The IT Battle of the Decade: Managed Services vs. Break-Fix 

When it comes to managed services in comparison to break-fix, many small and mid-sized businesses think the a la carte model of service can be better for budgets, especially when they can’t financially maintain a dedicated internal IT team or CIO. However, that’s not always the right approach. Managed services vs. the break-fix model of service is an ongoing battle, one that depends on whether you prefer being proactive or reactive to situations that can interrupt critical business continuity. Here’s our breakdown of what you need to know when it comes to comparing break-fix and managed services. 

The break-fix model is just as the name indicates. When something IT-based breaks, you call an IT professional to fix it. This is a reactive, fee-for-service model. 

Break-fix can work when it’s intended to support an existing IT department. For example, if something breaks, the IT department has an outside source to help them fix the problem, while they focus on day-to-day business needs. However, most times, break-fix pricing and fees can be very high, especially if there is an emergency, if off-hours work is required, or if significant damage or a complex scenario is causing extended downtime. 

Companies without an IT department that are relying on the break-fix model, however, are running a terrible risk. All companies, regardless of industry or size, need devices and networks that work as expected and are resilient to cyberattacks—relying on break-fix IT that only provides support when called upon means that a business’s IT infrastructure is vulnerable and will most likely lead to the company being compromised. 

With managed services, however, businesses benefit from a proactive approach–one that gives companies constant IT support and access to scaled services based on their goals and growth. Perhaps the greatest benefit is that this model provides services and support at one monthly fee, instead of an unknown and exorbitant expense when something inevitably goes wrong. 

Unlike break-fix, the point of managed services is to have all systems operating, monitored, and updated continuously to minimize any threats, downtime, or other risks, which give business owners peace of mind. 

Many business owners want to pay for IT only to fix a computer, bring a network back online, or otherwise take care of something that is broken. But this relies on an unrealistic hope that these issues are rare and leave systems and networks vulnerable. In today’s online world, businesses can’t afford to wait for something to break. You need constant monitoring and updating by IT experts, especially when cyberattacks, compromised devices and networks, and remote working environments are increasing during COVID-19. Equip yourself with expertise, familiarity, and a continued amount of care to gain access to all the technology and protections that every business needs to survive in today’s world.

At MidnightBlue, our focus is on keeping your business secure, backed up, and running 24/7, so you can focus on running your business. Contact us today to talk about managed services and IT solutions that make the most sense for your business.