Choosing how to handle IT isn’t just about fixing stuff when it breaks. It’s about keeping your business secure, efficient, and scalable—without wasting time or money.
You’ve basically got three options:
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The solo “IT guy”
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An internal IT team
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A true Managed Service Provider (MSP)
We pulled data from industry reports, cost studies, and real-world comparisons. The takeaway? Go with the MSP. Even if you’ve got an internal team, an MSP adds serious value.
Quick Warning: Not All MSPs Are Real MSPs
Avoid local PC repair shops or “IT guy” businesses that tack on “managed services” just to sound legit. If their main gig is virus removal, break-fix calls, or selling hardware—they’re not a real MSP.
Being an MSP is a full-time model, not a side hustle. True MSPs focus on proactive support, not waiting around for things to go wrong.
Cost: Flat Rates, No Surprises
MSPs
MSPs charge a flat monthly rate covering monitoring, backups, updates, security, and more. It’s consistent, scalable, and cheaper in the long run. Businesses save 25–50% per year switching to MSPs over in-house setups (6, 10).
That $88K–$120K you’d spend on one internal IT person? With an MSP, that gives you an entire team of specialists—cloud, security, compliance, everything.
Internal IT
You’ve got payroll, benefits, software, training, and gear to deal with. SMBs often spend over $100K per person. It’s stable, but not flexible, especially if your business is scaling fast or cutting costs.
The “IT Guy”
Looks cheap—until something breaks. You get hit with emergency fees and unpredictable invoices. The break-fix model ends up costing 20–30% more over time (7, 15). A ransomware fix with no backup? You’re looking at $10K+ in downtime and damage (12).
Bottom line: MSPs save you 30–60% and give you far more value.
Security: Be Proactive or Be a Target
MSPs
They’re watching 24/7. Automated patching, threat detection, encrypted backups—everything is locked down. Clients see 60–80% fewer incidents when switching to MSPs (1, 3). They also stay on top of HIPAA, GDPR, and other compliance requirements.
Internal IT
One person can’t do it all. With security, compliance, troubleshooting, and user issues on their plate, mistakes happen. They’re 3x more likely to miss a critical patch or threat (9, 16).
The “IT Guy”
Most don’t do security beyond antivirus. Only 12% offer encrypted backups or multi-factor authentication (7, 15). That’s a big liability.
Speed: Downtime Costs Money
MSPs
Fast, guaranteed response times—1–2 hours for critical issues, 4–8 for others. Their team structure means problems escalate quickly to someone who knows exactly what to do (1, 14).
Internal IT
Busy techs = long delays. If they’re supporting 100 users, even small issues may sit for 8–24 hours (4, 11).
The “IT Guy”
If they’re out sick or booked? You wait. 40% of businesses have waited over 24 hours for a fix in this model (7, 15).
Expertise: One Person vs a Whole Team
MSPs
You get a full bench—security experts, cloud engineers, compliance pros, and automation geeks. They’re 50% more likely to deploy advanced solutions like AI-based monitoring or zero-trust networks (3, 8).
Internal IT
They know your systems, but they’re often stretched thin. Only 22% are certified in newer tools like hybrid cloud or zero-trust (14, 16).
The “IT Guy”
They’re usually great with hardware or software installs—but not advanced cloud, automation, or compliance strategy.
What to Do Now
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✅ Work with a real MSP, even if you’ve got an internal IT person. Use them for 24/7 coverage, security, and advanced projects.
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❌ Avoid break-fix and PC repair companies posing as MSPs. If they don’t run a full-time managed model, you’ll get burned.
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💰 Compare the numbers. Most businesses save $50K+ per year switching to an MSP (6, 10).
Final Word
If a company’s still advertising virus cleanups or walk-in PC repair—and then offering “managed services” on the side—they’re not an MSP. MSP is not a side hustle. It’s a full commitment to proactive, scalable, business-grade IT.
Work with a real one. Your business (and your sanity) will thank you.
