Brisbane Managed IT Services Pricing Guide (Your Questions Answered)

These days, just about every business uses IT in some way to conduct their daily operations and deliver services to their customers. But unexpected IT issues can bring the working day to a halt and cause costly downtime for your business. 

The best solution for this is outsourcing your IT needs to a third-party provider: managed IT services. But how do you know what services you need, or how much they are going to cost?

Managed IT services pricing is a complex topic, and it can be difficult to find the right price for your business. We’ve put together this comprehensive guide of frequently asked questions to help you out.

What is a managed IT service provider?

A managed service provider (MSP) is a third-party company that provides managed IT services to businesses. They handle the technical aspects of the customer, from planning and designing their infrastructure, to managing and operating their systems and network. 

MSPs will bring your business a host of benefits; they can save you time and money by providing expert support, so you don’t have to hire an in-house IT staff. They are also great for businesses who want to focus on their core competencies and not be distracted by the intricacies of managing their own IT infrastructure, or constantly fixing IT issues when they unexpectedly arise.

Another benefit is that MSPs have the inside scoop on available technologies and services, and can help their customers align their goals with their budget limitations, providing a cost-effective tech solution, such as software licensing.

What services do MSPs offer?

Most managed IT providers offer a wide range of IT services that include:

• Remote/onsite IT support
• Cyber security services and solutions
• Managed desktop
• Unified communications
• Cloud services
• IT consulting
• Microsoft 365 services
• Backup and disaster recovery
• IT strategy
• Service desk
• Network management
• Internet services
• Product licensing (e.g. Microsoft 365, Adobe)

Some MSPs are specialised to certain IT offerings, such as database management, office removal and refitting, or IT staff procurement. Yet other MSPs offer their services to specific industries, such as education or retail.

However, most MSPs will deliver all the IT services that every business needs to optimise their efficiency, productivity, and security.

What is a service level agreement (SLA)?

In simple terms, a service level agreement (SLA) is a written agreement between you and the service provider that details:

• The services you will receive 
• How much the service will cost
• When you will be billed
• The timeframe in which you must pay the fee
• How long it must take to complete the services
• The quality of work that will be delivered 
• What happens if there are delays or unmet commitments

What factors influence MSP pricing?

The price of managed services will be influenced by a variety of factors, including:

• The complexity of your IT environment
• The services you require
• The level of service provided
• If you need onsite or remote services
• If you have an in-house IT team

What will I pay for IT services?

While it is difficult to calculate an exact price before knowing your specific needs, network complexities, devices, and users, the price of managed IT services in Brisbane will range between $75 to $300 per user. This broad range will be narrowed down when you provide your specific business requirements while negotiating with an MSP.

MSPs will offer you specific packages or tiers of IT services, which you will generally be able to scale up or down depending on your ongoing business IT needs. These tiers will vary in prices.

Break/fix services

Not all MSPs offer break/fix; it is a one-off transaction with no SLA required. You will contact an MSP only when you need something taken care of – hardware installation, software upgrades, or faulty connections. A break/fix technician will handle the issue and charge you on an hourly basis, plus any equipment the issue requires. You will pay upwards of $150 per hour for this service.

Basic IT services

If you require only essential IT services such as network monitoring, troubleshooting, and issue flagging, you will pay between $70 and $150 per month, depending on the number of users or devices in your environment.

Mid-range IT services

Going a step further than basic monitoring, mid-range IT services will include proactive maintenance and management. Your MSP will fix issues at the source when they arise, and keep an eye out for potential cyber threats. This tier of services may also include backup and disaster recovery, strategic IT planning, 24/7 support, and more. You will pay between $50 and $200 for this level.

Fully managed IT services

If you require advanced cyber security services, cloud services, regulatory governance, or fully hosted systems, this will be the tier of services for your business. While this level provides a number of benefits for businesses, it will cost upwards of $300.

What are the pricing models?

After selecting a service tier, your MSP will need to know exactly how much they will be required to provide the agreed-upon services.

Per device

If you have part-time or seasonal employees who use the same IT equipment, this will be the best model for your business. Your MSP will charge you on how many devices they will be required to monitor, including desktops, servers, firewalls, and switches.

Per user

As many businesses have moved to remote or hybrid working environments, employees may use several devices to do their work. If this is the case for your business, this model will be most cost-effective for you. You will be billed for the number of users in your environment, but this may not extend to servers.

Find the right managed IT service solution for your Brisbane business

Managed IT services will bring your business numerous benefits and allow you to focus on your core competencies rather than handling IT issues whenever they happen.

Essential Tech offers a wide range of IT services for businesses of every industry in Brisbane, and across Australia. Drop our friendly team a line today and we’ll get started optimising the best IT services for you at a cost-effective rate.