Should I Outsource My IT Team?

So you’re a business owner who’s beginning to rely on technology. You have your website up, but you’re not great at understanding other tech needs. You’re also struggling with security and you’re not sure how to handle it. 

It’s time to hire professionals to help.

When you’re looking for an IT team, you’re going to be choosing between hiring in-house staff and outsourcing managed IT services. Which is right for you?

If you’re not sure, we’re here to help. Keep reading to learn all about the pros and cons of outsourcing for your IT needs.

Pros of Outsourcing

If you’re considering outsourcing IT services, let’s first talk about why you should consider it. Every business is different, so some of these pros might not apply to you. 

That said, it’s important that you have all of the relevant information. 

Saving Money

While it might not seem true, you’ll actually save money by choosing an IT company over an in-house IT professional. But why is this true? 

When you hire someone in-house, you have to pay a competitive salary. These IT professionals work hard at what they do, and many people compete for their services. 

If you run a large and profitable business, this is a good option for you. If you’re still a small business owner, however, choosing a plan with an IT company that costs you a set fee every month is a more accessible option. 

Full-Time Support

Even if you already have an in-house crew, or you’ve opted to do the work on your own, you won’t have 24/7 support to help you out. 

You might not think this is a big deal, but consider the importance of around-the-clock damage control and security. Small businesses are still at risk of cybercrime, and cybercriminals know that it’s more effective to plan their attacks for when people aren’t in the office.

Paying someone overtime to take care of on-the-spot emergencies, or even hiring a one-time contractor, will cost you a lot more. You’ll also lose money (and worse, your reputation) from the cyber attack and any resulting downtime. 

Outsourcing means that you have greater access to support when you need it. 

Greater Access to Resources

Speaking of access, by outsourcing, you have more resources at your fingertips.

Outsourcing gives you a full team of experts instead of one or two in-house team members or outside contractors. You’ll also have the same access to managed IT services and security options that larger businesses have. 

Getting these resources on your own will be both expensive and difficult. 

Scalable Plans

On the topic of resources and expenses, when you use an outside IT team for your managed IT needs, you can use scalable plans that grow or shrink with your business. 

When you’re starting out as a small business owner, your needs might be minimal. You don’t have as many customers or as much money to burn as you would if you ran a larger business. 

Professional IT teams know this. That’s why IT companies like https://www.techspertservices.com/ provide scalable plans that will work for you regardless of where you are in your business journey.

When your needs change, simply alter your plan to match where you are. You need your IT resources to follow your business as you thrive. 

Cons of Outsourcing

So with all of that in mind, why wouldn’t you want to outsource your IT team? While there are plenty of benefits to outsourcing, that doesn’t mean that it’s the perfect solution for everyone. 

Keep in mind that if you’re a business owner who is able to afford an in-house IT team, it might be better for you to do so, but this is uncommon amongst small business owners. 

Here are a few reasons that the extra expense might be worthwhile. 

Not as Specialized 

While managed IT teams work with a wide range of businesses (thus giving them experience in plenty of niches), they won’t specialize in the needs of your specific business.

When you hire someone for in-house help, you can train them for your personal needs. This means that they’ll become specialists. You could also hire people who already specialize in services for your niche if this matters to you.

Less In-Person Assistance

When you outsource, you won’t necessarily get the same personalized experience as you would with an in-house IT person. While you can choose your services to fit your business, you don’t have the benefits of in-person analysis and communication that can help you find the right solutions for your needs.

On top of that, you don’t get the benefit of instant in-person support. There is always a risk of hardware problems when you rely on technology for your business. 

Managed IT services focus on software problems. While they often also offer in-person help through contractors, it will take some time for that person to arrive.

When you need instant help, an in-house team member will be there to save the day right away.

Should You Outsource Your IT Team?

With these pros and cons in mind, which IT team is right for you? 

For small business owners who need to save money and don’t have access to the resources that larger businesses do, it might benefit you to outsource an IT team. You’ll receive more services at a better price, enhanced security, and around-the-clock support.

If you are able to pay an in-house team, you need specialized services within your niche, or you tend to have more hardware problems than software problems, an in-house team might be better.

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