What Are Managed IT Services?

Marketing and sales platform HubSpot defines managed services as outsourcing day-to-day technology responsibilities to a third party to strategically improve operations and accelerate a return on investment. 

In the IT realm, managed services mean the MSP carries the responsibility for the functionality of the IT service and equipment, and the customer typically pays for the service with a predictable monthly or yearly fee. 

Managed IT is among the most popular IT service delivery models, along with in-house IT staffing and break/fix IT services. Here’s how they differ in simple terms:

Read More: Top 3 IT Service Models: Which One is Best For Your Business? 

The Pros and Cons of Managed IT Solutions

Handing over your business’s IT-related responsibilities to an established managed IT services provider brings a lot of opportunities and challenges that significantly impact modern companies. We’re listing down the top benefits and drawbacks of adopting the managed IT service model to help you get a balanced perspective and make informed business decisions:

The Benefits

Access to the Best

Switching to managed IT services means leveraging an MSP’s years of experience, state-of-the-art technology, and highly specialized expertise for your organization’s success. 

When you partner with a time-tested MSP, you get access to the best tools and strategies that help you stay competitive, compliant, and ahead of the tech curve. Additionally, some established MSPs like ER Tech Pros include proactive account management in their service. Your dedicated account manager ensures they understand and address your IT needs effectively by working closely with your team, generating regular reports, and providing meticulous project planning assistance.

With managed IT services, you’re paying for a full, enterprise-level IT experience for a fraction of the cost—which brings us to our next point.

More Predictable and More Affordable Monthly Cost

Opting for managed IT services allows businesses to enjoy the benefits of an entire IT team without the costs associated with recruiting, training, and maintaining an in-house IT department. This approach offers a predictable monthly cost structure, simplifying budgeting and financial planning.

With California's average IT department salary going as high as $154,687 for an IT manager and $69,669 for an associate, partnering with an MSP is a more cost-effective alternative.

Proactive Downtime Prevention

Unlike break/fix solutions providers that only show up when you’re experiencing an IT issue, MSPs actively monitor your systems for any signs of problems or vulnerabilities. They take a proactive (not reactive) approach to managing your IT systems.

As a trusted MSP, ER Tech Pros takes the active surveillance approach to a new level by conducting IT operations 24/7.

With its robust team of engineers working across six time zones, ER Tech Pros identifies potential problems before these escalate into downtime or disruptions. By addressing these issues promptly, MSPs help prevent downtime and ensure smooth, uninterrupted business operations.

Read More: Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Potential IT Partner

The Drawbacks

Less Control Over IT Operations

When you opt for managed IT services, you outsource your IT operations (or a portion of it) to a third-party provider.

While this frees up your internal resources, it also means you have less direct control over how certain IT functions are managed and executed. The MSP doesn’t work exclusively for you, so you don’t have complete control over their processes, turnaround times, and services.

MSPs have policies and procedures in place to ensure they deliver smooth, secure, and streamlined services to all their clients. This means service customization may be limited.

Vendor Risk

Selecting a managed IT services provider is critical because your business operations depend on their capabilities and reliability.

If the vendor encounters financial difficulties, security breaches, or operational issues, it can directly impact your IT operations and potentially disrupt your business.  Partnering with a trusted and vetted MSP can mitigate this risk. 

When considering a partnership with a managed services provider, spend some time on their testimonials page and see what their clients have to say about the quality of their work. You can also set up a call with one of their experts and ask about their service level agreement (SLA).

Lack of Physical Presence

One of the most common areas of adjustment when switching over to managed IT is the lack of physical presence, especially when the MSP is not local.

Managed IT services often rely on remote monitoring and support, which can be highly efficient but might lack the physical presence that an in-house IT team provides. For tasks requiring hands-on attention, having remote technical support and the latest technology might only partially replace the benefits of having on-site IT personnel.

If an IT expert’s physical presence is vital for your operations, consider partnering with an MSP that offers on-site support on top of 24/7 remote assistance and proactive monitoring.

Read More: Reduce Clinic Staff’s Stress with Managed IT Services 

Experience Uninterrupted Productivity with Managed IT Services by ER Tech Pros

In the eyes of business owners worldwide, the benefits of managed IT services far outweigh the drawbacks. Not only does partnering with a reputable MSP enhance the overall efficiency of your IT operations, but it also allows you to leave the technical aspects in highly competent hands and focus on your core business activities.

However, there still are disadvantages to outsourcing your IT operations. If you’re not sure about switching to managed IT just yet, you can start with an in-depth consultation with a trusted IT, cloud, and cybersecurity services provider like ER Tech Pros.

Our computer engineers can thoroughly assess your IT infrastructure, share their findings, identify possible tech issues, and recommend IT solutions that meet your business’s budget and needs.