When things go wrong with your IT services, it’s reassuring to know that you have a dedicated team on standby to get everything up and running again. This means more than just an IT department in the basement asking if you’ve turned everything off and on again. You deserve a skilled group of technicians with the right solutions, upgrades, and other tools to enhance your operations. For some, this will mean operating via a break-fix model. Others will offer a more proactive support system through a managed service provider. There are pros and cons to each, although many companies are now switching to the MSP option. Why are managed service providers preferred for experienced network support, and how do they vary from the break-fix model?
What Is The Break-Fix Model?
Break-fix IT services are pretty much as the name suggests. When something breaks, they fix it for you and charge you for the time and effort. This approach makes a lot of sense on paper because it’s a lot like dealing with any sort of repair team in a physical office. If something goes wrong with the plumbing, you call out an emergency plumber to use the right parts to fix the leak and get everything working again. If the controls in the elevator fail, you call out a repair team to get everything back online again. An external IT service that only comes in for fixes and one-time-only solutions can still prove to be a big asset, depending on the services provided. These teams can help with upgrades and new installations for software, fixing bugs with the networks, strengthening firewalls, and a lot more.
This approach can be beneficial for companies looking to save money and focus more on an in-house approach to their IT solutions. They can deal with the majority of the internal operations themselves, pay their staff to handle all their cloud operations and servers, and only call on experts when it’s a complete emergency. Financially, this can make sense because organizations don’t have to deal with complicated subscriptions and monthly fees for third-party IT services. They can remain a lot more self-sufficient as long as they have a skilled IT team capable of handling all their service needs. There’s also the fear of security with managed service providers. While most top-rated MSP companies have a good reputation and secure systems, there is the risk of attacks by hackers.
Why Are Companies Turning Away From The Break-Fix Approach?
A concern with the break-fix approach is that it’s only there when clients need it. That’s fine for those who want full control over their operations. However, this level of in-house control can get overwhelming and unmanageable as a business grows. Sooner or later, you’ll find that your IT team is in over its head dealing with the demands on the service, compliance over data, and other sensitive issues. Rather than risk a catastrophic breakdown and data breach, it might be better to switch to a managed approach. You will lose some control, but you will also gain access to a wider range of solutions and the support of an accessible and knowledgeable team.
Are Managed Service Providers A Better Choice?
Managed services providers sell themselves as a better option for experienced network support because they work in a proactive manner, rather than reactive by providing intelligent firewalls, wireless networking, smart network security, and impeccable remote support access. With the break-fix approach, you may only see the IT team in an emergency, but you have to have an emergency situation first. It’s better to avoid these scenarios as best you can. You don’t want servers going offline and threatening the flow of traffic to your site. You don’t want to deal with the potential lack of revenue or loss of trust that can occur if you can’t maintain an online presence 24/7.
This proactive approach means placing full control of network and cloud computing into the hands of experts. This can be difficult for some companies that like everything to be in-house, but it’s actually an effective form of outsourcing. When you find a company with more skills and experience than your current team, it’s a no-brainer. The important thing is to trust in their judgment and experience. They will know how to handle the servers, how to deal with the data, and how to upgrade your system for full scalability. Without that, your system could stagnate, and you could miss out on substantial growth.
Also, speaking of 24/7 reliability, there’s the ongoing support you get with the best-managed service providers. Your current IT team might not be as open to regular calls and friendly customer service as one attached to professionally managed services. The best providers have people on-call to handle concerns with bugs, data collection, upgrades, and anything else affecting productivity. It is reassuring to have that support on standby and have them blocking problems before they derail a system.
You do have to consider the financial implications of these managed services providers, which is why it’s important to find a company that offers value and transparency. One of the benefits of the break-fix solution is the pay-as-you-go model. The best-case scenarios find users only paying out occasionally for services rather than dealing with costly monthly fees. However, the right package with ongoing upgrades and support can prove to be cost-effective in the long run.
Should You Make The Switch To A Managed Service Provider?
There are clear benefits in making the jump to a managed service provider for experienced network support, but only if you choose the right provider. In an ideal world, these MSPs will be there 24/7 to offer support and critical upgrades to your system. In addition to providing reliability and scalability, this should help you avoid the potential risks of complete system breakdown, lost data, and irate customers. The break-fix approach still has its merits for those who need greater technological and financial control, but it also has its limitations. So, talk to top-managed service providers today to see what they can offer in terms of support, tech, and value for money. It could pay off with fewer IT breakdowns and a lot less stress.
