Navigating Your IT Future with Fully Managed Services

Navigating Your IT Future

Many businesses use fully managed IT services to handle their technology needs. This approach removes the IT burden, letting you focus on your core business.

But what exactly do “fully managed” services entail, and how do they compare to other options?

Fully Managed IT Services: An external expert team completely handles your IT needs. They are proactive and comprehensive, aiming to prevent issues before they start.
Co-Managed IT Services: You partner with an external IT team to support or improve your existing in-house IT staff.
Break-Fix IT Services: You only call for IT help when something breaks. This reactive approach often leads to unpredictable costs and downtime.

Keeping technology updated, secure, and performing well is a major business challenge. The right IT support is crucial for smooth operations. Fully managed IT services act as a reliable partner, offering peace of mind by proactively managing your systems.

As an expert in the field, I, Ryan Miller, owner and founder of Sundance Networks, Inc., have spent over 17 years helping businesses with their information systems, networking, and security. My experience includes more than a decade specializing in information security, making me well-versed in the practical application and benefits of fully managed IT services for various business environments.

Explaining IT Support: What Are Fully Managed Services?

At Sundance Networks, we view fully managed IT services as having your own expert IT department without the high cost of an in-house team. Instead of only fixing problems as they arise, we proactively manage your entire IT environment to ensure everything runs smoothly and securely.

According to Gartner, a managed service provider (MSP) delivers services like network, application, infrastructure, and security support through ongoing, active administration. A fully managed IT service provider like us takes on the continuous management, maintenance, and support of your technology. We handle everything from your IT infrastructure and security to daily support and long-term strategy, freeing you to focus on your business while reducing downtime and controlling costs.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s a quick look at how different IT support models stack up:

Feature	Break-Fix IT	Co-Managed IT	Fully Managed IT Services
Cost Structure	Unpredictable, hourly, or per-incident	Hybrid: fixed monthly fee for MSP, plus internal IT salaries	Predictable, fixed monthly fee (per-user, per-device, or tiered)
Support Style	Reactive; “Call us when it breaks”	Collaborative; MSP supplements internal team’s capabilities	Proactive, 24/7/365 monitoring and support; Preventative maintenance
Strategic Input	Minimal; Focus on immediate repairs	Shared; Internal IT focuses on strategy, MSP handles routine/specialized tasks	Comprehensive; MSP provides vCIO for strategic planning and technology roadmap
Expertise	Varies by technician; Limited scope	Combines internal knowledge with MSP’s broad, specialized expertise	Broad and deep across all IT domains; Access to a team of specialists
Responsibility	Client responsible for overall IT health	Shared between internal IT and MSP	MSP takes full responsibility for IT operations and performance
Downtime Impact	High risk of prolonged downtime	Reduced downtime due to shared responsibilities and specialized help	Minimized downtime due to proactive monitoring and rapid resolution

How Fully Managed Differs from Other Models

The Break-Fix model is a reactive approach where you only pay for IT services when something goes wrong. While it may seem cheaper initially, this model often leads to unexpected bills, frustrating downtime, and significant costs when systems crash or security is breached.

Co-managed IT services are a partnership model ideal for businesses with an in-house IT team. We work with your existing staff, handling routine maintenance and specialized tasks. This frees your team to focus on strategic projects and innovation. Learn more about our Custom IT Consulting & System Integration services.

With fully managed IT services, we become your complete outsourced IT department. We manage everything from start to finish with 24/7 support and proactive monitoring. This comprehensive solution covers your core infrastructure, security, daily support, and long-term IT planning, preventing issues before they happen.

Who Benefits Most from This Model?

Fully managed IT services are a game-changer for many businesses:

Small to Mid-Sized Businesses (SMBs) often lack the resources for a full in-house IT department. This model provides access to a team of experts without the high cost and hiring challenges.
If your company has no internal IT staff, we can serve as your complete IT solution, providing proactive services, technical support, and strategic IT consulting.
For organizations seeking better cost control, we offer a predictable monthly fee, which helps manage IT budgets and avoid the unforeseen costs of a break-fix approach.
Businesses needing specialized expertise gain access to our team’s deep knowledge across various IT domains, from cybersecurity to cloud solutions.
For industries with high compliance needs, our robust security measures and adherence to best practices help you meet strict standards like HIPAA or SOC 2.

We help businesses of all sizes focus on their core operations while we manage their IT. Explore more about the businesses we partner with at Who We Help.

The Core Components and Benefits of Fully Managed IT Services

With fully managed IT services, we ensure your entire IT infrastructure—devices, networks, and systems—works in harmony. This comprehensive approach boosts operational efficiency and strategic value, reducing overhead and increasing productivity. Our goal is to make IT work for you by improving operations, saving money, providing expertise, enhancing security, and offering predictable pricing.

What to Expect from a Fully Managed IT Services Plan

A complete fully managed IT services plan is designed to give you peace of mind. Here’s what you can expect from us:

24/7/365 Help Desk Support: Our dedicated team is always ready to help via call, email, or chat. We achieve 95% user satisfaction and resolve over 70% of issues on the first contact.
Proactive Network Monitoring: We monitor your physical, cloud, and virtual networks to spot and fix potential problems before they impact your business.
Endpoint Management: We manage all your devices, including Windows PCs, Macs, and servers, ensuring they are configured correctly, running fast, and secure.
Patch Management: We handle regular software updates to fix vulnerabilities, keeping your systems current and safe from hackers.
Data Backup and Recovery: We implement robust cloud backup and disaster recovery solutions to protect your data from hardware failure, cyberattacks, and human error. We establish clear recovery plans to minimize downtime. Learn more about our Disaster Recovery & Backup solutions.
Vendor Management: We act as your single point of contact for all technology vendors, managing relationships with internet, phone, and software providers to ensure you have the right tech stack.
Strategic IT Leadership (vCIO): Our Virtual CIO services provide expert IT advice to align your technology with your business goals. We help create a custom IT roadmap to drive long-term growth.

The Primary Business Benefits

Choosing fully managed IT services offers significant advantages:

Cost Predictability: A clear, fixed monthly cost makes budgeting easy and eliminates the surprise expenses common with break-fix models.
Access to Expertise: You gain access to our team of over 40 certified engineers and technicians, providing expert-level support that would be costly to build in-house.
Reduced Downtime: Our proactive monitoring and maintenance dramatically lower the risk of system failures and security breaches, maximizing uptime and productivity.
Scalability: As your business grows, our services adapt. We can scale support to fit organizations of any size or industry.
Focus on Core Business Functions: By letting us handle IT complexities, your team can concentrate on driving your business forward.

We also assist with your Hardware Solutions to ensure your physical setup supports your digital goals.

Fortifying Your Defenses: How Managed Services Improve Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is essential. With fully managed IT services, we act as your dedicated security team, building a multi-layered defense to keep your data safe. We take a proactive security posture, anticipating and neutralizing threats before they can cause damage. Our goal is to make technology a reliable engine for your business, not a source of worry. Learn more about our specialized Cyber Security solutions and our focus on the Zero Trust methodology.

A Proactive Approach to Security

Our cybersecurity approach is about staying one step ahead of digital threats.

Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection: Our experts provide 24/7 monitoring, using advanced tools and AI to spot and respond to suspicious activity quickly.
Vulnerability Remediation: We ensure routine patching and proactive updates for all your software, keeping your defenses current and secure.
Advanced Security Measures: We implement robust firewalls, data encryption, and managed access control. Our managed Microsoft 365 Zero Trust approach has led to a remarkable 99.9% reduction in account compromise attacks for our clients.
Security Awareness Training: We provide ongoing training and testing to help your employees recognize threats like phishing, resulting in a low average phishing susceptibility rate of under 4% for our clients.

Ready to test your defenses? Take the first step with our Free Cybersecurity Scan.

Meeting Compliance and Regulatory Standards

Navigating data protection rules and industry regulations can be complex. Our fully managed IT services help you meet these requirements, reducing risk and ensuring compliance. We perform risk assessments and implement secure data handling practices to help you meet standards like HIPAA or SOC 2. We also provide the necessary documentation and audit support to demonstrate compliance, allowing you to focus on your business. For more detailed support, see our Regulatory Compliance Services.

Making the Right Choice: Selecting and Onboarding Your IT Partner

Choosing the right partner for fully managed IT services is a strategic decision. It’s about finding an ally who understands your goals and brings strategic and economic value. You want a partner who is excited to pursuing digital change with you.

Understanding the Cost Model for Fully Managed IT Services

A key benefit of fully managed IT services is cost predictability. You get a clear, fixed monthly fee, making IT budgeting simple and eliminating surprise repair bills. We typically structure our fees based on a per-user or per-device model or offer tiered packages. This flat-fee approach incentivizes us to be proactive, as our success is tied to keeping your systems running smoothly.

When considering costs, it’s important to look at the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). While a managed service may seem pricier upfront than an in-house solution, it often reduces TCO by eliminating expenses related to hiring, training, and dedicated staff. We can help you with smart IT Budget Planning to make cost-effective choices.

The Typical Onboarding Process

Once you choose us as your fully managed IT services partner, our smooth onboarding process begins, typically taking 4 to 8 weeks depending on your company’s size and IT complexity.

Initial Assessment and Planning: We conduct a free IT assessment to understand your current setup, pain points, and goals, then create a custom technology action plan.
System Integration and Agent Deployment: Our team implements the plan, deploying monitoring tools and necessary software across your network and devices.
Documentation: We carefully document your entire IT environment, including network configurations, software licenses, and user accounts, to ensure efficient support.
Ongoing Monitoring & Protection: We begin 24/7 proactive surveillance, including cyber threat protection and regular system maintenance.
Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs): We hold regular meetings to assess IT performance, discuss new technologies, and review your technology roadmap to ensure it aligns with your evolving business.

Our process is designed to be transparent and collaborative. Ready to start? Schedule a Custom Consultation with us today.

Beyond Troubleshooting: Aligning IT with Strategic Business Growth

In today’s business world, IT is more than just troubleshooting; it’s a strategic tool. With fully managed IT services, we help turn your technology into a driver for long-term planning, innovation, and competitive advantage. We believe your IT should help your business make money, not just cost it.

Driving Long-Term Growth and Innovation

Our promise extends beyond daily operations to empower your business for the future.

Virtual CIO (vCIO) Services: Our vCIOs provide expert IT direction without the cost of a full-time executive. They work with you to understand your goals, assess your technology, and create a custom technology roadmap that aligns IT with your business objectives.
Scalable Infrastructure: We design and manage scalable infrastructure, whether you prefer On-Premise or Cloud Solutions. This ensures your technology can expand instantly as your business grows.
AI Integration: We help you leverage new tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our managed AI adoption programs can save significant time, with many clients saving over 1.5 hours weekly. We can identify where AI fits in your business and build custom solutions. Learn more at our AI Solutions page.

This forward-thinking approach helps you become more efficient and innovative.

Supporting Modern and Diverse Work Environments

The way we work has changed, and your IT support must adapt. Our fully managed IT services are designed for all types of modern workplaces.

Remote and Hybrid Offices: We support remote and hybrid teams, ensuring employees have the secure tools and access needed to be productive from anywhere.
Multi-Platform and Device Support: We offer full support for Windows PCs and MACs, along with Mobile Device Management (MDM), ensuring consistent support regardless of the tools your team uses.
Cloud Expertise: We are experts in the cloud and can help you migrate or optimize your current setup, especially with Microsoft Azure, for a secure, flexible, and cost-effective system.

Whether your team is in Stroudsburg, PA, Santa Fe, NM, or anywhere across Pennsylvania and New Mexico, we provide seamless support to keep your operations running smoothly. Find out more about Our Service Areas.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fully Managed IT

We understand you might have more questions about fully managed IT services. Here are some common ones we hear:

What if our business already has an in-house IT person?

This is a great question. We often partner with companies that have in-house IT staff through our co-managed IT services. We act as an extension of your team, handling daily monitoring, maintenance, and help desk support. This frees your internal experts to focus on strategic projects and innovation. We empower your team, not replace them.

How quickly can we expect support when an issue arises?

We provide clear Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that outline our response and resolution times. Thanks to our 24/7/365 monitoring and help desk, critical issues receive immediate attention. Our proactive approach means we often fix potential problems before you’re even aware of them, minimizing disruption and keeping your team productive.

Can managed services support our specific industry software?

Yes. We know many businesses rely on unique, industry-specific software. During our onboarding process, we assess your entire software ecosystem to ensure we can provide comprehensive support. We are adept at working with specialized applications and can often manage those vendor relationships for you, simplifying your operations.

Conclusion

Choosing fully managed IT services is a strategic partnership, not just outsourcing. It’s an investment in your business’s future that removes the technology burden and provides peace of mind. By offering predictable costs, access to expert engineers, proactive cybersecurity, and strategic IT leadership, we ensure your technology aligns with your business goals.

At Sundance Networks, our passion is future-proofing your business. We use smart technology, scalable AI solutions, and robust security to empower organizations of all sizes. We are dedicated to preventing issues, optimizing your operations, and helping you flourish in an increasingly digital world.

Ready to feel the difference a dedicated IT partner can make? Take control of your technology and security by exploring our comprehensive Managed Services and Security solutions today.