In-house IT team or IT subscription services? What’s better for a small business?

Managing IT in a company isn’t just about taking care of hardware or software — it’s about dealing with daily challenges that can unexpectedly halt your entire team’s work. That’s why more and more small businesses are facing a dilemma: should they build their own IT team or opt for flexible, affordable subscription services? If you don’t want your IT to be a constant source of frustration, keep reading.

In-house IT team: An expensive investment or a necessity?

At first glance, having your own IT specialists might seem like the perfect solution. By hiring an internal team, you have full-time access during work hours, and they’re dedicated to your project only. Here are the advantages of this model:

Advantages:

Constant availability: An in-house IT team knows your company inside out. Their availability is guaranteed, and their familiarity with internal processes and systems enables faster problem resolution.
Full control: You have complete control over your IT team’s priorities, allowing you to decide what they focus on and how they approach tasks.

However, these benefits come with significant costs.

Disadvantages:

High maintenance costs: Salaries, insurance, training, development, and infrastructure — the costs of maintaining an IT team can be very high. For small businesses, this can be a heavy financial burden.
Limited expertise: A team of a few people, even if highly skilled, may have limited resources. Issues beyond their expertise often require external support, which adds extra costs.
Risk of employee turnover: Even if you have the best team, there’s no guarantee they’ll stay with you long-term. When key employees leave, you lose not only their skills but also valuable knowledge about your IT infrastructure.

IT subscription services: A tailored solution for small businesses

Unlike an in-house team, IT subscription services offer flexibility, ongoing support, and expert knowledge without the high employment costs. This model is perfect for small and medium-sized businesses looking to optimize their resources and IT security.

Advantages:

Low, predictable costs:
With a subscription model, you pay a fixed monthly fee, making budgeting easier. You won’t have to worry about sudden expenses for hiring new staff, training, or salary increases. Plus, you can adjust the scope of services according to your company’s current needs.
Access to a team of IT experts:
A subscription gives you access to a whole team of specialists, not just one or two individuals. Each expert has knowledge across various fields – from managing Microsoft 365 to IT security and both local and cloud server management. This means your company has unlimited access to expert knowledge at every level.
Faster problem-solving with MVP:
Our experts aren’t just experienced engineers; they also hold the Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) title. This means we have direct contact with Microsoft’s product teams, allowing us to resolve technical issues much faster than a standard user, who may wait weeks for a response from Microsoft.
Full cybersecurity support:
Ransomware attacks, data theft, and phishing attempts are real threats to businesses of all sizes. IT subscription services offer full security management, network monitoring, and threat protection, keeping your data safe. You can rest easy, knowing that the risk of cyberattacks is minimized by a team of professionals.
Microsoft 365 tools and license management:
If your company uses tools like Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Outlook, or OneDrive, our team handles the full management of these tools. This includes not only technical support but also cost and efficiency optimization. We help select the right licenses, manage users, and migrate data to ensure your business runs smoothly.
24/7 support and rapid incident response:
Whether a problem occurs in the middle of the night or during an important presentation, our technical support is available 24/7. With a subscription, you gain the peace of mind that no matter the time of day, our experts are ready to help. We also provide system monitoring, log analysis, and ongoing incident management, ensuring potential problems are identified and resolved before they become serious threats.
Flexibility and scalability:
One of the greatest advantages of IT subscription services is their flexibility. As your business grows, our services can scale to meet new needs – increasing technical support, adding new tools, or expanding the range of services. This means you won’t have to worry about reorganizing your IT department or finding new specialists, which can often be time-consuming and expensive.

Why does a small business need subscription-based IT support?

For small businesses, IT subscription services are the ideal solution. Why? First, you optimize costs — you don’t need to bear the high expenses associated with hiring full-time specialists. Second, you gain access to advanced tools and technologies that small businesses often can’t afford on their own.
Small companies often struggle with limited IT budgets, making it hard to keep up with the rapid pace of technological and security advancements. Instead of worrying about whether your systems are up-to-date and secure, you can focus on growing your business while leaving the technical aspects in the hands of professionals.
Additionally, subscription services eliminate the risk of downtime caused by IT staff turnover. Our specialists are always ready to support your business — without the risk of them leaving or changing jobs, a common problem with an in-house team.

Having trouble managing IT in your business? Are you wondering if subscription-based IT services are the right solution for your company? Take advantage of a free consultation with Security Masters experts, who will help you choose the best technologies to support your company’s growth. Schedule a meeting on our website at https://securitymasters.pl/en/contact-2/ or call us at +48 537 443 787.