Have you ever had to call somebody because your computer has frozen or your network has gone dead? Then, you have encountered the traditional IT support. It is the old ‘’fix-it-when-broken’’ model that most businesses have always followed.
Managed IT services, however, take a completely different approach. They do not respond to the issues. They work to avoid them. Being aware of this difference will help you determine which model better suits your company.
Table of Contents
Conventional IT: The Break-fix Model
Conventional IT support is often a straightforward procedure:
- Something has broken
- You call customer support
- A technician arrives or establishes a connection remotely to remedy the situation.
This is commonly referred to as the break-fix model. It is easy, but it is not without its problems:
- Unpredictable prices: You only pay when something goes wrong. This is good until you receive a huge, shocking repair bill.
- Downtime: You must wait until the problem is solved. This may impact productivity and result in frustrated customers and staff.
- Minimal participation: The IT supplier is not typically overseeing or servicing your systems. So they are not aware of the issues that are about to arise until they have already affected your business.
Traditional IT may suit very small businesses with simple technology requirements. But once you rely on multiple systems and networks to operate efficiently on a daily basis, the weaknesses in this model become increasingly difficult to overlook.
Managed IT: A Proactive Solution
When you outsource managed IT services Boise, you get a proactive approach to solving your IT problems. A Managed Service Provider (MSP) will keep an eye on your systems, update them, and fix the problems before they can affect your business.
This approach includes:
- Monitoring 24/7: This entails identifying early warning signs of system failure. For example, malfunctioning hardware or suspicious network processes.
- Reactive maintenance: They install patches and updates to address security vulnerabilities and enhance performance.
- Stable prices: Services are usually sold as a constant fee per month, and this is easy to predict.
- Tactical direction: MSPs can provide technical guidance. They can assist you in designing improvements and aligning IT to your business objectives.
Managed IT is set up to stop problems and ensure your business runs well. Not to intervene only after something has gone wrong.
Comparing the Two Models
When you set them side by side, the differences are obvious:
Reactive vs. Proactive
Traditional IT only reacts after the problem. Managed IT attempts to prevent the problem.
Unpredictable vs. Predictable Costs
The costs of the break-fix can be suddenly high, whereas the IT managed service is based on a constant subscription.
Downtime vs. Continuity
Under traditional IT support, it is common to have downtime. Managed IT is geared towards reducing or even eliminating it.
Short-term Solutions vs. Long-term Strategy
The traditional IT handles matters one at a time. Managed IT is a business-wide view of the growth and technology requirements of your company.
Which Strategy Best Suits Your Company?
The proactive model of managed IT is frequently more appropriate if your company depends on technological advancements. It lessens the occurrence of surprises, enables stability, and enables you to make future plans as opposed to always extinguishing a fire.
For more information, visit our blog.
