What Does Managed IT Mean and How Does it Compare to Break/Fix IT?

In the world of information technology, the prevailing method of maintaining functional business operations since the invention of the computer has been an approach called break/fix. This is the traditional IT support method that you are most likely familiar with; a service provider that operates in a similar manner to a home electrician or a plumber: You call when something goes wrong, someone comes and fixes it and sends you a bill when the work is done. In the modern IT environment, this is now the bare minimum for supporting progress in a business environment.

Enter Managed IT

Managed IT has evolved out of a continuously changing technological business environment. Businesses of all kinds rely on stable network technology more than ever, and as a result, they have spurred the growth of a new type of IT approach. Managed IT differs from Break/Fix mainly through the fact that it is proactive. A managed IT provider’s approach involves predicting the types of network issues that may occur in a given context and producing solutions to those issues before they happen.

To take the analogy above further, a managed IT provider is more like the plumbing contractor that a residential complex might hire; an installation expert who maintains the entire system and creates solutions to prevent unexpected floods and sewage build-ups. Evidently, this is a solution that benefits businesses much more than having to wait until something is broken to have it fixed.

How Managed IT Compares with Break/Fix

The most important difference between these two types of IT approaches is in the interests of the respective parties. A break/fix IT provider’s best interests is often opposed to the interests of their clients, while managed IT providers align their interests to those of their clients.

Break/fix IT providers:

• Only make money when problems occur, producing incentive to avoid permanently solving them.
• Don’t invest in network management or automation systems because there is no incentive to do so.
• Rarely make guarantees since they never know what kinds of situations they may be called on to fix.
• Bill their clients every time a problem occurs, even if it is the same, reoccurring problem.
• Have a clear monetary incentive to allow disasters to occur. The more damage is done, the more work they get to do and the more they get paid.

On the other hand, Managed IT providers align their interests with those of their clients because they:

• Charge a fixed monthly fee for keeping a network running smoothly, no matter what happens.
• Have a clear incentive to improve the stability of the network whenever and wherever possible.
• Lose time and money when clients’ networks break down or suffer from unexpected problems.
• Guarantee the benefits that a stable, robust network management team offers, such as data recovery protection.
• Invest in the most modern automation systems to prevent downtime and increase network stability.
• Provide results that grow with their clients’ needs and adapt to new needs as they occur.

It is easy to see that managed IT offers more than the traditional system can. As time goes on, more and more businesses will convert to managed IT providers in order to thrive in an increasingly competitive tech environment. The Data Center is the trusted choice when it comes to staying ahead of the latest information technology tips, tricks, and news. Contact us at (518) 459-DATA (3282) or send us an email at info@thedatacenterny.com for more information.