As the businesses are growing, so are their IT demands. IT world is becoming more complex each day and every business needs to be up to date with all changes, updates, and new security threats. There are two main ways a business can do that:
- Outsource the IT services
- Hire in-house IT specialists
Outsourcing has become an increasingly popular choice among many businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones, as it comes with numerous benefits. But, is it really better than hiring your own IT specialists? The truth is there is no right and wrong answer. It all depends on your business’s needs, your budget, and your preferences. You simply have to weigh your options, consult with all of the teams, and decide what’s best for your business. What works for one company doesn’t necessarily have to work for the other.
Pros of outsourcing
- It’s cheaper.
Hiring your own team of IT specialists costs a lot of money and consumes a lot of time both of which small businesses don’t have in abundance. Small and medium-sized businesses have to take special care of their resources and not waste them unnecessarily. Some of the main expenses that come with hiring in-house are the paychecks, the training, the software, and hardware. None of those things are cheap. Simply maintaining the hardware takes time and money, not to talk about everything else. Outsourcing is ultimately a cheaper option as you’re paying only for what you’re using. Furthermore, you’re getting an already trained and experienced IT specialist or a whole team of them. Also, you don’t have to worry about the costs of maintaining hardware and software.
- IT companies are experienced and familiar with the newest technologies.
This is their job, it’s the one thing they do. They have to be up to date with new changes and security threats, they have to educate their employees, and offer only the best. That means you can always count on them to come equipped with the necessary knowledge and experience. Infiniwiz also points out that you can always turn to your IT service provider to ask for advice and collect some knowledge.
Cons of outsourcing
- Unexpected costs
Even though outsourcing is generally considered to be a cheaper option, it comes with unexpected costs. Sometimes you need more help, sometimes less which means that your expenses can vary drastically from month to month. This can be a problem for some businesses, but it usually isn’t given that much attention.
- Hiring in-house means jobs are being done more quickly and efficiently.
By hiring your own team of IT specialists, you’re getting someone who will be completely focused on your business on who you can count on to deliver the best results always. With third-party IT companies, there can be a slow response time. If there’s an issue, you need it fixed as soon as possible. Many businesses completely rely on their IT network working properly all the time and a lot can be lost if something goes wrong. Having someone who knows your business perfectly and is ready to react instantly is a huge plus.