Small businesses rely on technology, and when something breaks, you need it fixed fast. When that happens, you’ve got two types of IT support to pick from: the classic break/fix strategy or managed IT services from a reliable managed services provider (MSP).
At first, break/fix may seem like the easiest choice because you don’t pay until something breaks. However, those “savings” disappear when an unexpected outage brings business to a halt. The downtime and hefty one-time repair costs can easily outweigh any initial savings.
It’s critical to think about the differences in reliability and security between break/fix and managed IT services before choosing one for your business.
What’s the Difference Between Managed IT and Break/Fix?
Here are the differences between break/fix and managed IT:
Costs & Budgeting: With break/fix, you pay a price every time a system needs repair, making costs unpredictable. Managed IT charges a set monthly rate, so you can plan for costs and avoid surprises.
Maintenance Approach: Break/fix is reactive. Problems develop over time, leading to emergencies. An MSP’s proactive approach means they monitor and maintain your systems, detecting issues early to avoid downtime.
Downtime and Productivity: Break/fix generally leads to longer outages. If something fails, you wait for a tech while productivity and sales suffer. Managed IT keeps things running by spotting and fixing problems early so your staff can keep working without interruption.
Support Relationship: Break/fix is transactional. You call a tech when needed, and they might not know your system. Managed IT is a partnership in which your provider learns your business and acts like an IT team that’s always there for you..
Managed IT offers greater stability and protection for businesses that depend on technology.
What is the Break/Fix Model?
Break/fix is a reactive method you use when you need it. You only call an IT specialist when something breaks and pay to have it fixed.
You don’t have to pay every month as you would with a contract, which sounds nice. For example, a small retail shop may decide not to use IT services to save money, only opening their wallet when a server or network goes down. While this may sound like a good deal right now, it could end up costing more in the long run.
Here’s a short fictional story to show how choosing break/fix support can quickly make things worse for a small business.
Break/Fix: Beth’s Antiques (a little neighbourhood store)
Beth runs a local antique shop in Vancouver, BC, and she uses break/fix. One morning, her POS server crashes. Without IT support, Beth scrambles to find a technician.
She spends hours waiting for help, losing a whole day’s sales. The delay costs a full day of sales plus an expensive repair bill. With no helpdesk or backup plan, the outage hurts both her revenue and her reputation as a trustworthy local business.
Joe Apps, on the other hand, provides proactive support and 24/7 monitoring. Our Infrastructure Services technicians are available to troubleshoot problems both remotely and on-site.
What Are Managed IT Services?
Managed IT focuses on prevention. Instead of waiting for things to fail, a managed service provider (MSP) monitors and maintains your systems for a set monthly fee. They update software and fix small issues early to avoid big headaches later. It’s like having an outsourced IT department dedicated to keeping your business up and running.
Get Reliable IT Support That Works for You
If you’re always asking yourself, “Should I hire a computer tech?” it’s time for a smarter approach. Joe Apps Technology Support provides proactive, flat-rate managed IT services for small businesses in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. Get in touch with a Joe today to see how we can keep your business secure and running smoothly.
