When you are looking for IT support, you might consider the difference between break-fix support and managed IT services. Whereas break-fix services are designed to address any problems as they arise, managed IT services are intended to provide an ongoing service. You might not need the help from your managed IT service provider all the time, but you will still be paying for their services. If you don’t use them, you won’t get a refund on what you’ve already paid.

There’s no commitment needed with break-fix services, compared to managed IT services, which work on a contract basis. This is ideal for growing businesses and those that aren’t ready to commit to a single IT service provider. With managed IT services, you need to be prepared to make a commitment, but you can agree on what you’re paying for in advance.

You could see the break-fix model as giving you more control over your IT support. You can decide when you want to call for help, whether you need to repair something or it’s time to improve part of your IT system. For managed IT services, you need to be able to trust the provider so that you can hand some of the control over to them.

If you want to save money, break-fix services could be right for your business. You can avoid spending money on unnecessary services by only using them when you need to. Managed IT services require a monthly cost and for that you will often receive a fixed service or number of hours. This can be useful if you want a predictable, consistent cost each month, but it’s not suitable for all businesses.

Break-fix services can offer more flexibility for fixing OEM’s IT failures. You can get what you need when you need it, but without being tied into a contract.