Businesses have a big decision to make when it comes to hiring an outsourced managed IT provider: staff augmentation vs. managed services is the question of the hour.
Both options have their own set of pros and cons, making it difficult to determine which is the better choice for your specific needs.
With either choice, it’s becoming a verifiable fact that some form of MSP assistance is the way of the future, with the managed services sector expected to reach $393.72 billion by 2028, and 60% of businesses are expected to rely on managed services in some way
In this blog post, we will break down each option in detail and help you decide which one is best for you.
What is Staff Augmentation?
Staff augmentation is when a business hires a managed IT provider to supplement their in-house team members, either as temporary assistance or for specific projects.
This option offers flexibility and can yield significant cost savings, but it also lacks the level of expertise and 24/7 support that fully managed services offer.
What Are Managed Services?
Managed services are when a managed IT provider takes over all or most of the day-to-day management and maintenance tasks for a business’s IT infrastructure.
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This option allows businesses to focus on their business goals, as well as providing access to expert staff and round-the-clock support. However, it can come at a higher cost compared to staff augmentation.
What Are the Pros of Staff Augmentation
The advantages of the staff augmentation model are many, and in this section we’ll be exploring how it can be a benefit to your business when you supplement your existing in-house IT team.
1. Flexibility
Staff augmentation offers the ability to bring in specialized experts for short-term projects or temporary assistance, rather than having to hire them full time.
2.Cost-Effectiveness
With staff augmentation, it can often be a more cost-effective choice for businesses, especially those with smaller IT staff or limited budgets.
3. Tailored Support
Choosing to supplement your current IT department allows you to customize the level and type of support needed for specific tasks or projects.
What Are the Cons of Staff Augmentation
Naturally, there are two sides to every choice. Here we will explore the various cons of staff augmentation vs. managed services.
1. Limited Expertise
Staff augmentation does not provide access to expert managed services staff like managed services do, as they focus on supplementing existing staff rather than taking over all IT responsibilities.
2. Less Comprehensive Support
Sadly, the staff augmentation model does not offer comprehensive, round-the-clock support like their managed services counterparts do.
3. Lack of Long Term Planning
Supplemental IT staff is typically better suited for short-term tasks and projects, rather than long term IT strategy and planning.
What Are the Pros of Managed Services
Let’s take a deep dive into the myriad benefits of the managed services model, as it’s compared to the alternative staff augmentation option.
1. Expert Staff and Resources
Managed services provide access to expert staff and resources that can handle all aspects of a business’s IT needs, from infrastructure maintenance to security management. This can help free up your team members and save time when it comes to recurring slowdowns due to failing tech.
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2. 24/7 Support
Managed services offer constant monitoring and support, ensuring any issues or threats are dealt with quickly to minimize downtime and disruptions in business operations.
3. Focus on Core Objectives
By outsourcing day-to-day IT tasks to managed services, businesses can focus on their core objectives and goals.
What Are the Cons of Managed Services
Here, we’ll take a look at the (admittedly few) disadvantages of managed services vs. staff augmentation.
1. Higher Cost
Managed services often come at a higher cost compared to staff augmentation, as businesses are paying for comprehensive support and expert staff.
2. Lack of Flexibility
Managed services may not offer the same level of flexibility as staff augmentation in terms of customizing support for specific tasks or projects.
Getting Help to Identify Your Specific Needs When it Comes to Staff Augmentation vs. Managed Services
In the end, it’s important for businesses to carefully examine their needs and budget in order to determine which option is the better choice between managed services and staff augmentation. Both have their own advantages and drawbacks, but with careful consideration and research, you can find the right managed IT provider to meet your needs.
At iTBlueprint, we’re not only known for being pioneers in the IT services industry, but also for our personalized and flexible level of service.
Our clients seek us out because of our expert perspective and technical expertise, but they stay with us because of our compassionate nature. We always have your best interests in mind and never try to upsell you on services that you don’t need.
If you’re still not sure which side you land on when it comes to managed services vs. staff augmentation, and you don’t want to make the wrong decision and waste your business’ budget, simply schedule a free consultation with us today!
We can hop on a call to determine your needs and definitively decide which option would be most cost-effective for you.
