Today, your technology plays a starring role in how efficiently your organization operates. Almost everything your employees do takes place online: organizing programs and services, collaborating with coworkers, accessing organizational resources, and connecting with stakeholders.
Which means your IT management approach is one of the most important decisions a nonprofit or association will make. Your hardware, software, and other systems are the engine of your organization. When they run well, everything else falls into place.
Most local organizations take one of two common paths when it comes to IT: building an internal team or looking for experts who provide managed IT services in Washington, DC. Each approach comes with its own advantages and challenges, depending on your budget limitations, staffing concerns and desired level of control.
In this article, we break down both options — in-house vs. outsourced IT — so you can choose what works best for your organization’s needs and priorities.
In-House IT vs Managed IT Services
Let’s explore the pros and cons of in-house IT support.
Having full-time staff dedicated to managing your technology definitely has its benefits:
- They know your world inside and out: An internal IT team spends every day, all day with your organization, so they’ll understand your systems, your people, and your mission. Supporting your day-to-day operations requires less of a learning curve!
- They’re just down the hall (or a quick message away): When something goes wrong, there’s someone on-site (or on Teams) who can jump in right away.
- They give you full control: With in-house support, you have full oversight over your systems, tools, and workflows. It’s easier to shift priorities, introduce new processes, or troubleshoot in a way that fits how you work.
- They collaborate more naturally with other teams: An internal team is typically involved in meetings, planning sessions, and is an integral part of your everyday work culture.
However, relying solely on internal IT support comes with its downsides:
- It takes significant time and effort to hire, train, and manage a team with the right mix of skills to meet all your IT needs.
- It can be difficult to stay on top of system monitoring and maintenance, especially when your internal team is stretched thin or focused on day-to-day issues.
- It often limits your support to regular operational hours, which can be a problem when technical issues crop up overnight
A good managed services provider will offset these challenges while still delivering many of the same benefits.
6 Key Benefits of Outsourcing Your IT to an MSP in Washington DC
Let’s be honest: especially for nonprofits and associations, handling IT on your own can get overwhelming. Your team is already juggling a million things, and resources are stretched thin.
You don’t have to give up control when you outsource your IT operations. Instead, you get to bring in the right help to keep everything running without the stress. In the section below, we’ll explore six practical benefits of MSPs:
Access a Full Team of IT Experts with MSP Support
A managed service provider gives you access to a whole team of experts with diverse skill sets without the burden of directly managing staff.
These providers specialize in information technology and stay current on the latest innovations in technology. They apply their knowledge to align your IT with organizational goals, a feat that’s often difficult to accomplish in-house without extensive experience and expertise.
Some MSPs even have dedicated teams that concentrate on specific industries, so you get experts who understand your field, including your line of business (LOB) apps, your team’s workflows, and the unique ways your organization uses technology.
Another big advantage is faster problem-solving, because their team works together instead of passing issues up and down multiple technicians. Plus, you get fewer repeat problems since you’re not talking to a different person every time.
However, not all MSPs operate like this! Some outsource support overseas to cut costs, which hurts quality. Make sure to ask about their support setup before choosing a provider!
Flexible Cost Models That Scale with You
While there may be some upfront expenses like adopting new processes or technology outsourcing your technology management typically gives you access to cost-effective IT support that saves you money over time.
You can choose from different billing styles, depending on your needs:
- Hourly/Break-Fix: You pay only for support calls as needed! While this approach means you won’t proactively prevent problems, it’s helpful for organizations with limited budgets or minimal daily IT needs.
- Per User or Per Device: A flat rate will cover standard support for tasks like Microsoft 365, security updates, and helpdesk access, with bigger projects billed separately.
- All-Inclusive: A clear monthly fee will cover all IT infrastructure and services. While pricier, you’ll be able to budget confidently and avoid surprises by including major projects upfront.
Strengthen Cybersecurity and Compliance
A good MSP keeps security front and center. They provide full end-user protection and actively monitor and upgrade your systems to maintain top cybersecurity practices and compliance. And with regular technology assessments, you’ll receive ongoing suggestions that optimize your network and minimize downtime for both staff and services.
This proactive monitoring means your provider will resolve issues before they become a big problem, using the tools that they’ve already put in place. (Remember, your MSP’s security solutions should fit your needs and budget. For example, designDATA often recommends Sophos XGS Firewall for enterprise setups.)
To further strengthen your defenses, a reputable managed IT services provider will offer tailored security and compliance training. These knowledgeable experts will teach your team how to identify and mitigate the latest phishing scams, ransomware, and other cyber threats.
24/7 IT Support and Reliable Staffing
No more hiring, training, or stressing over retention and coverage during vacations! Partnering with an MSP is the perfect IT staffing solution. You can scale your IT team effortlessly by tapping into external support whenever you need it.
And since work doesn’t always fit a typical nine-to-five schedule, especially in organizations that operate on hybrid or remote models. Many MSPs will provide 24/7 IT helpdesk support, so you can get assistance anytime, anywhere, even if you notice your systems are down at 3 a.m.
Stay Current with the Latest Tech & Tools
Technology is constantly changing and so are our work models: with more employees working remotely, many organizations aren’t built to handle the complexity that digital workplaces bring. Keeping up can be challenging when you have many priorities and don’t live and breathe IT.
An MSP has experts who focus their energy on maintaining your productivity and security, wherever your team is and with whatever tools they use.
For example, many organizations want to migrate to cloud technology to transform workflows and productivity, but struggle with the process. A reliable MSP will provide cloud migration support to simplify any new environment.
How designDATA Builds Long-Term IT Partnerships
It’s clear that outsourcing your IT operations to a trusted partner comes with plenty of benefits, so it’s worth considering if it’s the right move for your organization’s technology needs.
And if you’re looking for IT support in the Washington DC area, our designDATA team wants to help you access the right tools and strong protection to keep your operations secure and productive. We’ll act as an extension of your team, starting every partnership with a thorough technology assessment and maintaining regular check-ins—weekly to annually—to stay aligned and proactively address challenges.
Not sure if managed IT services are right for you?
We partner with nonprofits and associations to tailor the perfect mix of in-house and outsourced IT based on your goals, capacity, and future plans. Contact us to discuss how we can strengthen your IT management, whether you need end-to-end support or help with specific tasks.
