Stop waiting for your technology to break
When something goes wrong with your IT, everything grinds to a halt. With a standard break/fix service contract, you have to wait for something to break before your provider can fix it. That equation seems to make sense – even though it could easily result in hours of downtime. But what if you could keep your IT from breaking in the first place?
With Outsourced IT solutions from PCG IT, all of your IT needs are handled externally by our team of experts – so instead of worrying about technology, you can focus on running your business.
When you invest in Outsourced IT from PCG IT, you can expect:
- Peace of Mind – Your systems are monitored 24/7.
- Less Downtime – We identify and fix issues before they cause problems.
- Fewer Disruptions – We provide most services remotely or overnight.
- Predictable Budgeting – All-inclusive, all-you-can-use, flat-rate IT services that include hardware and software.
- Project Management – We can assist with any project scope or services
- Hiring – Wont need to worry about constant turnover and hiring
- Time – Free up your time to focus on the business and critical technology needs
Outsourced IT solutions from PCG IT provide you with more reliable performance and more predictable expenses. That means you get more value from the technology you’ve already invested in, while actually reducing the total costs of IT problems and the resulting downtime. We believe in having Standards in place with your technology, users and IT processes to minimize any disruptions and have best business practices in place.
As a marketing agency I was hesitant to get into a big contract with another IT firm but the solutions Dave and his team came up with actually saved us money. It definitely pays to have the right guidance as technology always changes and now it is one less thing we have to worry about. They are consistently educating us and helping us maximize our investments in the technologies that help run our business.
Marketing Agency / Professional Services Firm
Should I Hire or Outsource an IT Professional?
Managing your IT Infrastructure and Network Security is of the utmost importance. However, so is keeping your costs manageable. Businesses are looking for ways to save money on products and services wherever they can, without cutting too deep into the value they receive.
One way to reduce operating expenses is to outsource services whenever possible. Is outsourcing IT worth the cost savings, or should you hire an internal IT professional? Here’s what you should know before making a decision.
What Is an Outsourced IT Professional?
An outsourced IT professional is a provider that fulfills all or part of the IT functions needed by a business. What services are used differ greatly between companies, and some businesses may rely on outsourced IT for all their IT support and maintenance while others offer external support for existing internal IT teams.
A business may choose to use a single provider for all their IT needs, or they may choose separate providers to attend to different elements of the company’s IT infrastructure.
Managed IT Services
Managed IT services are appropriate for many companies that need top tier security and network management. An outsourced managed IT provider can offer network monitoring, analytics and reporting, cyber security, and more.
The Core Differences Between Outsourced IT Professionals and Hired Employees
The primary difference between an outsourced IT professional and a hired employee is the working relationship. A hired employee is just that — an employee — while an outsourced individual or agency is typically a contractor. Employees need to be vetted, hired, trained, and managed.
External IT providers don’t require training or management and come with the necessary skills to get the work done. Employees are paid hourly or based on an annual salary, while outsourced professionals are paid only for the specific job for which they are hired. Outsourcing IT services is an excellent way to handle time-consuming or specialty work, even if your business does have internal IT solutions.
What Are the Key Elements of a Strong IT Strategy?
Your company’s IT infrastructure should be robust and well-tailored to your unique needs. Here are some of the key elements of a strong IT plan:
- Dedicated Network Administrator
- 24×7 Help Desk
- Team Approach
- 1-3-5-Year IT Planning and Budgeting
- Client Reporting & Dashboards
- Documentation
- Project Management
- Microsoft 365 Specialists
- Business Continuity
- Security Experts
- Cloud/Azure Authorities
- Wireless Gurus
- Servers/Virtualization
- PC/Desktop Support
- IT Consulting/Council
- Vendor Liaison
- Industry Compliance
- Customer Service
- Hardware Support/Repair
Can I Manage My IT Myself?
Some businesses may try to trim operating costs by managing their IT on their own. Typically, these business owners know enough about IT to put a few basic security measures in place but not enough to create a multi-tiered IT infrastructure designed for safety, affordability, and efficiency. Unless you are an IT professional yourself, it’s better to either hire a dedicated IT employee or outsource your IT to an experienced agency.
The Cost of Outsourced IT vs. Hiring a Dedicated Employee
If IT isn’t something you can do yourself, you’ll need to compare the cost of outsourcing with hiring a dedicated employee. Consider these figures:
From our hiring vs. outsourcing infographic
According to the chart above, a company can save over $6,000 a month or over $70,000 every year simply by outsourcing IT instead of handling it in-house.
Top Benefits of IT Outsourcing
There are numerous benefits of IT outsourcing, including but not limited to:
- Low additional overhead. As shown above, the annual cost of outsourcing IT is significantly less compared to hiring an in-house IT professional.
- Tax deductions instead of tax liability. Hiring an in-house employee means your business takes on additional tax liability, but outsourcing IT can create tax deductions.
- No employee training required. You won’t need to provide time-consuming training on workplace policies and processes.
- Managed IT Service Providers are ready to help. Hiring an employee and bringing them up to speed takes time but outsourcing an IT professional can offer immediate solutions.
- Avoid IT nightmares. New employees can make costly mistakes, whereas an IT provider has experience executing comprehensive IT strategies.
- Eliminate single points of failure. If you rely on an in-house IT professional, your business is at risk during sick leaves, vacations, or if they decide to leave.
- Hire for what you need, not what you don’t. By outsourcing IT, you can trim costs by hiring help according to your specific needs.
- Save time and money. Your IT gets taken care of without your team having to leave the office unattended while away at training or IT events, and you don’t have to invest in R&D and competencies.
- Document critical IT processes. With hired IT professionals, knowledge generally stays with them in their company role and is not shared or accessible to the business. A managed service provider can help document your important IT processes so they can be replicated.
Why Choose PCGIT?
Selecting a managed IT service provider doesn’t have to be intimidating. At PCGIT, we take pride in offering a wide variety of solutions for businesses. Our technical engineers, each with many skills and competencies, allow for better problem solving, less downtime, and more uptime and efficiencies.
If you’re like most small to medium-size businesses, you don’t have access to the same plethora of tools, 24/7/365 monitoring, and skill sets that managed IT service providers do. PCG has the expertise needed for IT planning and budgeting and security risk minimization and can adapt and change as IT requirements do.
Contact PCGIT for More Information
Ensure your data and IT infrastructure is protected and managed efficiently with the help of an experienced Managed IT Services Provider. At PCGIT, we strive to give our customers predictable outcomes, including cost and security. Contact us today for more information at (603) 431-4121.
