Over the decade, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have started to understand the value that Information Technology brings to your daily operations. As an owner, you’re making sure your equipment is new; you’re running the best applications, and keeping employees in sync with your customer base, and you still might feel a little behind with your infrastructure. That’s okay, instead of wasting time with past methodology, here are the three most effective cost-saving IT models for your business as of right now.

3 Cost-Effective IT Models to Keep in Mind

Keep in mind, no product and service are completely the same and every industry will operate differently under certain restrictions and environments. All three models have their pros and cons.

Internal IT Support Help Desk

A very logical IT solution for your business, but the most crippling. The advantage of internal IT can be just the fountain of knowledge alone that person brings to your company. This person will likely also share key identifiers with your company’s philosophy and core values, while continually feeding your valuable insight into your technical environment. Major caveat; right off the bat, you’re going to pay an annual salary to this person, ballpark range of 65,000 to 130,000 (not including benefits). You’re also risking valuable company resources to one dedicated engineer who can leave at the drop of the hat, when they feel they’re not being treated fairly or just move on to a better opportunity.

Break-Fix

The most reactive of the 3 practiced IT models, Break-Fix will save you money by not vying for the monthly cost of your dedicated in-house help desk. Usually, you find a professional when something breaks and they just fix the problem with a Band-Aid, in this line of work typically you end up dealing with a lot more of the same problems, technicians capitalize on downtime, and can be deceiving you when it comes to fixing instead of prolonging the inevitable. You’re paying the emergency response rate which can cost a fortune in a small amount of time.

Managed Service Provider

Another proactive approach similar to internal IT service professionals stationed inside your office, Managed Service Providers (MSP), will oversee your network remotely from their very own location, and also perform tasks and projects inside your office as well. Focusing on the most cost-saving approaches to IT management, the biggest difference that Break-Fix firms and MSPs have is their emphasis on business continuity. Managed Service’s vital goal for your business is to run at maximum uptime, while break-fix firms are relying on your company’s downtime. For a monthly recurring fee senior help desks that are available 24×7 usually will end up sharing the best insight on IT for your company, and also cost you less.

Let’s compare a Break-Fix response time with your hired professional MSP staff

 Here’s what your typical day dealing with a break-fix employee looks like:

And this is what it starts to look like with an MSP on call:

If you’re considering more transition to the MSP side of IT, check out my latest blog on myths related to external IT roles and your business.