Finding an apt solution for protecting business networks is vital for the survival of any organization.

According to the Ponemon Institute, 61% of small and medium-sized businesses faced cyberattacks in 2017. This increased from 55% a year before, showing an increasing trend of cybercriminals targeting businesses more.

In search of secure network infrastructure, businesses often come to a crossroads between contracting managed network services and employing in-house network technicians.

Executives and administrators ask: “Would it be more beneficial for the business to have an in-house expert to monitor and fix our network problems, or would a third-party service provider offer greater value?”

Weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each option is critical to achieving the greatest possible value while enjoying a secure and efficient network infrastructure. There are numerous aspects of each solution to consider when making this decision for your organization.

What Are the Main Differences Between Managed Networks and In-House Technicians?

Every business relies on a combination of employees, vendors, and corporate partners to generate value. Choosing the right solution for network infrastructure depends on your specific position and goals.

Managed Network Services

Managed network services are a solution under which businesses opt for a third-party to provide network services. Instead of hiring IT employees, organizations rely on contractors to deliver technical services.

These services can include:

• Network Design and Maintenance. Network design refers to the planning of network infrastructure. It consists of mapping the network, cabling structure, IP addresses, security infrastructure, and all related processes. It is the layout of the network and how it functions – excellent design leads to easy maintenance and efficient operation.
• Real-Time Network Monitoring. Networks are fragile and need to constantly be monitored for threats and workflow obstructions. By detecting threats in real-time, security professionals can stop cyberattacks and other problems immediately, resulting in little to no damage to business workflow.
• Management of LAN, WAN, Gateway, and Wireless Networks. Management of different features within the network to make sure data and processes flow correctly.

While the list is not exhaustive, service providers will ensure that the network infrastructure is running smoothly and faces no security threats.

In-House Technicians

In-house technicians are employees you hire to develop, monitor, and secure your network infrastructure. They can provide all the services that you would expect from a managed network service provider, provided you hire individuals with those skills.

But hiring in-house technicians also comes along with the need to supervise and manage the team. If you don’t have the time necessary to manage an IT team yourself, you will have to hire a manager, essentially creating a new department.

Why Choose Managed Network Services Over In-House Technicians

For all but the largest and most complex networks, managed network services offer key benefits over in-house technicians. When it comes to value, the ability to leverage the expertise of an entire team at a cost similar to a single hire makes the point convincing.

Aim for Efficiency

Managed Network Services are efficient in terms of time, cost, and performance. Employing a full-time IT team is outside the budget for most small and medium-sized businesses. It’s just not the salary that needs to be considered but also benefits, training, and the hiring process.

Hardware investment is also markedly reduced when opting for a service provider rather than having to buy technology to ensure your team has everything it needs. IT experts are at your disposal, even though they may not be in-house, and may monitor your network remotely for threats to your network.

Resources That Can Peak on Demand

Service providers have the technology and expertise to meet dynamic business demands. This means that businesses can access additional resources the moment a threat appears, which often leads to a quicker response.

With in-house technicians, team may lack the technology or expertise to deal with peak usage environments, creating a situation where the company is always slightly behind its peak usage needs.

An Innovative Solution

Businesses initially started to outsource network technicians to cut cost, but according to Deloitte, 31% of businesses plan on increasing their investment in outsourced IT solutions.

Outsourcing network services and other similar services allows organizations to improve the quality of the services they offer while enhancing user experiences. It also allows organizations to streamline network processes, allowing them to focus on higher-impact strategic needs like innovation.

Why Hire In-House?

Having in-house technicians can be valuable when dealing with very complex legacy network infrastructures that cannot be modified or replaced in a cost-effective way. Small and mid-sized businesses can achieve more with less financial outlay by leveraging the efficiency of a managed service provider.

In-house technicians may bring hard-to-find skills into the fold and could introduce or develop proprietary technologies that benefit their employers. However, to do this, they need to be free of a constant break/fix cycle that dominates the in-house technology domain.

Contact DSI to learn more about the benefits of managed network services for businesses, enterprises, and government institutions alike!