The IT consulting and implementation market is still growing with revenue totaling $68 billion in 2023, and it’s only expected to grow. Numbers like this one show that many business owners like you recognize the value in paying for managed IT services to keep their systems running smoothly and their data confidential.
If you’re seeking increased security for your data and reliable IT expertise, these services can be incredibly beneficial for your business. The costs of IT consulting are quickly offset by the value it brings to your organization.
- We find that proactive managed services can:
- Increase productivity
- Reduce downtime through issue avoidance
- Reduce operating costs
- Provide consistent budgeting for IT expenses
- Provide visibility into potential issues
What are the Costs of IT Consulting?
When you first delve into the world of IT consulting services, you might be a bit overwhelmed. And since every business has unique needs, differing security concerns, and staff sizes, a quick Google search won’t pinpoint a specific price. Pricing varies due to the array of offerings within the industry. That doesn’t mean we can’t talk about the factors that comprise the cost of IT consulting services and get you thinking about what pricepoint is the right fit.
Without a personal consultation, we can’t tell you exactly what your company should spend on managed IT services. However, we’ll introduce you to three different pricing tiers that an IT consulting company may offer you. These include a la carte, proactive managed services, and comprehensive IT protection.
Pricing Level 1
When You Need a Little Extra Help: A La Carte
A la Carte services allow you to pick and choose the specific services you want without having to pay for comprehensive management. This might be a good option for you if you already have in-house IT support, but need some additional manpower or expertise in certain areas. A reputable IT provider should be willing to work with your businesses to develop a customized plan that includes only the services you need — no matter how big or how small.
A La Carte services are:
- Focused on specific issues.
- Flexible to meet your specific IT consulting needs.
- Cost-effective — you only pay for what you need.
- Informative— provide reporting insights and visibility into potential issues.
Pricing Level 2
When You Want an Expert to Manage Your IT: Proactive Managed
This broad tier tends to be a good fit for most businesses. It is a comprehensive, managed approach that allows you to enlist the help of an IT expert to oversee your systems and is customized to the size of your business.
Proactive managed services will monitor:
- Servers
- Desktop PCs
- Firewalls
- Switches
- Data backups
- Antivirus updates
Many companies offer 24/7 monitoring, which can impact pricing, but is an invaluable resource to keep your business up and running. (Because let’s face it, emergencies don’t always happen between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.)
Many companies offer 24/7 monitoring, which can impact pricing, but is an invaluable resource to keep your business up and running. (Because let’s face it, emergencies don’t always happen between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.)
Pricing Level 3
When You Want it All: Comprehensive IT Protection
Typically IT companies will offer an even more all-inclusive protection package that provides the most proactive and robust coverage for your business. If you are a company with highly sensitive data or in an industry that is a primary target for cyberattacks, this level of service might be critical for your operations. Security isn’t the only motivation. If your business relies heavily on internet sales, going offline for any period of time means people can’t buy from you and increases customer frustration.
Comprehensive IT protection services include:
- Enhanced security and compliance
- Proactive approach to security
- Efficient and reliable IT operation
- Visibility of potential issues
If you opt for this highest level of service, you should expect it to include features such as external and internal vulnerability scans, perimeter monitoring, security policies, in-depth knowledge of the threat landscape, and security posture.
While this is offered at the top pricing tier, given the high cost of cyberattacks the benefit-cost ratio can show it’s worth it. Robust security can give you peace of mind that your data and network are secure.
IT Consulting: Customized to Fit Your Business
Just because your systems appear to be running normally doesn’t mean they’re secure. Are you waiting passively for a cybersecurity breach before you assess your IT vulnerabilities? Is your business’s IT only a concern for you if it stops working one day? A trusted IT consulting partner can take the unknowns and stress out of your information technology. They will take the time to understand your business’s needs and give you a free estimate.
Finding the Right IT Partner
As you begin exploring these various levels of service, it’s important to assess your IT needs. If you’d like to talk to us to learn more about IT consulting services and which might be the best fit for your business contact us here.