Millions of large and small business often choose to outsource tasks and projects to specialized firms and freelancers. In fact, the freelance economy continues to grow. Last year, the gig economy in the US alone grew 78% from the previous year. That means that many businesses across the nation are farming out services to those they think can handle it better than they can. Among these services is IT service or what is commonly called managed service. According to a recent report from Solar Winds, the managed services market is set to grow 11% every year between now and 2023. That’s the largest percentage growth of any field within IT. While many businesses are choosing to outsource their IT needs, others are still leery of making the shift. As with any service, there are risks and rewards to outsourcing your IT. Below are few things to look out for when making your decision.
Reward: Saving Money
Outsourcing saves money. Whether you’re outsourcing IT or marketing, not having to hire full-time or part-time staff for any job cuts costs. The money you save in healthcare benefits, vacation pay, and bonuses can be dedicated to other departments that are vital to operations. Off-site workers also save on office space, which lowers overhead costs associate with overhead expenses.
Reward: 24/7 Availability
In-house IT personnel usually work 9-5. Outsourcing your IT department gives you access to 24/7 monitoring and maintenance. This also applies to vacation time. Any time an IT staff person takes a vacation, there are less people to cover the same number of endpoints. An outside IT provider staffs to meet the needs of their clients. Vacation time and shifts are structured to meet the needs of their client.
Reward: More Experts Work Faster
A specialized IT firm will always have a larger staff of technicians with a wider variety of skill sets than an in-house IT department. More experts mean that you have a larger skill set at your disposal to accomplish whatever task you might need. It also means that the turnaround time for small and large projects will be shorter and increase productivity and profit.
Risk: Loss of Control
Communication is key in all things. Every organization has its own culture and communication style. An employee will typically have a better handle on their employer’s communication style and will be able understand their requests in order to execute their vision. The distance between an organization and their outsourced IT company might make that execution harder to achieve. Unless your IT provider understands your needs and your industry, you might run into some roadblocks on the way to accomplishing your goals.
Risk: Security Issues
Outsourced IT companies may not meet security standards that your organization needs. This is especially true If your organization is a regulated industry. If you’re transitioning from an in-house IT department to an outsourced IT company, be sure that their security protocols meet your industry’s standards. Additionally, overseas IT companies may not be a great choice because IT protocols are different in each country.
The Bottom Line
There are risks and rewards with both outsourced IT and in-house IT departments. In the final analysis, decision-makers have to assess which of the two options is most beneficial for their operations. At GoComputek, we offer the best of both worlds. We are an outsourced IT company that feels like an in-house IT department. Our customers have been with us for so long that we have become an extension of their day-to-day operations. We have developed symbiotic relationships with our customers in regulated industries and have developed robust security strategies to meet their most pressing needs. We also have a team of techs who are constantly increasing their knowledge base and are available 24/7 /365. Give us a call today and experience a different kind of IT company risk-free.
