Blog
Jun 19 2023
Break-Fix vs. Managed Services: What’s the Difference?

Break-Fix vs. Managed Services: What’s the Difference?

According to Backblaze, hard drive failures are up for the second year in a row, which can mean chaos for your business. When it comes to IT support, you will have to choose from break fix vs. managed services.

Both can help a small business keep their IT up and running while sparing the expense of full-time IT staff. Understanding the difference between these two services can help you make an informed decision about which one is best for your business.

Break Fix vs. Managed Services at a Glance

There are numerous differences between break fix vs. managed services. Which you choose will depend on a number of factors including your budget, needs, and business model. Some of the main differences between break fix vs. managed services include:

  • Approach: Break fix services address IT issues as they arise while managed services aim to prevent IT issues from occurring in the first place
  • Billing: Break fix services are typically billed on an hourly basis for the time it takes to resolve an issue while managed services are usually billed as a fixed monthly fee based on the services provided

Relationship: Break fix services typically involve a case-by-case relationship between the service provider and the client while managed services involve an ongoing partnership between the service provider and the client

Learn more about IT services in our blog:

  • Expertise: Break fix services provide expertise in resolving specific IT issues while managed services provide strategic insights for long term IT planning

This is just a brief summary of the difference between break fix vs. managed services. Let’s dig a little deeper to give a fuller picture of what you can expect from a break fix technician vs. a managed service provider.

What Are Break Fix Services?

Prepare to be introduced to the world of Break-fix services – a distinctively reactive form of IT support that springs into action the moment an issue emerges. Be it hardware malfunctions, software complications, network issues, or any other predicament in the vast IT universe, Break-fix services stand ready to address and resolve them.

The primary advantage of this model is its exceptional flexibility. It operates on a simple principle – you pay for the services only when they are required. 

To put it into perspective, a study from CompTIA, a leading IT trade association, found that about 37% of companies are purely break-fix, revealing how popular this pay-as-you-go approach is. This model essentially removes the need for maintaining a full-time IT staff or opting for continuous managed services. Instead, you can summon a break-fix service provider like a genie from a lamp, whenever something veers off course.

Furthermore, break-fix services afford you the luxury of specialized support for distinct IT challenges. These adept professionals have the expertise to promptly identify and rectify issues, thus reducing downtime and ensuring your business operations remain as smooth as a well-oiled machine. 

It’s an effective way to keep the gears of your enterprise moving, regardless of the technical hiccups that may occur.

Break-Fix vs. Managed Services

However, there are also some drawbacks to break fix services. For example, they are reactive rather than proactive, meaning that you only get support when something has already gone wrong. This can result in longer downtime and potentially higher costs for repairs. Additionally, since break fix services are typically billed hourly, costs can be unpredictable and difficult to budget for.

What Are Managed Services?

Managed IT services are a comprehensive approach to IT support. Instead of calling in a service provider when something goes wrong, managed IT services provide ongoing support to keep your technology infrastructure running smoothly.

One of the main benefits of managed IT services is their proactive approach. In addition to the services provided by a break fix provider, managed services providers (MSPs) also work to prevent problems from occurring in the first place. Some of the services typical of the MSP model you won’t get from a break fix provider include:

  • Proactive monitoring and management
  • Patch management
  • Cybersecurity consulting
  • IT strategy and procurement
  • And more

Instead of paying an hourly fee for service, the managed service model typically bills at a flat rate monthly based on your service level agreements. This makes budgeting easier and provides more predictable costs for IT support.

Need More Than Just Break Fix Services to Get Your IT on Track?

Our strategy consultants and procurement experts will set up your IT stack for efficiency, productivity, and reliability

While break fix technicians have IT expertise sufficient to resolve acute IT issues, MSPs have specialized knowledge and experience in managing complex IT environments. That’s probably why SkyQuest expects 60% of businesses to rely on managed IT services by 2025.

Break Fix vs. Managed Services: Which Is Right for Me?

Both break fix support and managed IT services have their pros and cons, and the choice ultimately comes down to your specific needs and budget.

If you need occasional support for specific IT issues, break fix services may be a good option. However, if you want proactive and comprehensive IT support to prevent issues from arising in the first place, managed IT services may be a better fit.

At Yardstick Technologies, we understand that every business has unique IT needs. That’s why we offer managed IT services to meet those needs.

Our team of expert technicians can quickly resolve specific IT issues when they arise. We can also provide ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and support to keep your technology infrastructure running smoothly.
With flexible pricing options, you can choose the support that works best for your business. Contact us today to learn more about our IT support services and how we can help your business succeed.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter And Stay Updated