It is a well-known fact that large or small organizations require IT support to run operations seamlessly. Some companies also have an IT department that facilitates other departs in getting their work done. That said, the only difference in the requirements of one business in comparison to the other is the scale of utilization.
While some companies may not need the latest technology and IT services to function appropriately, most cannot survive in today’s tech-savvy business environment, let alone thrive, without incorporating IT-related things such as customized software, programs, and customizable management applications.
Whatever the case may be, there is still a debate on whether companies should set up their own IT support system or outsource it to a third-party company altogether. Some experts believe that managed IT support services are excellent for companies with a large scale of virtual IT usage.
However, this may not be a viable option for smaller companies operating on a limited budget. So, if you’re in the middle of a dilemma and can’t choose whether to outsource or not, we’ve listed a few pros and cons that might help. Let’s begin with the pros.
You’ll experience cost reduction
Typically, it costs approximately 51 thousand pounds per year to hire an in-house IT manager. However, that is just the onboarding cost and doesn’t include other perks. Furthermore, there are numerous additional costs associated with hiring an in-house IT support team, such as taxes, training, insurance, company benefits, and much more.
That said, most small businesses cannot afford such a luxury. However, they can usually afford to pay for managed IT support services, such as synergy-uk.com, at a much affordable rate. Most of the costs are packaged in an easy-to-pay-for, affordable monthly payment plan, allowing business owners to save a considerable amount of cash in the long run.
You’ll have more time to focus on your business
If you own a small business, there will come a time when you’ll undoubtedly struggle to manage your IT infrastructure efficiently. It might be because you can’t afford to hire an in-house IT team. As a result, you will lose valuable time that you could spend ironing out business strategies.
However, when you opt for outsourced IT support, you will free up valuable time and leave the heavy lifting to a team of IT professionals you can trust. Moreover, they’ll be better equipped to ensure there’s minimum downtime in information transfer.
You’ll have the latest technology at your disposal
Chances are you might already know a thing or two about operating computers. However, ask yourself, do you really know about the latest technological developments in the IT industry? The answer might be a resounding no! However, by outsourcing your IT support, you deal with a service provider that knows all about the bleeding-edge technology blogs and updates in the IT world that your small business can take advantage of.
You’ll see productivity improvements
Suppose you’re a small business owner or manager distributing IT-related tasks among your team. In that case, chances are you’re killing your workforce’s productivity levels. Furthermore, it also means that you won’t be getting things done on time.
However, consider going for managed IT support services rather than thinking that your current staff will help you solve IT-related issues. Doing so will allow your workforce to focus on the roles you hired them for. Moreover, outsourcing will also provide your small business with on-demand expertise to fix IT-related problems ASAP.
You’ll have the availability of an experienced IT team
An outsourced IT support team will enable you to leverage a wide range of specialized expertise gained from working with multiple clients and solving a diverse range of IT-related issues.
On the other hand, an in-house team will only be able to focus on business aspects that ensure day-to-day functionality. Hence, outsourcing will benefit your small business, especially if a new IT-related challenge or problem comes out of nowhere.
And now some cons of outsourcing IT support
You’ll have less control over your IT infrastructure and data
Chances are you won’t have the control or guarantee of what might happen to your data and other sensitive information when you entrust it to a third-party IT support provider.
But, on the other hand, when you give control to your in-house IT team, you will know how and where your data is being handled. That said, you can mitigate such a risk by going with an outsourced IT support provider who follows data-protection best practices and abides by industry standards.
Complex IT tasks will be challenging to outsource to a third party
Suppose your small business is dealing with an unusually complex IT infrastructure. In that case, chances are you might find it challenging to find an outsourced IT support provider with whom you can get it up and running. However, with a bit of patience and time, you can overcome this challenge.
It is all about finding a competent service provider, and the rest depends on your ability to be patient, as complex IT-related tasks will take more time than usual to accomplish.
You might end up losing ownership of your IT infrastructure
While something like this is a rare issue in the IT support outsourcing process, you have to remain aware and cautious of service providers that might incorporate their proprietary applications and software in your IT infrastructure. Not to mention, incompatible third-party software might leave your IT systems open to security issues.
Furthermore, when your contract ends, they’ll demand their software and application back, leaving your IT infrastructure crippled. However, you can easily avoid such an issue by researching various IT-support providers and choosing one that doesn’t have such a clause in the contract.
You might get hit by hidden costs
Working with a reputable and experienced outsourced IT support provider results in cost savings. However, you can’t always be sure about the amount of money you’ll have to pay them as the development process can go unexpectedly long.
For instance, your small business might have a change in requirements, or a problem that requires more resources might come out of nowhere. Such a thing will end up costing you more in the end.
Conclusion
Keeping in mind the information mentioned above, we can see that the pros of outsourcing your IT support far outweigh the cons. After all, outsourcing IT support will allow you to reduce operational costs, improve your business’s productivity, and bring a diverse skill set to your small business.
But if you’re dependency on IT service is considerably limited, look for affordable and reliable solutions.
