When business owners hear Managed IT Services, most of them just think of it as just outsourcing tech problems. The truth is that it’s much more than that.
And it’s very important to have a clear understanding of what Managed IT Services really are to effectively benefit from it with budgeting, avoiding downtime, improving security, and planning for growth.
At its core, Managed IT is an ongoing partnership where an external provider monitors, maintains, and improves your IT setup through an ongoing and proactive approach vs. the traditional, reactive way of fixing problems after the fact.
Defining Managed IT Services
To elaborate, think of Managed IT as an “always on” IT support system. Instead of running to fix things when they break, a third-party provider takes responsibility for:
- Daily monitoring & maintenance.
- Keeping systems patched, secure, and compliant.
- Supporting end users with issues.
And this all happens on an ongoing basis, spanning hardware, software, cloud, networks, and cybersecurity. Think of it like hiring a “virtual IT department” that scales as your business grows.
In ITIL, or Information Technology Infrastructure Library, the globally recognized framework for IT service management, a managed service has a more formal definition. If you’d like to know more about this notion, you can check our article on what a managed service in the context of ITIL really means.
The Key Components
- Ongoing Monitoring & Maintenance to allow you to catch issues early and minimize downtime.
- Helpdesk Support to provide staff with quick answers to IT problems.
- Cybersecurity to provide multi-layered defense against phishing, malware, and ransomware.
- Backup & Disaster Recovery to ensure data is safe and systems are recoverable.
- Cloud Services & Migration for a smooth adoption of cloud platforms like Microsoft 365 or Azure.
- Strategic IT Planning & Consulting to align IT roadmaps with business growth, and not just fixing day-to-day.
Naturally, the scope of managed IT services can change depending on your business needs that we discuss during our discovery phase.
The Difference Between Managed IT Services and Traditional IT Support
If we were to compare the traditional/break-fix model to the IT Managed service model, the core difference is that one waits for something to fail, then rushes to repair it while driving up your costs, and the other one is all about proactive prevention and predictable costs. This cost difference comes from the fact that essential break-fix means surprise invoices vs. Managed IT that comes with a flat rate monthly subscription. At the end of the day, Managed = a strategic partner, not just an IT repair shop.
| Break/Fix (Traditional IT) | Managed IT Services | |
| Approach | Reactive: fix problems after they happen | Proactive: prevent problems before they happen |
| Cost | Unpredictable invoices | Predictable monthly fee |
| Support | As-needed, often slow | 24/7 monitoring + fast response |
| Value | Puts out fires | Enables long-term growth |
Benefits of Managed IT Services for Businesses
So what does this all mean in terms of a bottom line for businesses? What do they stand to gain once a Managed IT Services model is in place?
- Reduced Downtime: issues prevented, not just fixed.
- Predictable Costs: easy budgeting with flat monthly pricing.
- Stronger Security: especially important for growing cyber risks.
- Access to Expertise: a full team of specialists for less than one full-time hire.
- Scalability: easily adjust support as the business expands.
Here’s an example of a small manufacturing shop in Barrie, with around 30 employees, relying on one main computer system to manage orders and inventory. Whenever they had a crash, it slowed production down and sometimes brought it to a complete stop. And each time it happened, they would call tech support, wait hours to get a response, and then to get an actual visit to solve the problem… costing them thousands in delays. When Managed IT came into play, these recurring issues were nipped in the bud, other issues were spotted early, and quite importantly, staff now had a dependable and accessible helpdesk with dedicated experts that would help them out the minute something glitches. Ultimately this meant steady production without a complete company panic when systems malfunction, if ever.
Who Needs Managed IT Services?
Several company types and industries can reap the benefits of Managed IT Services to streamline their operations and propel their growth:
- Small to mid companies that don’t have internal IT resources.
- Companies with internal IT but that need extra help with specific areas of expertise or operational overload in case of special projects (this is known as the co-managed model).
- Industries that require regulation and proof of compliance (HIPAA, PCI, PIPEDA) such as healthcare, finance, legal, etc.
- Growing businesses that can’t afford downtime or outgrowing their systems.
It is worth noting that many businesses sometimes compare ITSM and other management systems like CRM for example. Both focus on service and efficiency, yet their purposes are different as we explain in more detail in our article on the difference between CRM and ITSM.
The Role of a Managed IT Provider like ACT360
As a Managed IT provider, ACT360 overall combines technical expertise with business strategy. The focus is always on understanding your business goals first, so that IT solutions are tailored and aligned accordingly. Technology should never be used just for the sake of technology.
Some of the services that ACT360 offers include:
- Proactive system monitoring.
- Microsoft 365 and cloud migration.
- Cybersecurity frameworks.
- IT strategy planning sessions.
ACT360 also brings a local touch as its team of local experts has been supporting businesses in Barrie and across Simcoe County, understanding the unique needs of the region.
It is also good to keep in mind the comparison between an MSP (Managed Service Provider) and IT Consulting, as they are sometimes mistakenly interchanged. Our article on the difference between IT Consulting and MSP explains where they overlap and where they don’t.
Why the Term “Managed” Matters
As mentioned earlier, the term “Managed” is critical because it basically means that ongoing care and accountability are provided. It shifts IT from being a cost center where teams rush to just fix problems (that usually end up recurring) to a growth enabler where teams actually support operations, facilitate planning, and bolster security. It is not the same as outsourcing because, in essence, IT becomes a stimulating service and partnership that contributes to the growth of your business, rather than being some auxiliary department you only notice when things stop working properly.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, IT itself naturally is essential in any company operations, but if it’s not managed correctly, it ends up being a hindrance to the growth of your business. Proactive, strategic, and secure management is key.
How would you describe your current IT setup? Reactive or more managed? Connect with us for a free consultation and we will provide you with a full audit to outline how our Managed IT Services model is just what your business needs to grow to the next level! Call 705-739-2281.
You can learn more about managed IT services and how ACT360 helps businesses reduce risk, cut downtime, and plan smarter.
