Managed IT vs. Break-Fix: Which Model Is Right for Your Business?
The choice between managed IT and break-fix support comes down to predictability, risk tolerance, and total cost of ownership.
Break-Fix Model
- Pay only when something breaks - No monthly commitment - Unpredictable costs — a single server failure can cost $10K+ - Longer response times (technicians dispatched on-demand) - No proactive monitoring or maintenance - Best for: Very small businesses (under 10 employees) with minimal IT infrastructure
Managed IT Model
- Fixed monthly fee per user or per device - 24/7 proactive monitoring and alerting - Predictable budgeting with no surprise costs - Faster response times (typically under 1 hour for critical issues) - Includes patch management, backup verification, security updates - Best for: Businesses with 10+ employees, compliance requirements, or mission-critical systems
Cost Comparison (50-user business):
- Break-fix: $0/month base + $150-250/hour reactive = $3,000-8,000/month average (highly variable) - Managed IT: $100-175/user/month = $5,000-8,750/month (predictable)
Our recommendation:
Any business with more than 15 users, compliance requirements (HIPAA, PCI DSS), or revenue-critical systems should strongly consider managed IT. The predictable cost and proactive approach pays for itself in reduced downtime alone.
Summit DNC offers managed IT services with SLAs starting at 1-hour response for critical issues. Contact us for a free IT assessment.
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