Most every business or organization now relies on technology in some capacity on a daily basis. And for most, the role of technology used in critical operations will only continue to grow. As a result, it’s increasingly important for businesses and organizations to have the tech support they need at all times. Depending on a variety of situations, IT can be handled by employees internally or it may also be outsourced to a third-party IT provider.
But when should you hire in-house support vs. outsourcing that support? In this blog, we’ll discuss a few of the benefits of outsourcing your IT and whether this is something to be considered by your business or organization.
Benefits of Outsourcing IT
What are some of the most the most common reasons a business or organization might go the route of outsourcing? Below are some of the potential benefits of outsourcing IT:
- Fewer headaches: when you outsource IT, you no longer have to worry about maintenance, upgrades, repairs or any other technical problems.
- Fewer expenses: outsourcing IT can be more cost-effective, as you won’t have to pay for full-time employees to handle IT. The costs of hiring, training, benefits and more add up. We’ve created this infographic giving you more information about the cost savings of outsourcing IT.
- Scalability: outsourced IT services can be scaled up or down to meet your business needs, as it grows.
- Team of support: when you outsource your IT, you’re gaining access to a team of experts without being tied to one person or a small team. This allows you and your teams to have multiple experts to help minimize downtime and improve their efficiency.
Downsides of Outsourcing
While IT outsourcing can offer multiple benefits, there can also be some downsides. With outsourcing, you are entrusting core functions, possibly even security, to a third-party, leaving you with less control over some operations functions as you would if you kept IT in-house. This third-party may not hold the same standards that you and your employees are held to. And while most Managed Services Providers (MSPs) offer sound infrastructure and experienced staff, there are providers out there that are not qualified to take on the needs of your business or organization.
It’s important to take the time to provide the right provider, which can help you mitigate many of these risks. But it’s also important to understand what these risks are as you are deciding if outsourcing is right for you.
Should You Outsource?
Making the decision to outsource your IT needs to a third-party provider can be a challenging decision and something each business or organization has to make based on their specific goals and needs.
If you’re still on the fence about outsourcing, it never hurts to make an pros and cons list. It’s important to consider the potential for cost savings as well as the impact to your day-to-day operations.
In the case you decide that outsourcing is a good option for your business or organization, it’s important to consider multiple providers before making a selection. Cost is not always the most important factor – ensuring you are receiving reliable, high-quality services from a team whose values align with yours is imperative.
Talk to each of the providers you’re considering and ask them questions about the services they provide, fees, and the type of support they offer. Reading reviews from customers can also help and in some cases, you can ask for references so you can hear in-person about the service they’ve experienced from the provider.
In the End…
There’s really no right or wrong answer regardless of the choice you make. If you’re looking to take IT off of your or the plates’ of your employees, outsourcing is a great option. However, if you want complete control over your technology infrastructure, then hiring in-house could be a better fit. You can also do a combination of the two, outsourcing for backup and other forms of support.
To learn more about how Interlaced can help your business with information technology services, visit www.interlaced.io/contact, or email us at business@interlaced.io today!
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