Blog: The hidden cost of in-house IT support

Are you considering building internal IT support? Hold on - this won’t be as cost-efficient as you think! While you might believe in-house is the winning strategy for your technology, there are dozens of hidden expenses you’ll be surprised by.

In this post, we’ll dive into the associated expenses of in-house teams that aren’t so obvious, as well as explore a smarter (and cheaper!) option - outsourced managed services.

Training and Education

Training an in-house IT team leads to a ton of hidden costs. Expenses add up quickly, with businesses covering everything from training programs and equipment to facilities and external trainer fees. 

As far as training goes, there are endless options to choose from! One is leveraging the knowledge and experience of your own team members. They already know the ins and outs of your organisation and will provide valuable insights. However, the productivity of your team will likely decrease during training. In fact, it often takes up to 8 months for new hires to get fully up to speed.

Another option is hiring an external provider - they'll have tailored expertise and offer comprehensive programs. Looking for more hands-on experiences? Conferences and workshops are a great choice. There are also a number of online learning platforms that provide a wide range of courses and tutorials. The tech industry is always changing, so remember: you’ll need to conduct training sessions regularly.

Keep in mind the cost of training varies depending on what method you choose, the number of participants and how long the training will run. All things considered, this is a lot to plan, and the expenses keep growing!

Troubleshooting

When it comes to troubleshooting with an in-house IT team, the time commitment comes down to how complicated the problems are and how often they pop up. Issues range from small bugs to major network meltdowns, and each takes a different amount of time to address.

How often do these issues happen? Consider:

Typically, IT teams deal with troubleshooting every day - all of this troubleshooting comes with a price tag!

You’ll need to allocate funds for new hardware, software licenses or even hire specialised support. Don't forget about the indirect costs as well! Downtime or reduced performance hurts productivity, messes up deadlines and has a major impact on your business.

System Maintenance

Maintaining and keeping your IT system running smoothly is an expensive challenge. There is a lot to keep in mind:

As you can imagine, there's a fair bit of financial commitment involved!

What determines the resources you'll need for maintenance? The time and money required is impacted by the size of your system and how many users rely on it. Your IT team will need to allocate time for ongoing maintenance. They'll keep an eye on how your system is performing, install updates and fix any issues that come up.

Staying on top of maintenance is key to keeping your IT system in tip top shape. To make sure your technology is reliable and performing its best, you’ll need to factor in these costs as well.

Risk of System Failure

Having an in-house IT system is about as risk free as walking a tightrope! One of the biggest risks is the possibility of an entire system failures that brings your whole business to a standstill. Hardware issues, software glitches and cyber attacks can all cause major disruptions.

The costs of recovering from a system failure add up to a hefty bill! It could even mean calling in emergency support or hiring outside experts to get things back on track. Expenses stack up for data recovery, replacing hardware and reinstalling software. Internally, there is also productivity loss caused by the downtime, which leads not only to negative commercial results, but also damage to your reputation. In recent years, 25% of SMB’s reported it cost them between 20-40k per-hour of downtime.

Taking preventative measures is key to minimising risk. Regular backups, strong security measures and having a plan in place for disaster recovery make a big difference. It's all about being prepared and doing what you can to keep your IT system running at its best!

Conclusion

If you’re looking to develop in-house IT support, remember: unexpected costs will catch you by surprise. You’ll need to replace hardware, execute a new training model, deal with cybersecurity incidents or face software expenses you hadn't anticipated.

Sounds like a nightmare, right? Here's a solution: consider outsourcing managed services. By using a trusted partner for your IT needs, you’ll gain access to a knowledgeable team of experts who provide flexible, tailored support. Your dedicated team will provide specialised expertise and predictable costs that are easier to budget for. It's like having the best IT team without the hassle and surprise expenses!

If you’re still trying to decide on the right choice for your business to optimise your IT strategy, set up a free consultation with our team - we’ll walk you through the value and help you decide the best next step!