Reliable IT support is increasingly important to businesses as technology advances and people become more digitally dependent. With security threats increasing just as fast as technology updates, it makes sense that companies are looking for better ways to prioritize their IT management and protect their digital assets.
Take a medical practice, for example. These organizations tend to be very busy. Staff members need to manage the phones, patient information, sanitation, and medical emergencies, along with routine patient care. There simply isn't enough time for staff to deal with tech troubleshooting.
Additionally, systems that aren’t running properly can be more than inconvenient; they can be life-threatening. They can also pose regulatory violations if not properly managed. This has only gotten more challenging as more organizations are working remotely.
Effective IT support is critical to your company’s security, and good support can also increase productivity. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be costly. Here are a few things to consider to make the best IT support decisions for your business.
How Much Does IT Support Typically Cost?
The types of IT services you select will often dictate how much you pay. There are three main types of IT support: hiring an in-house IT employee or team, paying for an hourly break-fix service, or paying for outsourced managed IT services at a flat monthly rate.
An In-House IT Specialist or Team
Employing an IT professional or staff of specialists directly to handle your IT needs is often the costliest way to handle your IT management. The average network administrator in Chicago will earn upwards of $61,000 per year, but this doesn’t account for the additional costs that come with hiring an employee, such as training and benefits.
While the cost of a single employee may be manageable, costs can quickly get out of control if you hire a whole team of IT specialists. Unfortunately, having a full-stack team is generally a necessity for medical practices and other organizations that have infrastructure and strict compliance needs that are far too large to be managed by one person.
A Break-Fix Hourly Service
Hourly services for IT support can be a lot cheaper than hiring an employee, as you only have to pay for the time you use. These services range from around $60 to $200 per hour, depending on the service needed. However, some companies enforce minimums for service calls, which can up that cost.
Additionally, break/fix IT services are provided incident by incident, meaning the IT professional isn’t prioritizing a long-term relationship with your organization. You may only get temporary solutions rather than strategic solutions that fit your unique organization’s needs, which can end up being more costly in the long run.
Managed IT Services
Managed IT services are outsourced IT services that are provided for a flat monthly fee, often based on number of users or devices. Rather than paying by the hour, you will pay a set amount per month, ensuring that your systems are kept running no matter the amount of work required.
Rates vary depending on the size of your company and the scope of services you select, but the average cost to outsource to a Managed Service Provider is about the same cost per month as one salaried employee.
This solves the cost inefficiencies of hiring an in-house team, as you pay the same price as just one in-house IT specialist but get the support of a whole team of IT professionals whose specialties range across various areas of IT. You get a higher level of support at a cheaper rate because the MSP model allows them to serve multiple clients efficiently without overcharging them for services.
The Benefits of Managed IT Services
Alongside providing the most cost-effective support, managed IT services often come with additional features to keep your business running smoothly. Understanding these benefits can give you a much clearer idea of what managed IT can do for businesses.
With more and more businesses working remotely, having the option for remote support can be a serious benefit in the modern world. Managed IT services will usually offer this option as standard, enabling them to immediately offer remote support to solve issues when needed. In addition, they offer onsite support for issues that need to be solved in-person.
Having to pay big bills for computer issues that you didn’t expect can be stressful and frustrating. Managed IT services can solve this pain point by analyzing the health of your infrastructure regularly, preventing issues from causing unsuspected system failure or security incidents. This will give you confidence that your business is protected.
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Procurement and Management
Cloud services, data backup, network security, and a host of other features can be added to your managed IT services plan. This gives you the opportunity to tick all of your IT boxes with a single payment.
Most managed IT support companies offer flexible contracts that won’t tie you down for years to come. You will be able to add and remove machines, reduce your service level, and even cancel if you need to. As your business grows, your IT support can adapt.
Paying for IT support is unavoidable, but there are ways to optimize your IT support to ensure you’re getting the most value out of your dollar. A managed IT service company like adNET can lighten the load, cost-effectively securing your business and protecting you from threats, inefficiencies, and downtime.
For more information on adNET’s managed IT services, contact us today.
