For growing companies in Orange County, IT is no longer a “nice to have.”
When systems slow down, back up, or crash, the entire operation feels it, sales pause, clients wait, employees become frustrated, and leadership gets dragged into technical chaos.

If your business has 25–500 employees, you’re likely facing a big question:

“Should we build our IT internally or partner with a Managed IT Provider?”

This guide breaks down both options so IT Managers and Business Managers can make the right call based on cost, workload, skill gaps, and long-term stability.

Internal IT: What It Does Well (and Where It Struggles)

Internal IT teams are the backbone of many businesses. They understand your environment better than anyone. But they’re also expected to do the impossible:

  • Fix support tickets
  • Protect the company from cyber threats
  • Train employees
  • Maintain backups
  • Patch systems
  • Manage vendors
  • Plan strategic upgrades
  • Handle compliance
  • Keep daily operations running

Most internal IT teams are stretched thin, especially in companies between 25–500 employees, where the workload is too big for one or two people nyet not enough to justify a large internal IT department.

Where Internal IT Thrives

✔ Deep knowledge of your environment
✔ Immediate on-site presence
✔ Knowledge of your processes and people
✔ Control over sensitive assets
✔ Strong internal trust

Where Internal IT Struggles

1.Too Many Hats, Not Enough Time

IT Managers often feel like everything depends on them.
Every outage, every complaint, every system issue lands on their shoulders.

2.No Time for Strategic Work

Instead of planning upgrades or optimizing security, they’re stuck handling tickets.

3.Expensive to Scale

Hiring additional IT staff in Orange County can cost:

  • IT Manager: $120k–$180k
  • Network Engineer: $90k–$130k
  • Helpdesk Tech: $60k–$90k

Most companies don’t have the budget for a full IT department.

4.Cybersecurity Skills Gaps

Cyber threats evolve daily—internal teams rarely have the bandwidth or tools to keep up.

5.High Burnout Rates

One outage or ransomware scare can lead to sleepless nights and weekend emergencies.

Managed IT: Where It Wins for OC Businesses

Managed IT providers offer a complete outsourced IT department—fully staffed, trained, and equipped.

This is where they shine for 25–500 employee companies.

Where Managed IT Excels

1.24/7 Monitoring & Response

Internal IT sleeps. MSPs don’t.
Threats are caught before damage happens.

2.Predictable, Fixed Monthly Cost

No surprise payroll, no unexpected hiring.
You get a full team for less than one full-time salary.

3.Cybersecurity Tools Included

You get enterprise-level security without enterprise-level cost.

4.Ticket Load Reduction

Your internal team can finally breathe.
MSP handles the repetitive stuff:

  • Password resets
  • Workstation issues
  • Email problems
  • Software updates
  • Backups
  • Alert monitoring

    5.     Higher Stability & Uptime

Systems run smoother, issues are prevented, not reacted to.

6. Built-In Expertise

You instantly gain access to:

  • Senior engineers
  • Security analysts
  • Compliance specialists
  • Technology strategists

You don’t have to recruit or manage them.

But Managed IT Alone Isn’t Always Perfect

For some organizations, fully outsourcing IT may create distance or make internal teams feel replaced.

That’s why the best model for growing companies is often:

Co-Managed IT: The Best of Both Worlds

This model pairs your internal IT team with a world-class managed IT provider.
You keep control. We reinforce your team.

How Co-Managed IT Supports IT Managers

✔ MSP handles daily tickets → your team focuses on strategic work
✔ MSP manages patching, updates, backups → fewer emergencies
✔ MSP provides cybersecurity tools → your risk drops
✔ MSP covers after-hours issues → less burnout
✔ MSP handles documentation → more clarity
✔ MSP brings senior expertise for complex tasks

Co-managed IT doesn’t replace your team.
It protects them, supports them, and gives them their time back.

So… Which Option Is Right for Your Business?

Choose Internal IT If You:

  • Want full internal control
  • Have the budget to hire 3–5 IT staff
  • Have deep cybersecurity skills in-house
  • Have minimal system complexity
  • Rarely experience downtime

Choose Managed IT If You:

  • Have 25–500 employees
  • Experience recurring IT issues or downtime
  • Cannot afford cybersecurity risks
  • Want predictable IT costs
  • Need instant access to more expertise
  • Can’t staff a full IT department in-house
  • Want faster support for your team

Choose Co-Managed IT If You:

  • Already have an IT Manager or small IT team
  • They need backup and support
  • They’re overwhelmed with day-to-day tasks
  • You want to increase uptime and security
  • You want IT to focus on strategic projects again

 

The Real Goal: IT That Runs Smoothly, Silently, and Securely

At 25–500 employees, IT should no longer be reactive.
It should empower your team, protect your business, and free your leaders from stress.

The right mix of internal IT and managed IT lets your business:

✔ Reduce downtime
✔ Improve productivity
✔ Strengthen cybersecurity
✔ Free up internal IT
✔ Lower operational risk

 

Next Step: See Which Model Fits YOUR Business Best

Different companies need different support — that’s why we offer two paths:

Secure My Business Now

Get a full IT & cybersecurity assessment.

Identify My Risks

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