Internal or Outsourced IT?

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected Canadian businesses. Recent reports show that organisations are suffering lower demand for goods and services as well as cash flow issues created by the health crisis. Some companies have had to reduce staff numbers just to stay afloat. While Canadian businesses are still reeling from the damage caused by the pandemic, they now need to make smart, strategic decisions to navigate the post-pandemic era.

One of the most important decisions you need to make involves IT strategy. Specifically, whether to hire an internal IT department or outsource your IT to a managed IT services provider (MSP), which both offer significant benefits. To help you make an informed decision, we cover what you can expect from either option.

Internal IT

Convenient and immediate service

Having an internal IT department gives you direct access to technicians who fully manage your computer network. They oversee everything including software installations, hardware deployments, cybersecurity, and other major technology projects. If technical issues arise, an internal technician can address the issue right away.

Familiarity with your business

Another benefit of working with an internal IT department is they know your systems inside and out. If they know how your business operates, they’re well-equipped to implement efficient technology to help you achieve your goals. They can even communicate with other departments to identify bottlenecks in the system and establish more streamlined processes.

Outsourced IT

Flexible and affordable support on demand

In a post-pandemic world, your company’s everyday IT needs would likely be unpredictable. There could be quiet days where you barely need IT support. However, there may also be weeks when you need round-the-clock support devoted to a cloud migration project or security incidents. The point is that it’s difficult to anticipate these situations, and you could end up paying hefty fees and overtime charges for internal IT technicians.

By outsourcing to an MSP, you can get the support you need without breaking the bank. Top-tier MSPs offer 24/7 unlimited support for a flat monthly fee. So whether your systems require a quick tune-up or you need to revamp your IT infrastructure, MSPs are just a phone call away. The best part is, you don’t have to pay full-time salaries and extra fees.

Scalable IT services

Your organisation’s financial conditions can change dramatically at any time. For example, shifts in seasonal demand can cause cash flow to dip at certain times of the year. When these occur, your company won’t have resources to invest in IT and would likely have to lay off staff. It’s therefore important that your company is able to adapt to these sudden financial changes.

On the other hand, outsourcing your IT enables you to scale your IT services up or down when required. If company revenues are declining and you have to downsize, you can scale back on outsourced IT services to meet your needs and budget. Alternatively, outsourced providers can support seasonal businesses that suddenly need additional maintenance services and technicians.

Dependable outsourced providers will also adjust their prices depending on the number of users and devices, so you only pay for what you need.

Access to high-quality expertise and experience

A major downside of an internal IT department is that technicians are forced to wear many hats. They may have to optimise server hardware on one day and tasked with minimising cybersecurity risks on another. While most in-house technicians will have a general understanding of various technology issues, it’s rare to find one who is well-versed in all facets of IT.

When you outsource IT services to an MSP, you get the collective expertise and experience of first-rate support technicians. Empower IT, for instance, has technicians who have in-depth expertise in cybersecurity, compliance, system maintenance, cloud computing, business continuity, and strategy development. We even have several years of experience serving specific industries like healthcare, education, professional services, and trades. This ensures you get all the services and solutions you need to run your organisation efficiently.

In contrast, you’d have to hire several in-house technicians and provide them with specialised training just to get the same quality of support.

More time to focus on the business

Finally, working with an outsourced IT provider frees up company resources and manpower. Instead of spreading yourself thin dealing with IT tasks, an outsourced specialist can handle everything for you. They can update your systems, manage cybersecurity and backups, troubleshoot IT issues, and proactively monitor your systems.

This, in turn, allows you and your employees to devote more time on growing your business. Everyone can focus on revenue-generating projects and valuable tasks that would have ended up in the back burner because of IT problems.

Outsourcing IT also reduces tech-related stress and enables employees to focus on what they’re good at. That translates to increased employee satisfaction, which has profound effects on your company’s overall productivity and profitability.

Which one is right for you?

Although internal IT departments offer certain benefits, they’re completely overshadowed by what outsourced IT technicians can provide. Outsourcing gives you access to a team of experts and higher-quality services at the fraction of the cost of hiring one in-house technician. Plus, being able to offload routine technical work to professionals is a huge boon to your business.

If you want to experience the benefits of outsourcing IT, partner with NetFusion Designs. As one of Canada’s leading MSPs, we offer custom solutions and services to ensure your IT runs efficiently and drives your business’s growth. Inquire about our services today!

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