Thinking about hiring an IT person, but wondering if an MSP would make more sense?
Maybe your current IT employee is already juggling password resets, laptop issues, network problems, along with security alerts.
Or perhaps you’re paying extra already for outside IT support and still feel like your team waits too long for IT assistance.
Now it’s high time to make a real decision when your Austin business starts expanding. You definitely need reliable IT support, but you also must know where your money is going and whether you’re getting enough coverage.
Let’s compare in-house IT vs. outsourced IT costs in Austin, including staffing, technical expertise, and support availability, so you can decide whether outsourced IT support in Austin makes sense for your business.
In-House IT vs. MSP Costs: What Austin Businesses Actually Pay
Hiring an IT person might seem like the simpler option. You have someone on-site, your employees know who to contact, and there’s no monthly MSP bill. But the salary is only one part of the cost.
You also need to make agreements for benefits, paid leave, training, software, security tools, along with the equipment your IT employee needs to do the job.
With an MSP, you generally pay a recurring monthly fee, but what’s covered depends on the service agreement.
— A Quick Cost Comparison For Your Understanding…
| IT Support Setup | Typical Cost |
| One In-House IT Employee | Around $104,520/year in median base pay |
| Two In-House IT Employees | Around $209,040/year in combined base pay |
| Outsourced MSP | Around $75– $150 per user/month |
NOTE: These are not like-for-like quotes. In-house figures exclude benefits and other employment costs, while MSP pricing depends on the services included.
In the Austin area, a network and computer systems administrator earns around $104,520 a year on average. If you hire two people at a similar salary, that’s about $209,040 in yearly pay, before benefits and other costs.
For MSP support, prices usually fall around $75–$150 per user/month. The final cost will totally depend on what your business actually needs. For example, one Texas provider advertises plans starting at $94 per user/month.
— What Else Goes Into the Cost?
▶ With an in-house employee, remember to budget for:
- Health insurance and retirement benefits
- Paid leave and other employment costs
- IT management and security software
- Technical training and certifications
- Laptops, tools, and other equipment
▶ With an MSP, check whether the monthly fee covers:
- Employee helpdesk support
- Device and network monitoring
- Software updates and patching
- Cybersecurity tools and services
- After-hours or emergency support
Don’t compare a salary with an MSP quote and just assume you’ve got the full picture. Not really… Employee benefits actually add to the payroll costs.
On the other hand, MSP proposals may charge separately for onboarding, hardware, project work, or even after-hours services. So ask for a clear breakdown of what’s included before comparing these two.
In-House IT vs. MSP: Staffing, Expertise and Support Coverage
Now, let’s look at something more important beyond the price. Who actually helps when your team runs into IT problems?
With one in-house IT employee, there’s a familiar person your staff can approach. But that person can only handle so many requests at once.
A larger internal team can share the workload, while an MSP gives your business access to technicians with different areas of expertise.
Here’s how the three setups compare.
| What to Compare | One In-House IT Employee | Larger In-House Team | MSP Team |
| Staffing | One dedicated person | Multiple IT employees | Shared team of specialists |
| Daily Support | Handles employee requests | Work is divided across the team | Helpdesk handles requests |
| Technical Skills | Depends on one person’s expertise | Broader skills across hires | Access to different specialists |
| Employee Leave | Support may be delayed | Other staff can step in | Other technicians may provide coverage |
| After-Hours Help | Requires on-call arrangements | Depends on staffing | Depends on service agreement |
| Specialist Support | May need outside help | Available if hired | May be included or separately priced |
| On-Site Support | Available when the employee is present | Depends on team availability | Depends on local coverage and agreement |
— Keep in Mind: 24/7 Monitoring Doesn’t Mean Someone Will Pick Up Your Call!
Your MSP says your systems are monitored 24/7. Great! But what if your server crashes at 2 AM and your team needs help right away? Will an actual technician pick up the call, or will the system simply send an alert?
That’s what you need to clear up before signing. Ask if you’re getting 24/7 helpdesk support or just 24/7 system monitoring. They’re two very different things.
Hidden Costs of Managing IT Internally
Your Austin team is trying to get work done, but a network issue, missing security update, or unavailable IT employee can bring things to a stop.
And the costs aren’t limited to salary. Recruitment, training, software, and security tools all add to your IT budget.
Here are a few costs businesses often overlook:
- Recruitment: Hiring skilled IT staff
- Training: Keeping technical skills updated
- Software: Paying for multiple licenses
- Cybersecurity Tools: Protecting devices and networks
- Employee Absence: Managing support gaps during leave
- Downtime: Losing hours to IT issues
With proactive IT support in Austin, your business can simply address potential IT issues before they cause bigger disruptions.
See how the hidden costs of underfunded IT can affect your Austin business and lead to bigger IT expenses.
When Does Hiring an In-House IT Team Make Sense?
Let’s say your Austin office has 30 employees. Every morning, someone needs a password reset, another person’s laptop won’t connect to Wi-Fi, and the new hire is still waiting for a working computer.
If this sounds like your regular day at your office, then make sure you have your own IT person…
— Your Employees Keep Waiting for IT Help
One person can’t be everywhere at once. When employees are constantly walking over with laptop, printer, login, or Wi-Fi problems, having someone in the office can save a lot of waiting.
- Fix laptops on the spot
- Get office Wi-Fi working
- Set up new employees
— Your Office Can’t Run Without Certain Systems
Does your team rely on an in-house server, custom software, or equipment connected to your network?
When something stops working, you may need someone who can walk over, check the setup, and fix it right there.
- Check servers in person
- Fix network connection problems
- Keep essential software running
— IT Work Is Taking Over Someone’s Day
Maybe your IT employee spends the whole day resetting passwords and fixing computers.
Meanwhile, new office setups, equipment upgrades, and security work keep getting pushed to next week. A second IT hire could give your team room to catch up.
- Handle daily employee requests
- Finish delayed IT work
- Prepare for office expansion
You don’t have to choose just one. Keep your in-house IT person for daily office problems and just bring in an MSP when you genuinely need extra help or even specialist support.
Co-Managed IT: Combining Internal Staff With an MSP
Already have an IT person? You don’t have to replace them with an MSP. Your employee can handle everyday office issues, while an MSP takes care of the work that keeps piling up.
For example, your IT person can help employees with laptop and printer problems, while the MSP handles:
- Network and device monitoring
- Cybersecurity and threat alerts
- Helpdesk support during busy hours
- Server and cloud-related issues
An MSP can also provide managed cybersecurity services to help protect your business from security threats.
If you’re looking for extra support without building a bigger IT department, then you must go for professional managed IT services for your Austin business.
In-House IT vs. Outsourced MSP: Side-by-Side Comparison
Still deciding which setup works better? Here’s a quick look at what you get with each.
| What to Compare | In-House IT | Outsourced MSP |
| Cost | Salary, benefits, tools | Monthly service fee |
| Support Hours | Set working hours | Depends on agreement |
| Technical Skills | Depends on hires | Multiple specialists |
| Staff Coverage | Depends on team size | Shared support team |
| On-Site Help | Available in office | Depends on local coverage |
| Employee Leave | May delay support | Other technicians can step in |
| Extra IT Help | Requires more hiring | May be included |
Just think about your team’s everyday needs. Do your employees need someone all the time nearby for all those frequent IT problems, or just need a specialized IT team who can handle different IT issues? Just analyze it deeply, and you can easily make your decision.
How to Choose the Right IT Support Model for Your Business
Now, before hiring an IT employee or signing an MSP contract, take a quick look at what’s happening in your office right now.
How many people need IT help? Are small issues eating up work hours? Do you need someone on-site, or is remote support enough?
▶ Think about these points:
- Team Size: How many employees need support?
- Daily IT Work: How often do problems come up?
- Budget: What can you comfortably spend?
- Security: Are your systems and data protected?
- Support Hours: Do you need help after hours?
- On-Site Needs: How often does someone need to visit?
▶ Before Signing With an MSP, Ask:
- What’s included in the monthly fee?
- Is helpdesk support available 24/7?
- How quickly do you respond?
- Are on-site visits included?
- Are there extra charges?
- What happens when the contract ends?
Keep in mind that don’t just go with any cheapest quote. Make sure you know who will help when something breaks, how quickly they’ll respond, and what you’ll actually pay.
In-House IT vs. Outsourced MSP: What’s Right for Your Austin Business?
An in-house hire, an MSP, or a mix of both can work. It totally depends on how often your team needs help, what your budget allows, as well as who can keep things running.
Not sure which setup makes sense? Talk to the BCS-IP team and explore our Austin managed IT services to find the right support for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is outsourced IT cheaper than hiring an in-house IT employee?
It can be, especially when you need a team of IT experts without hiring multiple employees.
How much does outsourced IT support Austin cost per user?
It usually ranges from 75 to 150 per user/month, but it all depends on the IT support and services you’re actually looking for.
Can an MSP provide on-site IT support in Austin?
Yes! Many MSPs offer on-site visits for hardware, network, and other issues that need hands-on help. Check if visits cost extra.
What happens when an in-house IT employee is unavailable?
IT support may have to wait until they’re back, unless you have someone else to cover.
Can a business keep its IT employee and also hire an MSP?
Absolutely! Your employee handles daily issues, while the MSP helps with security, monitoring, and tougher IT problems.
Does an MSP provide 24/7 monitoring and helpdesk support?
Not always. Some monitor your systems 24/7 but only answer support calls during business hours. Check your agreement properly.