Many small and midsize businesses assume that handling their IT systems and infrastructure internally will save them money compared to working with a managed IT services provider. 

However, there are many hidden costs associated with managing IT in-house that companies frequently overlook. When factoring in these unseen expenses, an in-house IT department often ends up costing significantly more than partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) that offers economies of scale.

Let’s break down the major hidden costs that come with building an in-house IT department. We’ll also look at how partnering with an MSP like Intelinet Systems can actually be the more budget-friendly option.

Cost of Training & Staying Current

One of the top hidden costs of in-house IT is ongoing training and education to keep your team’s skills up-to-date. The technology landscape evolves rapidly. To manage your infrastructure and security effectively, your IT team needs to stay current on the latest software, security threats, compliance regulations, and hardware.

This requires significant investment in training. From sending staff to conferences, seminars, and workshops to paying for individual training and certification courses, ongoing education adds up fast. And with how quickly technology changes, the training costs for up-to-date in-house IT support are recurring, not one-time.

An MSP maintains a staff that is already trained and certified in the latest technologies. They operate at economies of scale that allow them to invest efficiently in ongoing team training. That burden does not fall onto your shoulders.

No Economies of Scale

Speaking of economies of scale, that is another major hidden cost factor. The reality is that a small or midsize business simply can’t match the economies of scale that a managed IT services provider offers. 

An MSP pools resources and infrastructure across clients to lower costs in a way you can’t replicate internally with a small IT team and budget. They can purchase hardware, software, and tools at volume discounts and spread infrastructure costs across many customers. 

Your in-house IT team will pay more for those same things at lower volumes. The team at Intelinet Systems is happy to provide these resources to our customers, passing down the savings wherever we can.

Depth of Expertise

Your in-house IT generalists may be talented, but there are limits to their expertise. An MSP’s staff includes specialists who focus deeply on particular technologies, systems, applications, and processes.

From monitoring and preventative maintenance to ensuring quality network services, that depth of niche expertise would be too expensive to replicate with a small internal team. But you gain access to it through managed services. Having specialists handle complex tasks ultimately lowers costs compared to relying on generalists alone.

Focus on Core Business 

There is also an opportunity cost when your in-house IT staff spends time addressing technology issues. That takes their time and focus away from more strategic business goals that drive growth and revenue.

Handing technology over to an MSP frees up your staff to concentrate on the core business priorities that they are best suited for. We can focus on high-value responsibilities that make the organization more productive and successful.

Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity

It is extremely expensive to implement an effective business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) system in-house. The hardware, software, backup tools, and virtualization capabilities required to minimize downtime involve major IT infrastructure investment. 

An MSP centralizes BCDR processes across clients for greater efficiency. Our nationwide team can test recovery protocols more frequently and comprehensively. 

We also have experience designing continuity plans for the realities of an actual disruption. Data loss can be a massive financial disaster for any business. Leveraging managed BCDR services prevents them from becoming a high hidden cost.

Secure Your Managed IT Needs With Intelinet Systems

While moving IT management in-house may seem like a cheaper option initially, factoring in the long-term hidden costs makes it a more expensive overall approach in most cases. Partnering with a managed IT provider like Intelinet Systems can help you control costs while actually enhancing technology capabilities.

Our team of managed IT specialists offers nationwide protection that ensures your employees are never left in a technological lurch. Our managed services include IT support, IT security as a service, managed disaster recovery, and more.

Contact us today to learn more about partnering with us to improve your IT solution strategy.