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How Much Does It Cost to Outsource Your IT to a Managed Service Provider (MSP)?

Man's hand outstretched for payment. Overlay of cost meter from low to high

An MSP is so much more than just IT Support. At Techsolve, we don’t just provide tech support — we do everything we can to prevent IT outages and unscheduled downtime from happening in the first place.

That’s why MSPs are often viewed as the guardians of IT , delivering ongoing monitoring and management of customer applications and IT infrastructure remotely. And that’s exactly what we do at Techsolve.

We closely monitor a wide variety of IT solutions including web apps, email, cybersecurity, desktop and server management software, backup, disaster recovery and storage management tools.

Remote monitoring allows us to keep tabs on the health of our customers’ IT, make changes where necessary, update systems and troubleshoot problems.

And it goes without saying, as your IT partner we’re on hand to discuss and consult on future IT projects as part of the growth and future direction of your business.

How much does an MSP cost?

    • MSPs tend to charge their clients a monthly fee based on two key factors:
      • the level of service required
      • the number of people/devices requiring support

Here at Techsolve, our monthly fees range from between £40 – £100 (ex VAT per user per month. The exact monthly fee depends on the blend of services that are included in your contract.

A company employing 10 people could expect to pay between £400 – £1,000 (ex VAT) per month to retain the services of an MSP.

Why is there such a range of charges?

    • Every business we support is unique. Each has different tech requirements, levels of support and number of devices connected to their network.

For instance, entry-level MSP cover from Techsolve starting at £40 (ex VAT) per person per month might include:

        • Proactive remote monitoring and support of devices during standard working hours (8am to 6pm)
        • Base level Anti-Virus protection

For businesses looking for more comprehensive support £100 (ex VAT) per person per month might include:

        • Proactive monitoring and support of devices 24/7
        • Advanced Anti-Virus and Anti-Spam protection
        • Advanced endpoint protection, including Managed Threat Response (MTR)
        • Proactive Ransomware detection and remediation
        • Cloud to Cloud protection (automated backup of SaaS platforms, like Office 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, etc.)
        • Strategic IT planning and advisory
        • Asset management tool/app

 

Do all MSPs roughly charge the same?


Although many MSPs are competitively priced, there are some that offer low-cost contracts that may seem attractive at first, but which fail to live up to expectations. It’s an issue we discuss in our White Paper that seeks to ‘break the cycle of disappointment’ when buying IT.

 

Are there any other costs involved in hiring an MSP?


Before any agreement is in place we would carry out an audit to check that your systems meet minimum standards. If, for whatever reason, they fall short, we may request some one-off project work be carried out to ensure that devices, licences, operating systems and networks are up to scratch. The cost of this will depend on the current health of your IT estate.

 

What level of service should I expect from my MSP?

Once your IT environment has achieved the minimum standard, Techsolve will be able to provide the ongoing monitoring and management of your applications and IT infrastructure.

You will be charged a fixed per-device or per-user amount per month for the provision of this service. Within that fixed monthly fee, you should expect:

  • several service elements to be included
  • unlimited support

The total package provided by your MSP should give you peace of mind that your IT is covered for a fixed monthly fee.

What are the advantages for a SME to outsource IT to an MSP? In particular, what are the benefits of outsourcing our IT to Techsolve?

There are a whole host of advantages associated with outsourcing your IT to an MSP. These include:
    • Peace of mind that your IT systems are being monitored 24/7
    • Industry accredited IT knowledge
    • Comprehensive support covering all IT issues including devices, email, cloud services and cyber security
    • Predictable fees
    • Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in place for timely issue response and resolution
    • SLA-backed support means you will not be affected by sickness, holidays or absenteeism
    • Flexible approach works well with your in-house IT Teams
    • You and your staff can focus on your core business
    • Scalable team of IT engineers that grows as you grow

We’ve spoken to another MSP and they seem quite competitively priced. Why shouldn’t we outsource our IT to them?

That’s a question that crops up all the time. The only advice we would offer is this:

 

Be wary of an MSP that offers low-cost services to win your business. A low monthly fee may seem attractive at first, but this can be indicative of poor service levels when you need it the most.

When it comes to making the final decision on entrusting your business to an MSP, you need to be confident that they have your best interests at heart.

You have to be sure that your MSP is monitoring the tech health of your business 24/7 and able to respond quickly to tech support issues.

And, should the worst happen, you have to be confident that your MSP will pull out all the stops to make things right.

To find out more drop us a line here or call us on 0203 3 970 978.

Techsolve is a Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) in London. With a passion for technology and creative solutions, we deliver IT Services, High-Speed Internet Connectivity, and IT consulting mostly for small to medium-sized businesses with between 10 and 200 employees.