The term 'managed IT' gets thrown around a lot, but it often gets confused with break-fix support — calling someone when something breaks. Those are very different things.
Break-Fix vs. Managed IT
Break-fix is reactive. Something fails, you call for help, you pay for the repair, you move on. It's fine for very small setups with low technology dependency.
Managed IT is proactive. A managed services provider (MSP) monitors your systems continuously, applies updates and patches, identifies issues before they become outages, and provides helpdesk support for your staff — all under a predictable monthly fee.
What's Typically Included
A managed IT agreement usually covers: continuous monitoring of servers, workstations, and network devices; patch management and software updates; helpdesk support with defined response times; backup monitoring and testing; and security alerting. Higher tiers may include on-site response, strategic IT consulting, and vendor management.
Is It Right for Your Business?
Managed IT makes sense when: you have 5+ employees relying on technology to do their jobs; downtime directly costs you money or clients; you don't have internal IT staff; or you're tired of waiting for something to break before getting help.
For many small businesses, managed IT costs less per month than a single extended outage. Book a free assessment to see what a managed IT arrangement would look like for your operation.