Regardless of the industry you’re in, you need your IT to work effectively. And you need it back online quickly if something does go wrong. So when technologies are evolving at a rapid pace, do you keep your IT support in-house, or outsource it? It’s the age-old question. But, for many companies, the benefits of outsourcing IT support far outweigh the costs.
It’s cost-effective for the business
There’s no doubt about it, maintaining a modern IT department can be a financial black hole. Especially if you’re dealing with old, ‘legacy’ systems in the first place. Setting up a self-sustaining, in-house IT department requires a large investment of time and resources.
Reduce labour costs
IT support professionals are just that: professionals. Searching for someone who is highly-qualified in different niche sectors of IT can be a very expensive and time-consuming process. Expect to spend thousands just on the recruitment process!
Hiring someone with cutting-edge technical know-how doesn’t come cheap. Working with specialist tech? Expect to spend even more to keep them on your books. When you outsource your IT support, you have access to a whole team of professionals. Compare outsourcing costs to hiring skilled workers individually and it becomes even more attractive.
Only pay for what you need
By outsourcing your IT support, your company can avoid the high costs associated with having a fully functional IT department in-house without having to compromise on service and support levels. Many companies will also let you tailor the level of IT support you need to fit your business, taking into account factors such as:
- The complexity of your business and the IT systems you use
- The size of your team and how many applications they need
- The level of flexibility and remote working your team have
- The level of IT security that you need
Outsourcing gives you the opportunity to only bring in these skilled workers when you absolutely need them – no having to justify paying a full-time employee to wait for a critical failure to take place, or for a customer to have an issue out of hours.
Round-the-clock professional support
In a world of global organisations where remote working is on the rise, your end-users need to be able to access IT support quickly regardless of the time zone they are in. No matter how hard your IT manager works, it’s neither realistic nor fair that they be on hand every hour of every day. This is where many of the benefits of outsourcing your IT support lie.
24/7 IT support as standard
Many IT support providers offer 24/7 support as standard, so an expert is on hand any hour of the day should you have any issues. This can ensure your business keeps on running smoothly and minimises downtime.
Give your in-house IT support team a helping hand
You may already have an IT professional working in-house. However, it may still be sensible to outsource in certain situations – for example, if there is a problem out-of-hours or backup is needed. Here an outsourced team can take full responsibility for providing end-user support or supplement your existing capabilities – self-service or otherwise.
Peace of mind
Fully outsourcing your IT support means you have a full team of trained IT professionals only a phone call or support ticket 365 days a year – no having to worry who will man the support desk if someone is away on holiday or off sick, for example.
Access to the latest technology
New developments happen in the blink of the eye in the IT industry. An outsourced IT services provider will be able to advise you on which new technologies could be appropriate for you and your business, and even help you migrate across to a new system should you need it. Outsourcing typically gives you access to both the latest technical knowledge and systems without having to pay the high initial costs that come with taking these in-house.
Improved cybersecurity and less risk
An out-of-date IT system is an accident waiting to happen in terms of cybersecurity. Any kind of cyber threat, be it hackers, ransomware or even basic human error, can cause significant issues for your business. IT support professionals have the industry-specific knowledge to keep your systems safe, secure and compliant with the latest guidelines.
Small company, big support
If you’re a small or medium-sized business, it’s unlikely to be sensible (or even realistic) to have a dedicated IT department on hand 24 hours a day. By outsourcing your IT, you can more closely match the in-house support services that larger companies maintain and access similar technology, expertise and service levels at a fraction of the cost.
Is outsourcing your IT support right for you?
If you’d like a dedicated team of IT professionals on hand 24 hours per day at a fraction of the cost it would take to bring them on as full-time employees, outsourcing might be right for you. Leave behind the worries of extended downtime, loss of productivity and unpredictable IT costs by considering outsourcing your IT support.
Computers in the City, your IT partner
Computers in the City is London’s longest-standing IT partner. With over 20 years’ experience, we can assist you to meet your IT support, consulting and cloud computing needs. We’re proud to be local, offering 24-hour support in straightforward language that takes the stress out of IT support.