Key takeaways
- Managed IT gives you a whole team, security tools and monitoring for a predictable monthly price.
- An in-house IT person makes sense when you need someone on-site all day, every day.
- Many growing companies combine both: an internal IT lead plus managed IT behind them.
What managed IT actually includes
With managed IT, a company like NEBULACLOUD takes responsibility for your computers, accounts and security for a flat monthly fee. That usually covers help desk support, monitoring and alerts, Windows and Mac updates, antivirus with detection and response (EDR), Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace administration, backups and onboarding and offboarding of employees.
The key difference is prevention. A managed provider watches your systems all the time, so many problems are fixed before anyone notices them.
What an in-house IT employee brings
A full-time IT person knows your people and your office well and is there in person every day. That's valuable for larger teams, labs, schools or companies with a lot of on-site equipment.
The trade-offs: one person can't be an expert in everything, they take vacations and sick days, and you still need to pay for the tools they use, like security software, backup and monitoring.
Comparing the cost
Our managed IT plans are priced per computer, per month: Essential at $75, Business at $125 and Premium at $165, plus $150 per location. For example, a 15-computer office on the Business plan would pay about $2,025 per month, with the help desk, security tools, backups and reviews included.
When you compare, add up everything an employee costs: salary, taxes, benefits, training, software licenses and the time it takes to replace them if they leave. See our managed IT plans.
Security and coverage
Most attacks on small businesses start with a phishing email or a stolen password. A managed provider brings layered protection that's hard for one person to build and maintain alone: email filtering, multi-factor authentication, EDR, patching and backups that are tested.
Coverage matters too. If your only IT person is out, who answers when email stops working? With managed IT, a team is always there.
When to choose which
- Choose managed IT if you have up to about 50 computers, no full-time IT person, or you want predictable costs and stronger security.
- Choose an in-house IT person if you need someone physically present all day for many users or specialized equipment.
- Choose both if you're growing: an internal IT lead handles daily needs while a managed provider covers security, tools, after-hours and projects.
Frequently asked questions
Is managed IT cheaper than an IT employee?
For most teams under 50 computers, yes. Managed IT includes the tools and a whole team for a monthly price per computer.
Can managed IT work with our current IT person?
Yes. We can support your IT person with tools, security and backup, or take over the daily help desk.
What does NEBULACLOUD charge?
Our plans start at $75 per computer per month, plus $150 per location. Final pricing is confirmed after a free assessment.
