The Hidden Costs of DIY IT: Why Businesses Are Switching to MSPs

At first glance, managing IT in-house seems like a smart move. You hire a couple of IT professionals, set up some internal systems, and assume you’re in control. It sounds cost-effective, right?

But the reality is very different. DIY IT often costs more than outsourcing to a Managed Service Provider (MSP)—and not just in dollars. The hidden costs come in the form of downtime, security risks, lost productivity, and missed business opportunities.

Companies that try to handle IT alone are realizing that they are spending more time fixing problems than growing their business. That’s why more businesses are making the switch to Managed Services—to cut costs, improve security, and scale with ease.

Let’s break down the real price of DIY IT and why MSPs are the smarter choice.

Downtime Costs More Than You Think

IT downtime costs businesses an average of $9,000 per minute.

Picture this: Your team is working on a major project, and suddenly, your systems crash. Employees can’t access files, emails stop working, and your customers are left frustrated. Every second of downtime is costing you money.

What DIY IT Looks Like:

• Your small IT team is overwhelmed, trying to troubleshoot while business grinds to a halt.
• There’s no 24/7 monitoring, so issues aren’t caught before they escalate.
• Fixing problems takes hours (or days), and by then, the damage is done.

How MSPs Solve This:

• Proactive IT monitoring prevents problems before they happen.
• 24/7 support ensures immediate issue resolution.
• Regular system maintenance keeps operations smooth and prevents costly breakdowns.

Cybersecurity is a Full-Time Job (And DIY IT Can’t Keep Up)

Cyberattacks Hit Unprecedented Levels in Q3 2024. Organizations experienced a sharp rise in cyber threats, averaging 1,876 attacks per company. This marks a 75% surge from the same period in 2023 and a 15% jump from the previous quarter, highlighting an alarming escalation in cybersecurity risks.

Cybercrime is skyrocketing, and most in-house IT teams simply don’t have the resources or expertise to keep up. Without strong cybersecurity, your business is exposed to:

• Ransomware attacks that lock you out of your own systems.
• Phishing scams that trick employees into revealing sensitive data.
• Data breaches that result in lawsuits, fines, and reputational damage.

With in-house team:

• You are juggling day-to-day troubleshooting with security, leaving gaps in protection.
• Security patches and updates are missed due to workload overload.
• You’re reactive instead of proactive, only addressing threats after they happen.

With a reliable Managed Service Provider you get:

• AI-powered threat detection & 24/7 monitoring to prevent breaches.
• Automated security updates & compliance management to protect your business.
• Cybersecurity training for employees to reduce human error risks.

Hiring & Retaining IT Talent is Expensive

Hiring experienced IT professionals isn’t cheap. The demand for cybersecurity experts, cloud specialists, and data analysts is higher than ever, making salaries skyrocket. Moreover, 67% of digital transformation initiatives are delayed due to skill shortages.

According to studies, average annual salary for IT managers is $149,989+ and hiring costs for skilled IT professionals: $28,329 + per hire. Moreover, the cost of losing an IT employee includes disrupted work, hiring expenses, and training a replacement—all of which can add up quickly and impact business efficiency.

Here’s what DIY IT looks like: 

• Small IT teams are overworked, leading to burnout and high turnover rates.
• You’re constantly hiring and training new people, which drains time and money.
• You lack specialized expertise, meaning bigger IT projects get delayed or done incorrectly.

MSPs solve this by:

• Providing access to a full team of IT experts without the high hiring costs.
• Scalabling support—you only pay for the services you need.
• Giving ongoing IT strategy & consulting to help your business stay ahead.

Take the example of a growing e-commerce brand that needs a cloud specialist but cannot afford a full-time hire. After outsourcing Managed Services, they can access a team of cloud experts for dramatically less the cost of one internal hire.

Scaling IT is Hard Without MSP Support

📌 Stat: 60% of companies rely on MSPs to manage their cloud security and infrastructure. (Forrester, 2024)

As businesses grow, their IT needs become more complex. You need cloud services, better security, new software integrations, and 24/7 support. But scaling an in-house IT team to handle these changes is time-consuming and costly. According to surveys, 60% of large companies rely on MSPs to manage their cloud and IT infrastructure. Here are some DIY IT challenges:

• Expanding your IT team is expensive and slow.
• Upgrading infrastructure is disruptive and complicated without the right expertise.
• Limited scalability—your IT team struggles to keep up with business growth.

With MSPs you get:

✅ Seamless cloud migration & management for scaling businesses.

✅ On-demand IT resources to handle rapid growth.

✅ No disruption to daily operations when expanding IT infrastructure.

Is DIY IT Really Worth It?

Many businesses assume that keeping IT in-house saves money, but the reality is clear:

• Hidden costs from downtime, security risks, and hiring add up fast.
• In-house IT teams can’t provide 24/7 monitoring, proactive maintenance, or AI-driven security.
• Scaling IT becomes a challenge, slowing down business growth.

The solution? Switch to a Managed Service Provider. Businesses that outsource Managed Services, save money, improve efficiency, and protect their operations—without the headaches of DIY IT.

At Rethinking Consulting Services (RTCS), we specialize in helping businesses cut IT costs, prevent cyber threats, and scale effortlessly with managed services

Want to see how an MSP can work for you?

Book a free consultation today!