--- title: "Managed IT vs. In-House IT: Compare Scope and Total Cost" description: Compare managed IT with in-house support using the work required, staffing costs, tools, coverage, and responsibilities. image: https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/hubfs/Managed%20IT%20Services%20vs.%20In-House%20IT%20Which%20One%20Saves%20You%20More%20Money.jpeg --- [Skip to content](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog/managed-it-services-vs.-in-house-it-which-one-saves-you-more-money#main-content) [![Second Star Technologies IT Support Bakersfield CA Logo](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20Design(13).png?width=121&height=121&name=Untitled%20Design(13).png)](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/) [Home](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/)Services [Managed IT Services](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/managed-it-services-bakersfield-ca)[Cybersecurity](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/cybersecurity-services-bakersfield-ca)[Data Protection](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/data-backup-bakersfield-ca)[HubSpot Services](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/hubspot-services-bakersfield-ca) [About Us](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/resources/about-us)[Contact Us](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/contact)[Blog](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog)[(661) 769-6145](tel:+16617696145) Menu [Home](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/)Services [Managed IT Services](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/managed-it-services-bakersfield-ca)[Cybersecurity](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/cybersecurity-services-bakersfield-ca)[Data Protection](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/data-backup-bakersfield-ca)[HubSpot Services](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/hubspot-services-bakersfield-ca) [About Us](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/resources/about-us)[Contact Us](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/contact)[Blog](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog)[(661) 769-6145](tel:+16617696145) [\<\< Back to Blog](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog) # Managed IT vs. In-House IT: Compare Scope and Total Cost ![Image of Brandon Phipps](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SH1782.png?height=60&name=SH1782.png) Brandon Phipps Share [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog/managed-it-services-vs.-in-house-it-which-one-saves-you-more-money%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog/managed-it-services-vs.-in-house-it-which-one-saves-you-more-money&media=https://1906804.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/1906804/Managed%20IT%20Services%20vs.%20In-House%20IT%20Which%20One%20Saves%20You%20More%20Money.jpeg](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog/managed-it-services-vs.-in-house-it-which-one-saves-you-more-money%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog/managed-it-services-vs.-in-house-it-which-one-saves-you-more-money&media=https://1906804.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/1906804/Managed%20IT%20Services%20vs.%20In-House%20IT%20Which%20One%20Saves%20You%20More%20Money.jpeg) ![Managed IT Services vs. In-House IT Which One Saves You More Money](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Managed%20IT%20Services%20vs.%20In-House%20IT%20Which%20One%20Saves%20You%20More%20Money.jpeg?width=1600&height=900&name=Managed%20IT%20Services%20vs.%20In-House%20IT%20Which%20One%20Saves%20You%20More%20Money.jpeg) Managed IT and internal staffing can both support a business. The better value depends on the work required, service coverage, and total costs. Compare the same systems and responsibilities over the same period. A monthly provider fee does not eliminate hardware, licensing, project, or internal coordination costs. ## Build a comparison around the work List devices, users, applications, locations, support hours, and planned projects. Identify required skills and who needs to approve changes. Use that list for both an internal staffing estimate and an outside provider's proposal. ## Compare the full cost | Cost or responsibility | Internal IT | Managed IT | | --- | --- | --- | | People | Salary, benefits, training, hiring, and coverage during leave | Provider charges plus retained staff time for approvals and coordination | | Tools and equipment | Hardware, software, security, monitoring, and support licenses | Included tools plus licenses, devices, and services charged separately | | Projects | Staff time and outside expertise needed for changes | Migration, setup, installation, and other excluded project fees | | Coverage | Available skills, staffing hours, and backup coverage | Contracted hours, escalation, response commitments, and onsite terms | | Transition and exit | Hiring and handover costs | Onboarding, documentation, data retrieval, and access removal | Estimate these costs using current quotes and your own workload. A fixed fee can make covered work easier to budget, but does not guarantee that all IT expenses are fixed. ## Assess capacity and knowledge An internal team can bring detailed knowledge of your operations and direct coordination with staff. An outside provider may supply capacity or skills you lack. Either team can perform proactive maintenance when responsibilities and resources are clear. Assess actual capability instead of assuming internal support is reactive or outsourced support always prevents failures. ## Consider a shared arrangement You can retain internal staff for business applications, approvals, or planning while a provider handles agreed support and maintenance. Document the handoff: who handles an alert, contacts an application vendor, approves a change, and communicates with employees? ## Security and compliance need clear ownership Ask which controls and security tasks are included, which systems are covered, and who reviews alerts. Your organization still owns business decisions and applicable obligations. Do not assume a regulation requires onsite IT staff without checking the actual requirement with the responsible specialist. The [NIST vendor selection resource collection](https://www.nist.gov/itl/smallbusinesscyber/guidance-topic/choosing-vendorservice-provider) links to guidance on selecting outside support and understanding contracts. It does not establish that outsourcing is cheaper. \[1\] ## Questions to settle before deciding - What work stays with employees or another vendor? - Are monitoring hours different from staffed support hours? - What licenses, projects, travel, and emergency work cost extra? - How will you measure support quality and completed maintenance? - Who can retrieve documentation and revoke access at exit? [![www.secondstartechnologies.comhubfsGuide to Managed IT Services](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sst-opt-www.secondstartechnologies.comhubfsGuide-to-Managed-IT-Services.webp?width=512&height=819&name=sst-opt-www.secondstartechnologies.comhubfsGuide-to-Managed-IT-Services.webp)](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/download-the-guide-to-managed-it-services) Review our [managed IT service scope](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/managed-it-services-bakersfield-ca) and [provider selection questions](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-it-support-in-bakersfield) when comparing proposals. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is managed IT always cheaper? No. Compare total costs for the same work and coverage. Staffing, complexity, exclusions, and transition work change the result. ### Can we keep our existing IT employee? Yes. A shared arrangement needs clear responsibility, approval, and escalation rules. ### Does a monthly fee include every upgrade? No. Confirm software, hardware, project labor, and support exclusions in the agreement. ## Reference \[1\] National Institute of Standards and Technology. (n.d.). *Choosing a vendor/service provider.* [NIST resource collection](https://www.nist.gov/itl/smallbusinesscyber/guidance-topic/choosing-vendorservice-provider). **Editorial correction, October 12, 2026:** Removed managed-care and vision-rehabilitation references that did not support an IT cost comparison, along with universal savings and coverage claims. The prior narration was retired because it repeated those claims. [Contact Second Star Technologies](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/contact) to discuss support scope for your systems. ![Image of Brandon Phipps](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SH1782.png?height=150&name=SH1782.png) Brandon Phipps Brandon Phipps is the owner of Second Star Technologies in Bakersfield, California. His work includes business computer and network support, cybersecurity services, and backup and disaster recovery planning. He writes practical business technology resources for the Second Star Technologies website. [Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sstbrandonphipps) Blog posts ## Related Articles. 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IT support gives staff a defined way to report problems and get help. ... [Read Essential IT Support for Small Businesses in Bakersfield](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog/2023/09/understanding-the-importance-of-it-support-for-small-businesses-in-bakersfield) [![Web Design Bakersfield](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sst-fast-Web-Design-Bakersfield.webp?width=560&height=315&name=sst-fast-Web-Design-Bakersfield.webp)](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog/2024/09/web-design-bakersfield) [Business IT](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog/topic/business-it) ![Image of Brandon Phipps](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SH1782.png?height=60&name=SH1782.png) Brandon Phipps ### [Web Design Bakersfield \[VIDEO\]](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog/2024/09/web-design-bakersfield) [Read Web Design Bakersfield \[VIDEO\]](https://www.secondstartechnologies.com/blog/2024/09/web-design-bakersfield) **Second Star Technologies** P.O. 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