DIY IT Management or Outsource?
Can you do IT management yourself as an SME business, or is it better to outsource? An objective analysis of both options.
“We do our IT ourselves” - it sounds cost-effective. But is it? In this article, we make an objective analysis of DIY IT management versus outsourcing to a professional IT management partner. Spoiler: the right answer depends on your situation.
What does IT management involve?
Before we compare, let’s first clarify what IT management encompasses:
| Category | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Daily management | User support, monitoring, backup control, small problems |
| Periodic maintenance | Updates, patches, security reviews, performance optimisation |
| Project-based | New employees, software implementations, migrations |
| Strategic | IT roadmap, budget planning, vendor management |
Option 1: DIY IT
What does this look like?
- An employee (often not full-time IT) does it “on the side”
- Or: you have an in-house IT person
- External party only for major projects
Option 2: Outsource IT
What does this look like?
- Managed Service Provider (MSP) takes over management
- Fixed monthly costs per user or workstation
- Monitoring, maintenance, support included
The hybrid option
Many businesses choose a middle ground that combines the best of both worlds.
| Internal | External |
|---|---|
| First line support (simple questions) | Technical management and monitoring |
| Vendor contact | Security and compliance |
| Project coordination | Solving complex problems |
| Point of contact for employees | Strategic advice |
Comparing costs
A fair comparison is difficult, but here’s an indication:
€800-1,600
per month
DIY (4-8 hours/week)
€50-100
per workstation
outsourcing per month
€50,000+
average damage
with ransomware
| DIY (small environment) | Outsourcing (30 workstations) |
|---|---|
| Employee time: 4-8 hours/week | €50-100/workstation/month |
| At €50/hour: €800-1,600/month | Total: €1,500-3,000/month |
| Plus: tools, licences, training | Including: monitoring, support, maintenance |
| Plus: hidden costs with problems | No surprises |
Checklist: what suits you?
Choosing the right MSP
If you decide to outsource, pay attention to:
Experience in your sector
Do they know the specific requirements of your industry?
Local presence
Can they also visit physically if needed?
Transparent pricing
No surprises, clear what is and isn't included
Proactive approach
Monitoring and preventive maintenance, not just putting out fires
References
Ask for customers to talk to
Contract flexibility
Can you exit if it doesn't work out?
Read more about our Online Workplace and what you can expect from us.
Conclusion
DIY IT management can work for small businesses with simple IT and someone who enjoys doing it. As complexity increases or IT becomes more critical, outsourcing is usually the wiser choice.
Ronald Evers
IT specialist at Barion with over 20 years of experience in SME IT. Ronald writes about IT trends, cybersecurity and digital transformation.
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