Costs of Choosing Reactive IT Services

Profit is normally the end goal for businesses, so it makes sense that owners look for the most cost-efficient options when it comes to outsourcing work. But sometimes frugality results in costly mistakes down the road. We often find that’s the case with IT support services, particularly when we are called in to fix problems that could have been avoided.

When technology works, it’s tempting to believe it always will. That belief can make it hard to see the value in a long-term IT service, so many businesses cut costs by forgoing them. In its place, they respond reactively tech problems, only calling professionals when there is an issue. Even then, many owners will put off calling support thinking the problem will fix itself. Unfortunately, this approach leads to temporary patches, poor security and inefficient billing, creating more issues and higher costs over time. 

Here are some of the typical costs associated with reactive IT methods:

Temporary Solutions: Finding support sporadically means inviting someone with a minimal understanding of your network into its delicate environment. They attempt to rectify an issue without knowing the underlying cause, resulting in patch or temporary fix. These methods leave your internal systems haphazardly chopped together, creating more issues. Without a doubt, you will need to call again. An IT service like BCS creates a finely tuned and fully functional system that’s maintained by a professional familiar with your network.

Poor Security: Viruses and Ransomware don’t download themselves. User must facilitate it. Disgruntled or unknowing employees and anonymous visitors commonly introduce malicious software into networks. Not every IT company is equipped to step in when these disasters hit. If you only hire support reactively, you’ll waste time finding a capable provider while your network collapses. This severely limits what you’ll recover. Not only will long-term IT help defend you against disaster better, but they will be on call for you when it hits. 

Additional Hourly Time: Most outsourced IT companies have hourly or block billing. That means you’re billed during the time a technician is learning about your network before solving the issue. They may use hours of paid time to research your problem and educate themselves at your cost. Avoid these costs by investing in a consistent service, with a team who provides ongoing monitoring and understands your system, and can therefore work quickly. 

Don’t cut corners by only hiring IT help during a problem. You’ll get inadequate protection in the least cost-effective way. BCS Voice and Data provides managed IT support for any small to large business with monthly proactive services. Learn more on our Managed Support page or call us today for more information on what we can do for you.