A Guide to Outsourced IT Support: What to Know & What to Outsource

Managing IT in house can get complicated - fast. Everyday troubleshooting and managing security risks can spread thin even the most organized businesses. And that’s where outsourced IT support steps in. Outsourcing IT is a way to handle technical issues, but also more - it’s now a key strategy for companies that want access to specialized skills, predictable costs and 24/7 support. And, without the overhead of a full internal team.

The right outsourced IT provider can act as a seamless extension of any business, whether it’s looking to scale quickly or just needs coverage after hours.

In this guide, we’ll go through what outsourced IT services actually include, which IT tasks are most commonly outsourced, and why so many companies are shifting toward this model!

What Are Outsourced IT Services?

Outsourced IT services mean handing off part -or sometimes all - of your company’s tech operations to an outside team. That can cover anything from help desk support and routine system updates to cybersecurity and infrastructure management.

Unlike the old-school “break-fix” model (where someone steps in only after something has already gone wrong), managed IT services take a more proactive approach. Typically, you work with a provider on a monthly subscription basis, so things like maintenance, updates, and monitoring happen in the background (and before problems show up).

Some businesses choose to outsource their IT department fully. Others bring in external help only to supplement their in-house team. Either way, it’s about getting reliable, expert jelp without the full-time cost and management burden of hiring internally.

What IT Services Can Be Outsourced?

The list of IT solutions that can be outsourced is constantly growing. Still, a few areas are consistently among the most delegated ones:

Help Desk & Technical Support

Nobody likes handling internal tickets and user issues: it’s time-consuming and repetitive. However, it’s still critical! Outsourcing technical support services allows your team to stay focused on the bigger picture, and also provides fast, expert help when needed.

An external IT support team can really help keep everything running smoothly, including password resets and connectivity issues.

Cybersecurity and Network Monitoring

Cyber threats grow quickly and it takes more than a one-time setup to stay on the safe side.

Outsourced IT support services usually cover around-the-clock threat monitoring, firewall management, and data encryption, among other things. It’s a great choice for companies that don’t have full-time cybersecurity experts but still need to stay protected, as everyone.

Infrastructure and Cloud Management

Outsourced IT services can handle the heavy lifting with both physical servers and cloud platforms (like AWS or Azure). And this includes setup, monitoring, regular backups, and keeping your systems scalable. Also, it’s a great way to stop relying on on-premise equipment and maintenance.

Software & System Maintenance

Staying on top of software patches and licenses is often neglected, especially during busy periods. A dedicated outsourced IT department can easily take this off your plate, while also keeping all systems current and reliable company-wide.

IT Onboarding & Offboarding

As your team grows or changes, managing employee access, device setup, and permissions gets more complicated. Many IT service providers offer employee onboarding and offboarding services to ensure people have what they need on day one - and no longer have access when they leave.

In short, nearly every aspect of your IT environment can be outsourced, depending on your internal capabilities and how hands-on you want to be. Many companies use a hybrid approach, offloading time-consuming tasks to an outsourced IT provider while keeping strategic planning in-house.

Why Outsource IT Support?

Businesses turn to outsourced IT support for all sorts of reasons - but it often comes down to time, money, or a lack of internal resources. For smaller and mid-sized teams especially, building an in-house department with enough depth can be a stretch. The roles are specialized, salaries are high, and keeping up with every part of your IT stack takes more time than most teams have.

That’s where a good outsourced IT provider makes a difference. Instead of hiring and training full-time staff, you get access to a team that already knows the ropes - whether it’s supporting day-to-day systems, improving cybersecurity, or managing updates. And as your business grows or pivots, you’ve already got the infrastructure in place to support it.

A lot of companies outsource their IT department to let their internal teams focus on core operations. So rather than getting bogged down in ticket queues or software patches, your in-house folks stay focused on strategy - while your external partner handles the backend work.

Ways to Outsource IT Solutions

Most companies go one of two ways: fully managed services or co-managed IT support services.

With a fully managed model, the provider runs the show - from technical support and software updates to security and long-term planning. This is a good fit if you don’t have an internal IT team or want to hand over the day-to-day completely.

Co-managed setups work differently. You still keep your internal team, but bring in outside help for specific tasks - like firewall monitoring, cloud infrastructure, or user support. It’s flexible and lets you scale up without losing visibility or control.

Whatever route you go, the most important part is finding IT service providers who act like a partner, not just a vendor. Look for someone who can adapt to your needs over time - not just put out fires.

What Are the Benefits of Outsourced IT Support?

Working with an outsourced IT support company team brings some real, day-to-day benefits you’ll notice quickly:

You’ll save money.

You only pay for what you need - whether that’s basic support or around-the-clock monitoring. And you avoid the costs tied to hiring full-time staff, like salaries, benefits, and training.

You get access to real expertise.

From cloud services to security audits, outsourced IT managed teams give you a bench of specialists - without having to build it yourself.

Problems get fixed faster.

Since managed services providers deal with support issues every day, they’re set up to respond quickly. That means faster ticket resolution and less downtime.

It’s easier to scale.

Need to add support during a busy season? Or pull back in a slower quarter? With an outsourced IT department, scaling up or down is simple - and won’t mess with your workflow.

Security is stronger by default.

Good outsourced IT support companies stay on top of the latest threats. They’re usually proactive with audits, updates, and cybersecurity best practices - something many smaller teams don’t have time to manage alone.

By the Numbers: Why More Teams Are Turning to Outsourced IT Support

Some quick stats that highlight why outsourced IT support keeps gaining traction.

• 76% of executives say they outsource at least part of their IT operations.
  
• By 2030, the global outsourced IT services market is projected to hit $1.18 trillion.
  
• By 2027, companies are expected to spend 50% more on external contractors than internal IT staff.

For many SMBs, outsourcing is often a matter of necessity - not just strategy. 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, yet only 14% feel prepared to protect themselves. Meanwhile, IT downtime can cost companies up to $300,000 per hour, a blow that many can’t afford to take.

Then there’s the tech skills gap:

• 59% of SMB leaders struggle to implement new technologies.
  
• Over half say they feel outmatched by larger competitors in terms of IT resources.

The takeaway? A strong outsourced IT department isn’t just about fixing problems. It’s about building a tech setup that supports growth, security, and smart decision-making.

(Source: Forbes, TechRepublic, Cybersecurity Ventures, Statista)

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What are outsourced IT services?

Outsourced IT services are tech-related tasks or functions managed by an external provider instead of an in-house team. This can include day-to-day support, cybersecurity, infrastructure management, and more.

Which IT services can / should be outsourced?

Businesses often outsource IT services like help desk support, cloud management, cybersecurity, system monitoring, software updates, and network administration.

How big is the outsourced IT services market?

The global outsourced IT services market is projected to reach $1.18 trillion by 2030, driven by growing demand for scalability and expert support.

What are the advantages of outsourcing IT support?

Outsourcing IT support helps cut costs, brings in specialized expertise, strengthens security, improves response times, and makes it easier to scale your IT resources as you grow.