Break/Fix IT Repair Shop Versus Managed IT Service Provider: What Would You Choose?
Eberly Systems
How do you view information technology and support? As an enabler for success and vehicle to digitally transform and scale or as a go-to for help with broken systems?
There are various ways of providing your business with technology support and helpdesk assistance. The break/fix model used to be the go-to method of solving IT issues, but with the surge of larger digital footprints, cloud-based/hybrid business models, and remote workforces, businesses are responsible now more than ever to ensure that their people and their data are secure, reliable, and sufficient.
How do you account for your IT needs? Are you in a dreaded break/fix relationship? Below is a breakdown of break/fix versus managed IT services models of doing IT.
What is a break/fix IT model?
In a break/fix model, you only engage with your service provider when something breaks. It is fee-based, and customers receive no service unless you reach out because you experience an issue. This model is reactive, sporadic, unsecure, and unreliable for your business security and productivity.
Downsides of break/fix IT:
- Fostering an “IT repair shop” mentality
- Waiting to address an issue until it has already become a problem
- The need to initiate each conversation with a provider
- The burden of thoroughly explaining your system and the issues experienced to IT support
- Blindly being faced with an unforeseen bill for remediation efforts
- The reality that your business might be paralyzed if you experience significant issues or losses.
What are managed IT services?
A managed service model from managed IT service providers (MSPs) offers managed support and constant remote system monitoring for a monthly fee. The managed service provider is responsible for ensuring that everything is active and secure. This preventative, consultative, comprehensive model is the best way to establish a firm IT foundation, ensure minimal to no down time, and intercept and mitigate security issues before they become problematic.
Benefits of the IT managed service model:
- Relationship. MSPs are intricately involved in furthering your company’s success, building trusted relationships with experts who intimately know your environment and needs and are focused on partnering with you through digital transformation
- Costly outage avoidance. With proactive and preventative system monitoring and maintenance, an MSP immediately addresses issues as they happen to help you experience minimal outages. Problems are flagged and worked on independently, without the need for you to get involved.
- Budget allocation. Forget incurring unforeseen IT expenses. Rather, budget your IT with monthly monitoring and maintenance.
- Dedicated account manager. No need to speak with someone new each time you engage with your provider. Rather, you receive a personal technical account manager who intimately knows your system and is dedicated to helping you attain your business goals.
For these reasons and more, establishing a relationship with a trusted managed service provider is the best way to sleep at night, knowing that your business is being constantly monitored and taken care of.
Eberly Systems offers extreme value to businesses as an industry-leading managed service provider. With multi-tiered offerings , you can choose which fit is best for your business!
