The debate on whether IT should be an internal function, outsourced or a hybrid combination of the two has been going on for a while. There are strong arguments in favour of and against each one of them. So logically speaking, it would depend on a variety of factors, like business requirements, company size, whom one asks, blah blah blah..... right?

WRONG!!

In fact, in the light of my arguments below, I might even boldly describe the entire debate as ‘Rubbish’. But before I launch into another one of my inescapable arguments, let’s have a quick look at some of the pros and cons of IT as an outsourced service and as an internal function. Since this blog is primarily dedicated to small business IT, we won’t even talk about the hybrid combination model. The very idea of hiring an IT staff and then outsourcing that function can only make sense (I guess) in a large organisation.

Now let’s analyse these pros and cons for a small business that uses services such as;

• Google Apps for Work or Office365 for emails
  
• Salesforce or Insightly for CRM
  
• Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive or a NAS drive for files
  
• Cloud-based services for other applications and 
  
• Has BYOD or COPE framework deployed
  

Pros of External (Outsourced) IT

• With no expensive and eternally outdated hardware such as servers to maintain, the cost of outsourced IT function can become an unjustified expense
  
• Small business IT requirements are generally uncomplicated. Cloud-based services come with plenty of technical support and can work independently of other services. This eliminates the need to retain specialised expertise.
  
• SLAs for outsourced IT support are complicated and often come with lock-in contracts that can be very expensive to get out of. Cloud-based services do offer SLAs but usually don’t have long term contracts.
  

Cons of Internal IT

• The simplicity and ease-of-use of cloud-based systems do not always require a dedicated technical staff maintaining them. Moderate technical acumen within operations staff will more than suffice.
  
• With cloud services you have access to the expertise of wide range of IT specialists providing cutting edge technology at extremely affordable prices.
  
• Although far less frequent, cloud systems do have outages but the good thing about those times is the knowledge that there is nothing your staff can do and that some of the best engineers would be working tirelessly to get it back up and running without any excuses and overtime pay.
  

As far as the IT needs of any business is concerned, internal IT function has always been the first choice. Cost is the only primary reason why it is outsourced. Emerging cloud and mobile technologies are, however, radically changing this. You now, not just get better for less but amazing for a fraction and still don’t need an IT whiz-kid to manage it all.

This article was written by Austin D'Mello, Managing Partner of Vocatys, an emerging technology consulting company. If you liked this article please share it with your network. You can also subscribe to the monthly Vocatys newsletter by emailing us at hello@vocatys.com.

I know, I know! It’s that time of the year and I’m not sure what a Valentine’s Day villain is called but like a Grinch equivalent, here I am suggesting break ups. Just hear me out though because I’m not the first and am certainly not going to be the last. Apparently 47 per cent of the couples break it off on this day.

But this is not a ‘how to’ but more a ‘why to’. So let’s see;

1. They are high maintenance
“You get what you pay for.” When it comes to IT support there is no such thing as cheap. In fact, it’s one of those industries where perception is what determines the price. So in most cases, you will not only pay a monthly retainer on a two-year contract but also on top of that, a fairly steep hourly rate for all those special visits from your engineer.

These are times where technical innovations are growing exponentially. This remarkable growth has now put in our hands mobile devices that are far more powerful and can do far more than the super computers from only a few decades ago. But the most amazing thing about these mobile devices is that you don’t need to be a tech whiz to use them. When did you last call Apple, Google or Samsung to figure out how to use your smart phone or its apps?

2. They are boring
You’ll never hear your IT support excitedly announce or recommend a new app or program that will not only starkly improve your existing processes and is self-managed but it will also cost you significantly less if not nothing at all.

Almost everyday a new app, software or program is being developed to help you make your work and life easy. Be adventurous, go out there and have a look. You’ll be amazed at how much fun work can get.

3. You speak different languages
Have you ever tried asking your IT support why your computer or server is doing what it’s doing? Or how to set up something on your PC? What am I saying, who hasn’t? Let me guess, the response is usually a frustrated ‘sigh’ or a full-blown ‘groan’ followed by set of words I often wonder if even they themselves understand.

In this new world of awesome smartphones, tablets, watches, glasses and everything in between (Internet of things), things are made so easy, even toddlers just seem to know what to do. These things don’t even come with a manual. I say, it’s like magic, you just know!

So there it is. Like every great decision, it’s not going to be easy or comfortable but nothing great has ever come out of playing safe.