Managed IT, sometimes called a Managed Service Provider or MSP, is an outsourced team who help to manage our business’s technical aspects. An MSP team traditionally helps to build and maintain your software stack, servers, and cybersecurity among a myriad of other computer-related duties that they can take on. Managed IT teams are great at stepping in wherever a business needs more IT support, whether that’s becoming your entire IT department or taking on the overflow IT work that has overwhelmed in-house IT.

However, because managed IT tasks are so custom-tailored to the needs of each client, it’s also easy for misconceptions and myths to form. One company’s experience with a managed IT service likely won’t mirror another’s, even if the two businesses are in the same industry and of similar size. After all, the behind-the-scenes tech-stack of software, hardware, and workflow choices are unique to each and every business.

As managed IT providers ourselves, we’re here to help clear up some of the confusion floating around the business water cooler and debunk a few managed IT myths. Many of the top-seven MSP myths are paired as opposites of each other to point out how contradictory these industry assumptions really are.

Myth 1: Managed IT is Only for Startups and Stop-Gap

The first myth is that managed IT is only for teams who are desperate for an IT team, like startups and emergency stop-gap measures. It’s true that startups often benefit from the full-service approach of an MPS, where all the business-tech bases are already covered from network security to software and app integration. It’s also true that businesses experiencing a technical emergency have rescued deadlines and recovered from hacks by temporarily bringing a managed IT onboard. However, the benefits of working with an MSP go beyond filling a vital gap in your workflow. MSPs also offer a great deal of benefit to medium and large businesses, and provide steady support services to stable businesses that aren’t in a technical tail-spin.

Myth 2: Managed IT is an Expensive Luxury

On the flip-side of the myth that managed IT is only for startups is the myth that MSPs are an expensive luxury. This is often accompanied with the assumption that only large enterprises can really benefit from outsourcing to a managed IT team.  The idea is that all managed IT services cost a similar amount, which is too high for normal businesses to reasonably invest in.

In truth, managed IT services very widely in style and pricing. Some large MSPs are geared to cater primarily to large enterprises, but most are actually focused on small to medium businesses who are looking to optimize costs. This means that most managed IT services are priced to be practical and particularly to save money for smaller businesses.

Myth 3: You Don’t Need Managed IT if You Have In-House IT

Managed IT and in-house IT are not directly interchangeable. In many businesses, the two groups work together and split duties based on what makes the most sense. For example, your in-house IT may focus on day-to-day server maintenance and inter-office tech support while the managed IT team takes on the time-consuming projects like reconfiguring your tech-stack after an update. This leaves your in-house team free to take care of business-as-usual without getting overwhelmed by the occasional large projects or big-picture oversights.

If you have an in-house IT team, they might be the most enthusiastic about hiring an MSP as recipients for their back-log and overflow of technical tasks. Outsourcing can lead to the man-power needed for both backlogged maintenance tasks and special projects.

Stay tuned for part two on debunking the myths about IT Managed Services or if you would like to discuss more ahead of time, Contact us today!