The vast majority of Small and Mid-size Businesses (SMBs) do not have the resources or the budget to set up a full-blown IT department, let alone a legitimate need to do so. They may have one or two employees who ‘know something’ about computers, but to keep the office infrastructure reliably up and running, they usually need to contract with an external IT Provider.

This saves the company money and time. Expenses can add up quickly for a small business, especially one that might not even use technology all that much, so it doesn’t need to spend the money and resources on developing an in-house option: a dedicated Technician is paid, with benefits, much more than it would cost to hire a Managed Service Provider (MSP).

Some companies don’t think they need IT help – it is literally the last thing on their mind – until computers crash or won’t turn on at all. Anyone who thinks that way is truly behind the curve: slow to market and uncompetitive behind companies who allow technology to be a boost to their operating speed, rather than those who allow their lack of concern with technology to bog them down.

This increasingly a technology-dependent world. IT services are a fundamental necessity for any modern business — even ones that don’t feel they use technology much. You never realize how much you use something until you can’t use it. The back end of IT (security, backups, and servers, etc.) is more complicated than many administrators can imagine. Ignoring it means that you are just waiting for an incident to happen, even if you don’t know it.

That is akin to driving a winding, mountain road at 80 miles per hour on bald tires, hoping you don’t get a blowout.

By using a Top-Notch MSP, you stay ahead of these problems. Your business runs at top speed, productivity remains high, and your staff stays focused on activities that generate revenue and company growth. Who would trade that to save a few bucks (which ultimately, they won’t)?

So, what to choose: Outside ‘Professional Services’ or Managed Services? What is the difference.

Scope of Work
‘Professional Services’ is a pretty loose term, but no matter the specificities, it is project-based work. It could be cabling for a new office, an office move, or upgrading a range of hardware. It is a one-off proposition – a job that’s only done once.

The model for Managed Services indicates an on-going, all-encompassing arrangement, not a ‘One & Done’. An MSP becomes your Technology Partner rather than an occasional ‘hired gun’.

What Works Best for You?
Professional Services may be a more cost-effective fit for a business with less than 5 computers, although it depends on the nature of the enterprise. After initial setup there may only be the occasional need for an ‘on-call’ IT person - for a quick-fix, tune-up, setting up additional employees or a special project. From 5 to 10 users, an MSP becomes a viable option financially, but once you have reached 10 or more users, the cost-effectiveness of using an MSP will become comfortably apparent.

Larger companies, those with over 100 users, may have an In-House IT person or department, and they have been known to utilize IT Professional Services for projects the staff doesn’t have the time or specialized knowledge to handle internally.

Upside
Project based - ‘One and Done’ – no recurring charges.

Specificity - Focus on one task.

Versatility - May provide more than IT solutions

Downside
Lack of future maintenance planning – They come, they fix, they go. Period. No management.

Slower Response Time. Your emergencies are unscheduled, so availability becomes a major factor.

Work Flow-Through. If it’s a project that encounters issues, that’s when additional expenses and time spent on the project accrue. It’s a haphazard way to get things done.

Managed Services from an MSP takes care of everything, all the time, like having your own IT department without the high salaries, ($63,000/year on average) and benefits – and without the limited 9 to 5 availability issue. An MSP is available 24/7/365. At IT Support LA, we work after hours, weekends and holidays if you do.

Upside
Planning and Prevention – Alleviates the ‘Emergency’ nature of ‘Break & Fix’ solutions evidenced by downtime and loss of productivity. An MSP knows and anticipates issues with your network, attending to maintenance, software/hardware updates & upgrades, backups etc., to avoid emergency situations.

Ongoing Relationship/Technology Partner – 24/7/365 support and continuing care for all aspects of your electronic communications – even those they are not directly responsible fort (internet/VoIP phones). You are not tied down by office hours, weekends or even holidays. The MSP is there, looking proactively to the future.

Budget Predictability – On a monthly retainer or subscription basis, you know exactly what your IT expenditures are at every point and what they will be as you add additional employees.

Downside
Excessive Options – Many MSPs offer ‘prepackaged plans’, which include extras you don’t need. That is why IT Support LA crafts a custom Service Level Agreement (SLA) which gives you only what you want and need.

Restrictions – With the aforementioned ‘packaged plans’, some services you need may not be included, incurring ‘add-on’ expenditures. That is why IT Support LA does not offer ‘cookie cutter’ prepackaged plans. Everything is included because ADD-ONs add up.

IT Support LA is your Technology Partner

We embody each and every aspect of the true, top-notch MSP. Our methodologies are iron-clad, yet adaptive to your environment. We are entering our 19th year serving the Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County areas. We have continuously scaled our growth to ensure no ‘growing pains’, and our technicians are never finished with ‘school’ – the IT landscape, as well as the nature of Cyber Crime changes constantly, and we maintain that if those who are not a step ahead are far behind.

It is just this philosophy that has made our company award-winning:

  • 2 Years awarded Best IT by the Small Business Expo
  • Awarded 2nd best company of any type in the US by the Small Business Expo
  • Awarded Best IT in California by Channel Futures
  • 3 years listed as one of the Top 501 MSPs in the World by Channel Futures

Please call us for a FREE consultation by phone, and we will help you establish safe, reliable, and cost-effective solutions.

818-805-0909