have any software or hardware that breaks up and running again as fast as possible, so any downtime you suffer will still be much less than a break/fix technician would allow.
- 24/7 monitoring: most MSPs also monitor your systems 24/7, which means they’re more likely to pick up on any anomalies and remedy the problem while you’re not in the office.
- Higher up-front fees: an MSP will charge you a higher up-front fee than a break/fix technician. This is usually due to the time it takes them to integrate their off-site hardware and software with your in-house equipment.
- You pay regardless of services rendered: months may go by with seemingly no need to contact your MSP, and the flat fee may start to seem to great an expense. However, many MSPs are willing to tailor the subscription if you wish to change, rather than lose you as a client altogether.
Which model will save you more?
Choosing which IT services model to go with will largely depend on your budget allowance and IT needs. Many SMBs prefer to utilise break/fix services as their IT infrastructure doesn’t require ongoing remote maintenance and monitoring, or they simply cannot justify the monthly fee.
However, managed IT services will, in the long run, save you money. A flat fee is well worth having the stress of IT management taken off your hands: it will boost your efficiency, productivity, and minimise your downtime – all of which works in your favour and attracts customers to your business.
If you’re ready to save and want to start working on an IT support plan customised to your business, talk to the IT experts at RODIN today and discover how they can help you save money and thrive in your field.