How do Managed Services Stack Up to Break/Fix Services in Price?

Outsourced IT is a great option for the modern small business, and no matter where your shortcomings lie in managing technology, we are confident you can find value in the service. Whether you need a full-fledged IT department or someone to help implement new solutions, we’ve got you covered, and for the right price point, too! Let’s take a look at some of the trends you can expect from managed IT, as well as how they influence the costs compared to those of the traditional break-fix model.

A Comparison Between Managed Services and Break-Fix

Let’s begin by really distilling the two options into the most basic description of each.

• Break-Fix services are transactional in their nature, with each issue in need of resolution being billed separately. 
• Managed services operate as an outsourced department would, with all services (based on the established agreement) covered by a set monthly subscription cost.

At the root of it is how the business is charged for the IT services rendered. While there are countless other differences between the two types of services, such as proactive versus reactive maintenance, and the scope of services rendered, we want to dial in on the financial differences between the two.

It Comes Down to How Much You Get for Your Money

With break-fix IT, you are going to have to get used to at least a certain level of downtime, as it’s built into the service model. You can’t fix technology that isn’t broken, after all. You are reacting to issues that appear after your processes have been disrupted. This means you are losing money due to the lost productivity and perhaps even missed opportunities. You have to weigh the value of these missed opportunities and issues against the cost of the services. Is it worth it? We don’t think so.

When compared against the value that managed service agreements cover, including complete monitoring and maintenance through the use of remote technologies, and live assistance available whenever your employees need it, there’s no questioning the difference. Some issues might need to be addressed in-house, but the data collected prior to that visit will make the technician’s job easier and more expedient. In all, you can expect a more consistent and predictable service offering from a managed service provider, making the service easier to budget and prepare for. It’s comparable to having a full-fledged in-house IT department on your side, only much more cost-effective.

While We May Be Biased, The Comparative Value We Offer Speaks for Itself

When you work with Directive, we ensure that you aren’t getting charged for every little thing done to your infrastructure; our business model is all-inclusive to ensure that you know what you are getting at all times. We try to limit the surprise expenses associated with technology management so you can focus on running your organization the way it’s supposed to be run.

It might be tempting to go with a low-commitment style of technology management, but we assure you that the break-fix providers are not going to have your best interests in mind. You deserve IT maintenance from a team invested in your prolonged and continued success. To learn more about how we can help you with this, reach out to us at 607.433.2200.