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Choosing the right IT support model is more important than ever for growing businesses.
A reliable IT infrastructure isn’t a luxury anymore - it’s the backbone of every modern organisation. But when it comes to supporting and maintaining that infrastructure, many businesses struggle with a crucial decision:
Should you use Pay-As-You-Go IT support (Break-Fix)? Or invest in a Managed IT Service?
The difference between reactive and proactive IT support can dramatically impact your uptime, cybersecurity, productivity, and overall costs. This guide explains both models clearly so you can choose the approach that best supports your business’s growth.
What Is Pay-As-You-Go (Break-Fix) IT Support?
Think of Break-Fix like taking your car to a mechanic only when it breaks down. With Pay-As-You-Go, you call for IT support only when something stops working. There’s no ongoing monitoring, no proactive maintenance, and no preventative strategy.
Key Characteristics of Pay-As-You-Go
- Reactive: Support only happens after something fails.
- Unpredictable Costs: Hourly fees or per-incident charges - a major outage can be expensive.
- Focus on Repair: The goal is to fix the issue quickly, not prevent future problems.
- Higher Downtime Risk: Issues are only addressed after they’ve already disrupted your business.
While Break-Fix may appear cheaper for very small businesses with minimal IT needs, the hidden costs - downtime, data loss, missed deadlines, and security breaches - can quickly outweigh the savings.
What Are Managed IT Services?
Managed IT Services take the opposite approach. Instead of waiting for something to go wrong, an MSP (Managed Service Provider) actively monitors, maintains, secures, and supports your entire IT environment.
It’s like having a full-time IT department - without the cost of hiring one.
Key Characteristics of Managed IT
- Proactive Monitoring: Issues are detected and fixed before they cause disruptions.
- Predictable Costs: Fixed monthly fee makes budgeting easy.
- Focus on Prevention: Regular updates, patching, and optimisation minimise downtime.
- Enhanced Security: Cybersecurity tools and policies are built in.
- Strategic IT Planning: Technology aligned with long-term business goals.
With Managed IT, you’re not just paying for fixes - you’re investing in stability, uptime, and long-term growth.
Why Managed IT Helps Businesses Grow
Managed IT Services provide advantages far beyond support tickets:
- Less downtime → more productivity
- Stronger cybersecurity → fewer risks
- Predictable budgeting → no financial surprises
- Access to experts → better decisions
- Proactive maintenance → smoother operations
Instead of relying on emergency fixes, businesses receive ongoing optimisation that improves performance and efficiency over time.
Pay-As-You-Go vs. Managed IT: Side-By-Side
| Feature | Pay-As-You-Go (Break-Fix) | Managed IT Services |
|---|---|---|
| Support Style | Reactive - only after failure | Proactive - issues prevented early |
| Cost Structure | Unpredictable expenses | Fixed monthly fee |
| Downtime Risk | High | Low |
| Security | Often basic or reactive | Advanced security built in |
| Strategic IT Planning | No | Yes - included |
| Business Growth Support | Limited | Strong - IT aligned with goals |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pay-As-You-Go cheaper for small businesses?
Sometimes, but only if you have almost no IT needs. Once downtime, lost productivity, and security risks are factored in, Managed IT is usually more cost-effective.
What types of businesses benefit most from Managed IT?
Businesses that rely heavily on technology, require strong cybersecurity, or want predictable monthly costs benefit the most.
Does Managed IT include cybersecurity?
With Telanova, yes - cybersecurity measures like patching, threat monitoring, MFA enforcement, and backups are included.
Can I switch from Pay-As-You-Go to Managed IT easily?
Yes. Telanova begins with an onboarding assessment, stabilises your systems, and puts proactive monitoring in place.
Do Managed IT providers replace internal IT staff?
They can either fully manage your IT or work alongside your internal team to provide additional support.
Get the IT Model That Supports Your Business - Not Holds It Back
At Telanova, we help businesses across Wokingham, Ascot, Bracknell, Reading and the wider Berkshire region transition from reactive “break-fix” support to reliable, proactive Managed IT Services.
If you want fewer disruptions, stronger security, and predictable monthly costs, we can help.
Explore our Managed IT Services or call 01344 989 530 to get started.
