| Three issues dominate today's discussion about | | | | from the one-size-fits-all "fix-it guy" to a team of |
| whether or not to outsource IT Services: economic | | | | people with a variety of specialties and skills. |
| pressures, Network Support complexity, and IT | | | | Again, this fits into the "do-it-right the first time or pay |
| Support reliability. | | | | later" scenario. Multiple competent employees will be |
| Typically when employers think about employees | | | | an expensive proposition given their always-on, always |
| versus independent contractors, they go to the most | | | | getting paid status. |
| basic bottom line: hourly compensation. | | | | On the other hand, outsourced IT Support can be |
| The Real Cost | | | | configured and customized so that a company only |
| While in-house staff generally costs less per hour than | | | | buys what they need. While hourly compensation will |
| IT outsourcing, there are often many hidden costs that | | | | likely be higher, efficiency will be much higher. |
| tilt the scales in favor of outsourcing. | | | | Compare the bottom line apples-to-apples. In many |
| These hidden costs include fixing a problem caused by | | | | cases, the outsourced option will prove to be much |
| an IT Support person tasked with something outside | | | | more economical and provide the peace of mind that |
| his or her area of expertise. While it's convenient to | | | | comes with knowing Network Services are being |
| dump everything on the in-house resource, it may not | | | | handled competently and completely. |
| be wise. | | | | Reliability |
| Resulting problems and needed fixes can run up a | | | | Backup systems don't just apply to technology. They |
| huge tab-enough to break some companies already | | | | also come into play with people. One person, no |
| teetering on the economic brink. | | | | matter how talented or valued, is just...one person. |
| Another hidden cost is tied to trustworthiness. A | | | | Illness, emotional upheaval, and a host of other |
| disgruntled employee can wreak expensive IT havoc. | | | | influences can cause that one person to falter-leaving |
| Theft and sabotage are two primary ways to | | | | IT Services in dire straits. |
| compromise Network Services. | | | | An experienced outsourced IT company eliminates this |
| In contrast, a competent outsourced IT Services | | | | scenario by providing a team of people with backup |
| company can provide a protective net around IT | | | | systems in place. Generally, this means multiple people |
| infrastructure, and will be more accountable. In the final | | | | able to offer similar services in a well-coordinated |
| analysis, it's much easier to establish an accurate | | | | system. If one "component" fails, another will step in |
| check of an established outsourced company than an | | | | immediately to handle the situation. |
| employee. | | | | It's akin to having one pilot versus a pilot and co-pilot. |
| Complexity | | | | Which scenario would you prefer next time you board |
| Sheer volume of required IT knowledge and | | | | a plane? |
| experience has changed the IT Services landscape | | | | |