Your day-to-day business relies on technology, having IT support that can sustain your potential growth and help to keep your business running efficiently is crucial. Managing IT in-house can be difficult and expensive. Moving to outsourced IT could be a good way to control costs and shift your focus to your core business instead of your IT. This article will take a deep dive into some pros and cons of outsourced IT support to help you decide if outsourcing your IT is the best choice for your business.
Pros of Outsourced IT Support
Cost Effective
For the cost of one IT director, you can get an entire team through outsourcing. Larger IT firms can leverage economies of scale to get you access to tech and services for a fraction of the cost it would take to cultivate in-house. With outsourced IT, you will have an entire IT team you can count on, but you will be paying a fraction of the cost.
Access to Advanced Tools & Services
An outsourced IT services company’s main goal is to provide great IT services, meaning they will be up to date with the latest technologies, software, and threats that could potentially harm your business.
Cybersecurity
An IT services company will have a well-trained security team that:
- Understands security for SMBs and will be able to design an efficient security plan that minimizes your risks while considering your budget
- Keep you up to date on the threats facing your business and what your risks are, so that you can keep your company secure
- Note: Outsourced IT companies are commonly targeted by cybercriminals because if they can compromise an IT firm, they can attack their clients as well. Make sure that your chosen IT provider has industry-standard security certifications like SOC 2 Type 2 so that you know they take their own security seriously.
Enhanced Focus
Outsourcing your IT means that you are passing the day-to-day responsibility of your IT to your chosen provider. Having someone to take IT off your business’s plate leaves room for your full-time employees to focus on their specialties and for the business as whole to focus on their business, not their IT.
Cons of Outsourced IT Support
Finding the right provider
Selecting the right outsourced IT company is not a simple task. You must be prepared to go through the interview process with multiple providers to ensure your partnership will be beneficial for both parties. Finding the provider that will understand and meet all your business needs is the main goal. Are you looking for a provider that’s focus is customer care or a provider that is process focused? When selecting an outsourced IT provider, it’s important for you to know what questions to ask to find the best fit for your business. Download a free Request for Proposal (RFP) sample to narrow down those important questions unique to your business.
Remote Work
When outsourcing your IT, much of the workload is done in the background and might not require someone to be onsite. This can be a hard adjustment, especially if you previously had an internal IT team that was just right down the hall. Not being able to “see” services in action may make businesses weary that their money isn’t being put to good use or that work isn’t being done.
Custom Applications & Technology
You might use custom software or tech that is unique to your business. An external IT firm is going to struggle to support custom tech effectively, you may need to retain some in-house expertise to help your IT team fix issues that arise with that tech.
Less Control
Outsourcing your IT may feel like you are relinquishing control. Some businesses are hesitant about partnering with an outsourced IT provider due to the possibility that it could feel like you have a lack of control or knowledge as to what is being done. Your chosen provider should include quarterly business reviews, allowing you to stay on top of your IT.
Outsourcing your IT support can bring vast time and cost benefits to your business. However, it is important to decide whether outsourcing is the right option for your company. Doing a hefty amount of research on providers and knowing the right questions to ask before making any commitments would be beneficial if you are considered outsourcing your IT. Your business means a lot to you and the decision whether to outsource is not one that should be taken lightly. Weigh all the pros and cons to understand the potential impact.