Common (Myths) About IT Managed Service Providers

Thursday, July 11, 2024

By Simon Kadota

Common Misconceptions (Myths) About IT Managed Service Providers

Managing your IT infrastructure and systems has never been more critical than it is today. An IT MSP grants your business a fully managed IT support service that helps you stand out, be more productive, and become more efficient and secure within the digital landscape.

Despite the growing importance, there are a tonne of misconceptions that prevent many business owners and managers from taking the next step towards a partnership with an IT MSP. By reading this blog post, you will learn more about the costs, benefits, and applicability of managed IT services in comparison to traditional IT support services.

Let’s get started.

Debunking Common IT MSP Myths:

IT MSPs have transformed the way businesses run their IT infrastructure. Let’s look at some of the most common misconceptions.

Myth 1: Managed Services Are Only for Large Enterprises

Businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large multinationals, get to reap the benefits of working with an IT MSP. MSPs offer businesses flexibility and scalability, allowing you to grow at your own pace without the headaches involved with running your own IT infrastructure or staff.

By partnering with an IT MSP, businesses can effortlessly access top experts and technology that would normally be expensive to leverage in-house.

Myth 2: Managed Services Are Too Expensive

False. You must consider the overhead of maintaining your in-house staff (salaries, training) and the costs involved with running your own IT infrastructure. Working with an IT MSP also provides you with predictable monthly costs, allowing you to plan your finances smoothly.

Furthermore, MSPs are also extremely proactive about keeping systems running and reducing downtime as well!

Myth 3: Managed Services Lack Customization

Another common myth is that IT MSPs only offer a one-size-fits-all solution with no customizations. That cannot be further from the truth. Most IT MSPs offer solutions that are completely tailored for each unique case that comes across their table.

From custom service packages to a totally custom solution, IT MSPs adapt quickly to meet the changing demands of various clients.

Visit this informative article on the top 10 outsourcing myths to gain a deeper understanding of people’s misconceptions and perceptions about managed tech services.

Understanding The True Cost of IT Managed Services

It is important to analyze the long-term financial impact of managed IT services to determine their true cost (and benefits).

Upfront vs Long-Term Costs

Upfront costs of managed IT services will include onboarding fees, setup of infrastructure, and cost of assessments. In contrast, expenses of an in-house IT team includes salaries, training, maintenance, and upgrades.

Your expenses can increase very quickly and unpredictably in-house so the benefits of switching to managed services might significantly outweigh the costs of operating an in-house IT team.

ROI of Managed Services

IT MSPs boost productivity by reducing downtime and providing incredible customer service. By looking at our managed IT services case studies, you will notice that clients quickly see a return on investment coming from more efficient use of resources, as well as lowered operational costs and risks for breaches and outages.

Check out ZenBusiness’s guide for an in-depth look at how to determine your outsourcing costs.

Budgeting for Managed Services in 2024

When choosing an MSP, you should consider long-term financial optimization. Understanding cost differences between in-house and outsourced IT is critical to helping forecast financial goals. It is also essential for scaling and growing your business effectively.

Managed Services vs Traditional IT Support: What You Need to Know

Let’s explore the main differences between in-house IT support vs managed IT services. In this comparison, we will look at the differences in approach, services, scalability and flexibility.

Proactive vs Reactive Support

Managed IT means exactly that…it is managed for you. This means that IT MSPs are typically more proactive in their IT management approach, finding and fixing issues before they cause any downtime or system failures when compared to traditional in-house IT.

Comprehensive Service Offerings

MSPs tend to have more expertise and offer more solutions than traditional in-house IT teams. Offering 24/7 monitoring, cybersecurity, data backup and recovery, cloud services, and much more, IT MSPs are always on standby for your needs.

In contrast, your typical in-house IT will be somewhat more limited in terms of their knowledge and expertise. The team will also most likely be smaller than your typical IT MSP team and may struggle to cover all verticals of your IT infrastructure architecture.

Scalability and Flexibility

Managed IT services give you options to scale and grow your business. Signing up with an MSP will also provide your business with the flexibility it may need without the risks, expenses, and headaches that come with hiring your own in-house staff and configuring your own IT infrastructure.

Your in-house team may find it hard to keep up with new tech trends and quickly changing business needs that stretch your resources to their limits. This is where a managed IT services partner comes in handy!

Read this medium article on Managed Services vs. Traditional IT Support to learn more about the key differences between the two.

Why IT Managed Services Are Not Only for Large Enterprise Businesses

Another common myth is that Managed IT services are only available to larger businesses. In fact, managed IT services are available to businesses at any stage of their growth. Clients receive tailored solutions that are unique to each business. Small to medium-sized businesses also receive an equally advantageous IT solution!

Tailored Solutions for Small & Midsize Enterprises (SMEs):

MSPs offer custom solutions for each business that walks through the door. Our case studies show the unique ways in which IT-managed services allow clients to scale their technology needs with their growth.

Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, IT MSPS customize each service offering to provide a comprehensive solution that meets the needs of every individual case.

Access to the Latest Technologies

With a Managed IT Partner, you gain access to the latest tech without the costs of maintenance and everything else that comes with running your own IT infrastructure.

By allowing SMEs to compete in the same arena as larger corporations, MSPs ensure their clients get access to advanced software and hardware, resulting in higher productivity and more accomplishments.

Better Security & Compliance

Improving security posture and achieving effective compliance are benefits you can expect to get from a partnership with a Managed IT and Cybersecurity Services Provider.

Smaller businesses get the same level of security that enterprises typically request, enabling you to easily meet your data, privacy, and security compliance requirements.

As a result, IT MSPs often get recommended as the guide to navigate the complex requirements of compliance.

To learn more about this topic, read our post about the key differences between managed services and traditional IT support (coming soon)!

To sum up, this blog post has covered the myths of Managed IT Services, compared the costs and benefits for businesses, and hopefully clarified the common misunderstandings people have about managed IT services.

Managed IT offers you access to modern technology without the investment needed to run an IT team in-house.

This allows you to improve security and compliance without any heavy investments, making it an attractive option for businesses that are trying to innovate and grow.

Need Help Demystifying Managed IT Services?

Get in touch to create your unfair advantage through managed IT services!

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