Navigating IT Support: Choosing Between Managed Services and In-House Teams

Businesses throughout Ipswich and the wider Suffolk area are constantly evolving, and so are their IT needs. As an IT Support Provider based in Suffolk, Corbel Solutions understands the dilemma businesses face when deciding between managed and in-house IT support. We have created this blog to explore the pros and cons of each option, with the intention of helping your Suffolk business make an informed decision that ultimately aligns with your business objectives.

Managed IT Support

Pros

1. Expertise on Demand: Managed IT services offer access to a team of IT experts with a diverse skill set that can be difficult to replicate in-house with a smaller team.
2. Cost-Effectiveness: Outsourcing can be more cost-effective than hiring a full-time team, especially for small to medium-sized businesses in Suffolk.
3. Scalability: As your business grows, managed IT services can easily scale alongside your growth to meet increased demand without the need for additional hiring.
4. Proactive Maintenance: Managed services often include proactive monitoring and maintenance, reducing the risk of any unnecessary downtime.

Cons

1. Less Control: Some businesses may feel they have less control over their IT operations when they are outsourced.
2. Potential for Misaligned Priorities: The IT support provider may have multiple clients, which could lead to a conflict of priorities – this is something at Corbel we actively avoid by having dedicated account managers assigned to individual clients in order to ensure the best partnership.

In-House IT Support

Pros

1. Direct Oversight: Having an in-house team allows for direct management and oversight of IT operations.
2. Customised Solutions: An in-house team can develop bespoke IT solutions tailored specifically to the businesses needs.
3. Immediate Response: In-house teams can typically respond to issues more quickly as they are on-site. At Corbel, quick response times is something we pride ourselves on and our response time last year was an average of 28 minutes across 15,000 tickets.

Cons

1. Higher Costs: The cost of recruiting, training, and retaining IT staff can often be great, making the process of building an in-house team an expensive one which may not be practical for small to medium sized businesses in Suffolk.
2. Resource Limitations: Smaller businesses may not have the resources to staff a full IT department with diverse expertise and expert knowledge and so there potential may be slightly limited.
3. Scalability Challenges: Expanding an in-house team to keep up with growth can be a slow and costly process and subsequently may limit your businesses growth.

Whether you opt for managed or in-house IT support it is a significant decision for any business in Suffolk. At Corbel Solutions, we provide managed IT services that combine the benefits of expertise, cost-efficiency, and scalability, all while ensuring your business’s IT infrastructure is robust and reliable. Contact us to find out more about how we can support your business’s unique IT needs.

Corbel Solutions are an Ipswich-based IT Support provider who work proactively throughout Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Stowmarket, Newmarket and the surrounding Suffolk area to provide a range of IT Services including Business IT Support, Cyber Security and Cyber Security Training as well as IT Consultancy services. Corbel work with a wide range of industries from shipping and logistics, to accountancy, the legal sector and those in the waste management and recycling industry. For more information or to have a chat with one of our team members, feel free to give us a call on 01473 241515 or email us at [email protected]. Or you can book in an appointment with one of our team members here.