The good news is, if your company is thinking about getting in-house IT support, then business is good. But, that doesn’t make the decision any easier. There’s always the concern, especially in the current business climate, about if you can maintain the business for in-house IT.
Make Sure You Understand the Costs
Like most business decisions, the shift away from contracted IT services is usually based on costs. And it can be difficult to compare the costs of in-house IT versus outsourced IT. Costs for IT support service providers can seem very high compared to in-house options. But here’s where you need a good cost analysis.
Many of the costs you’ll take on for in-house IT are included in your contracted IT support costs already. Among others, these can include:
- Hardware support and upgrades
- Software support and upgrades
- Repair equipment costs
- Expenses due to sourcing, hiring and training staff
- Salaries, benefits and vacation time
Ongoing IT Costs vs Intermittent or Project-based IT Costs
One relatively easy way to identify that maybe it’s time for in-house IT support is to look at the nature of your IT spends. They maybe constant, like for ongoing backups, staff training, and system maintenance. Or they may be more short-term, including project-based IT or system rollouts. If you have significant ongoing IT requirements, then the case for in-house support is stronger.
Test it First
If you’re still unsure about if in-house IT services are right for your company, test it before making a decision. Your IT managed service provider should have options for maintaining outsourced IT support staff at your location. Not only do you get to ‘test-drive’ in-house IT, but it will also give you a a much clearer idea of the advantages and disadvantages.
Consider Doing Both
Even if you’re clear about the need for in-house IT, you may be concerned about having too much, or too little support. The scope of the IT services you need can change when you transition from outsourced to in-house. So take it one step at a time. Perhaps find a good IT manager and use an IT services provider to do the rest. As you identify areas of the greatest need, you can add in-house services and scale back your outsourcing.
Want to learn more about how to use IT services? Check out our article Cost Considerations of In-House IT Professionals vs Managed Service Providers.