Managed Services vs. Break-fix
Tim Riddle
President & CEO of Custom Information Services | I help companies change how technology impacts their business to become leaders in their industry.
We are living in the Post-PC world, where technology is evolving rapidly and it is becoming a necessity for small and medium businesses to stay informed on current technologies relevant to their business operations.
For SMBs from a technology perspective, there are two major types of service providers: A Managed Service Provider (MSP) or a break/fix operation.
Break Fix is exactly what it sounds like. Something breaks, let’s call the ‘IT guy’ to fix it. A lot of businesses have used this model of service for years and this could be the only model of IT management that they know exists. This model can be attractive for various reasons to a small business because it can mean some months there is no bill, while other months the bill can be higher than expected.
This reactive approach to IT can end up costing businesses more in the long run due to unresolved persistent issues. Why would your IT guy want to truly diagnose and resolve your issue, as opposed to providing a ‘quick fix’ and possibly not getting to the root cause of the issue if he is being paid by the hour or issue? There is no incentive.
What if your technology issues could be resolved proactively instead of re-actively? What if these types of issues were fixed before you even knew they existed? How can you quantify paying for IT services if you rarely need to submit a support ticket because your systems and users just work? To Learn More About the Benefits of Using an MSP, check out our latest blog.
Multi-dimensional technology executive with skills in business strategy, communications, and technology
6 年My experience has been that most companies define themselves as MSPs, but deliver a break/fix mindset. So customers have to be educated enough to ask questions to vet MSPs on their ability to deliver proactively.