Every business relies on technology, but not every business supports it the same way. Two models dominate: break/fix and managed IT. Understanding the difference can save you a surprising amount of money and stress.
What "break/fix" really means
Break/fix is exactly what it sounds like: something stops working, you call someone, they fix it, you pay for that visit. It feels cheap because you only pay when there's a problem. The hidden cost is downtime — the hours your team can't work while you wait for help, plus the problems that could have been prevented entirely.
What managed IT does differently
Managed IT flips the model. Instead of waiting for failures, your systems are monitored, maintained, patched, and backed up on an ongoing basis. Many issues are caught and fixed before you even notice them.
- Predictable cost — a known monthly figure instead of surprise invoices.
- Less downtime — problems prevented or caught early.
- Stronger security — updates and protections handled continuously.
- Reliable backups — monitored, not "set and forget."
Which one fits you?
If you have a single computer and can tolerate the occasional bad day, break/fix may be fine. But once your team depends on technology to get work done — and downtime costs you real money — proactive managed IT usually pays for itself.
The honest answer depends on your size, your systems, and how much a bad day costs you. That's exactly what a no-pressure assessment is for.