Deciding between in-house or outsourced IT support can seem daunting and, at times, an overwhelming not to mention complicated task for large and small businesses alike. One thing is for certain, IT outages are expensive and should be avoided at all costs. It’s important to weigh up your options to avoid any unexpected downtime and cement continuity in your day-to-day operations.
There are many factors to consider when it comes to choosing the best IT support for you and your business. At the end of the day, the type of IT support you choose as well as your preferred level of service will come down to the unique specifications of your business and what it is exactly you require.
What is in-house IT support?
If your business has an IT department or even just a single tech expert on the books whose primary role is to care for your digital assets and IT infrastructure, then you have in-house IT support. In-house tech support is considered the more traditional approach to IT management and is commonly seen in a traditional centralised office.
What are the benefits of in-house IT support?
There’s a reason in-house IT support is an enduring choice for large and small businesses alike. With in-house support, your business can count on having timely and dependable tech support that is familiar with your IT infrastructure and setup. They are able to physically examine any issues with only a moment’s notice – and with just the one system to manage, your in-house IT support team will also be able to gain a thorough understanding of your networks.
The disadvantages of traditional in-house IT support
There is no upside to interruptions in your day-to-day operations. This is especially pertinent for small businesses that rely on business continuity to get through their day-to-day operations. At the best of times, failures in your technology and prolonged downtime can be aggravating – but it can be especially annoying for a small business who are already dealing with limited resources and personnel.
Disadvantages of hiring in-house IT support include the lack of tech support during annual leave. To avoid this, you may seek to hire an entire department. However, the long-term expense of yearly pay plus benefits for each employee, on the other hand, can easily overwhelm a smaller company.
Another issue that can occur is the need to replace employees. If one of your employees resigns for example, they will need to be replaced quickly to maintain the level of IT support that you and your business rely on. As IT experts are highly sought after, it can take months to hire the right employee. There is also a period of training required to bring the new technician up to speed on your system.
Outsourcing your IT support
In this day and age, large and small businesses alike are wholly reliant on their IT infrastructure and digital assets to get through the day. That’s why many businesses and organisations are choosing to outsource the management of their IT to a professional tech company. Your IT service should be able to deliver both local and remote tech support – in fact, some companies even offer 24/7 monitoring and surveillance. For the security and stability of your business or organisation, preventing an issue from escalating is obviously a concern. As a result, it makes sense to utilise a digital solution that actively monitors your network and IT infrastructure support services at all times.
Remote management also saves money on travel and can turn time-consuming issues into a series of brief, manageable tasks for your tech company. This translates to less downtime for you and your team.
What’s more, if you’ve already got an in-house team, an IT support company can complement and work with your existing employees when they need a little extra assistance. At the end of the day, choosing between in-house or remote support, or even a hybrid approach to your tech management, will come down to the specific needs of your business.
Do I even need IT support?
For large and small businesses alike, deciding not to hire professional IT support is a rookie mistake – regardless of whether you’d prefer an in-house or remote service. With businesses and organisations so reliant on their digital assets and IT infrastructure these days, it makes little sense not to hire a digital caretaker.
IT support is especially important if you’re planning on investing in the latest tech. Some businesses shoulder the management of that tech onto the person they perceive as the most tech-savvy in the team. However, in the long term this setup can cause a significant distraction to that individual, who will be unable to properly focus on the tasks they were actually hired to do.
In addition, it’s important to ask yourself what you and your team would do in the event of an unexpected crash. Proactive IT support can efficiently manage a crash, as well as properly maintain your systems and resolve issues before they escalate. This can be the difference between costly downtime and business continuity that actually nurtures growth.
Final thoughts: How to find the best IT support for your business
To start off, try searching a few different keywords with your location in your favourite online search engine. You might try ‘IT Support Bristol’ or ‘IT management Plymouth’.
While obtaining help with your tech is relatively simple, finding the right support for you and your business can be a little more difficult. Your chosen organisation should share the same values as your organisation as well as take your goals and business aspirations into account when strategising your IT management plan. At the end of the day, the IT support company you choose will be determined by the unique specifications and requirements of your own business.
