When One IT Person Is No Longer Enough: A Guide To Business IT Support For SMEs

Even the most talented of IT support team members will one day become overwhelmed with the amount of work they might be facing. As businesses grow, so do the demands on the IT department in charge of keeping the business running. Systems become more complex and cybersecurity responsibilities increase. 

There will come a time when you, as the business leader, need to decide it’s time to move on from a one-member IT team and find the ideal business IT support to suit your ambition and needs. This guide explains when a one-person setup may no longer be sufficient and how business IT support can help.

Why One-Person IT Teams Become Overstretched

As the business grows, the role and responsibility of the IT department also grow. What would have been pretty straightforward in the beginning may now be a complex role requiring serious man-hours. Now the IT person may be handling daily support tickets, hardware, software, cybersecurity, backups, Microsoft 365, cloud systems, and supplier relationships. A lot of work.

In this scenario, reactive support begins to take priority, instead of long-term proactive support that can save your business money and stress. It’s this pushing back of strategic planning, documentation, and prevention that can be the most noticeable downside of an overstretched IT team.

Most SMEs will reach a ceiling with their limited IT support until they can no longer keep up with growth.

Signs Your Business Needs Additional IT Support

There are a range of common signs a business needs additional IT support. These include:

• Support requests are taking longer to resolve.
• The same IT issues keep returning.
• Updates, patches, or backups are being delayed.
• Cyber security checks are inconsistent.
• Your IT person is always firefighting.
• There is no cover during holidays, sickness, or busy periods.
• Important passwords, systems, or supplier details are not fully documented.
• New starters wait too long for devices or account setup.
• IT planning only happens after something breaks.
• The business is adding more users, locations, cloud tools, or devices.

If these issues are more than familiar to you as a business owner or leader, you do not need to replace your internal IT person; you may require stronger business IT support around them instead.

The Risks Of Leaving IT Support Too Thin

Unfortunately, one of the most common things SMEs do in the event of overstretching their IT person is ignore it. This poses serious risks to business productivity, security and can cost you more in downtime and money than is being saved by looking for support. 

One of the biggest risks is the increased exposure to cybercrime while your business is unsecured. While your IT person may be dealing with one issue, they may be missing updates, patches or backup checks that ensure your online systems are safe.

Your Options: Hire, Outsource, Or Use Co-Managed IT Support

As a business owner, if any of this sounds all too familiar, you are faced with a decision to make. The crux of it is that you need IT support that can keep up with your business growth. 

Hiring Internally

If you choose to hire internally for more IT support, you will benefit from daily on-site support. The cost associated with a salary is worth bearing in mind. One team member may not be enough to cover all bases.

Outsourced IT Support

Lots of SMEs outsource their business IT support as it provides plenty of benefits. You get helpdesk support, remote and on-site assistance, 24/7 monitoring and maintenance as well as backups, expert security and helpful cloud support. A managed IT support company is likely to have wider expertise also. 

Co-Managed IT Support

Co-managed IT support is another popular solution for SMEs. This is where outsourced business IT support works with the internal IT person to make their job easier and the business IT systems more efficient. The external provider adds capacity, cover and specialist expertise. This way you can keep your internal IT person and gain the benefits of outsourced IT support.

Why Choose VCI Systems For Business IT Support In Berkshire

Here at VCI systems, we have been providing business IT support to SMEs across Berkshire and the UK for more than 20 years. We pride ourselves on providing clear, transparent IT support, no jargon here. Our services help with managed IT support, cyber security, backups, cloud services, Microsoft 365, and strategic IT planning. 

If your business is relying on one overstretched IT person, VCI Systems can help you build a more reliable, supported and resilient IT setup. Get in touch today to find out more.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Should A Small Business Outsource IT Support?

Outsourced IT support is most useful when support requests are increasing, issues are being delayed, cyber security needs are growing, or there is no cover for internal IT staff.

Can Outsourced IT Support Work Alongside Our Internal IT Person?

Yes. Co-managed IT support is designed to support your internal person with extra capacity, specialist knowledge, project work, monitoring, and absence cover.

What Is Co-Managed IT Support?

Co-managed IT support is where an external IT provider works alongside an internal IT person or team to share responsibilities and strengthen support.

Is Managed IT Support Cheaper Than Hiring Another IT Employee?

It depends. It can be more cost-effective for SMEs because it gives access to broader expertise and cover without the full cost of another salary, training, and employment overheads.