How to Predict the “Unpredictable,” at Least Where IT Costs are Concerned

Some surprises can be lots of fun. That said, any surprise impacts to your business’ IT won’t be.

Whether a server crashes, your wireless connectivity goes kaput, or you’re suddenly dealing with a security threat, the outcome is likely the same: the problem is fixed, but the invoice delivered to you a week or so later introduces a brand-new issue… the bill.

Nowadays, there is no reason for this little scenario to happen. Instead, your IT can be treated as a predictable utility cost without any dramatic surprises to throw off your plans.

First, let’s walk through the alternative, where your business is still reliant on the break-fix support model.

Is Break-Fix Really So Bad? (Yes, It Is)

More traditionally, businesses had little choice but to obtain IT services through the break-fix model of IT support. An organization would typically use its technology until something went wrong, only addressing the issue when downtime became the only remaining option. Then that business would pay an hourly rate until its technology was fixed.

We need to call out the primary problem with this approach immediately: the break/fix provider profits exclusively when you have technology issues. When your IT is working properly, the break/fix provider makes nothing. They are financially motivated to turn you into a repeat customer, rather than preventing problems from recurring.

As a result, your interests are immediately in opposition.

Managed Services Work Differently

The work of a managed service provider effectively combines IT services with insurance… a tradition that is millennia old. In ancient Babylon, shipping merchants would tack on an additional sum to the loans they took to secure a shipment. If something happened to this shipment en route, the loan would be cancelled, and the additional sum would serve as an insurance payment, of sorts. It was a predictable fee that accounted for unpredictable risks… sound familiar?

This is how managed services work. In exchange for a predictable, flat monthly fee, your risk of technical issues or cyberattacks is addressed and minimized.

What Our Services Give You

Our managed IT services—which include unlimited support, all-hours monitoring and maintenance, cybersecurity protections, backup and disaster recovery, and technology guidance—all contribute to making your capital expenses more predictable and stable operating expenses.

So, don’t wait any longer to stabilize your IT spending! Reach out to us to learn more about our services by calling us at (703) 743-3056.