Definition of Software Support vs. Managed Services

In 2019, it was reported that tech spending was estimated to reach $4 trillion. This goes to show that the information technology industry is still growing, but what is the difference between IT management and IT support?

If you are a business owner who relies on software support, then it's important to know how managed services work. 

There are a few different types of information technology services available to you. However, two of the most popular services are information technology support and managed services.

While they may sound similar, there are a few key differences between the two.

So if you would like to know the difference between software support levels and options for software support then keep reading. 

What Is IT Management?

While IT management is a fairly straightforward service, many businesses get confused by what it is and how it can help them. So we have covered more on IT management below.

IT management refers to the way that you organize and monitor your business's technology systems.

With managed IT, your business can focus more on putting different types of systems in place to help store your information better. 

There are multiple different aspects to IT management including how it is operated.

For example, managed IT support can be about the kinds of teams that you have in place to operate it. This can mean that you may appoint a specific team to manage your information technology for you.

You may also have to consider the types of IT tools that you use to manage your information technology. 

As well as the tools you use, you may need to be more detailed about what kind of structure you have in place with information technology. 

It is worth noting that businesses that want to progress long-term must understand how to integrate information technology and IT management is a great way to do this.

What Is IT Support?

If you don't know the definition of IT support then it is easy to get confused. IT support refers to the team that provides information technology support to companies and organizations.

The team that provides support is usually made of professionals who are competent experts in their field.

This kind of IT support for small businesses is usually more of internal business support. IT support can also consist of tools, regular software upgrades, and other resources to help the professionals to complete their jobs.

For example, one of the tools that get used is technology products for computers. These technology products can ensure that information is more easily stored and managed.

Another tool that can be used is information technology software. This kind of software has multiple uses including helping to provide technical support and protection.

Of course, these are only a few examples of the kind of tools that IT support can have and there are many more. 

What Are the Key Differences? 

When it comes to IT support vs IT management there are a few key differences that you should be aware of. We have listed some of the top differences below.

The Type of Support That Is Provided 

One of the biggest key differences between IT support and IT management is the fact that they both offer different services. For example, IT support is more about having an internal business support team who are there to fix any IT issues.

However, IT management is different meaning that oftentimes the support is not internal and it business can seek external help from IT management. 

The Level of Expertise They Provide

Another difference between IT support and IT management is the fact that they both provide different levels of support. While IT support can be incredibly useful it is often limited.

If there is a problem within the business's information technology system, the IT support team may need to outsource a specialist to solve it. However, IT management teams are normally higher skilled so they may not have to call in support because they can solve problems on their own.

Pricing 

Often times the reason why businesses use internal IT support is that it is cheaper than having IT management. Because IT management normally consists of highly skilled professionals, it costs more. 

This is why IT management tends to only be used whenever there is a problem that the IT support team cannot fix. However, even though IT support costs less than IT management, it doesn't necessarily mean that you get better value for money overall. 

Which One Should You Choose?

Your business will have its own information technology needs and these needs may be different from other businesses. It's important to know what level of service your business will require so that you can choose the right IT team. 

While we have mentioned that IT support is normally cheaper than IT management, there are some affordable options out there. So when choosing which service you want to use, it's important to keep this in mind.

Generally, IT support will help you to meet all of your IT needs and you don't necessarily have to spend more just to have an IT management team in place.

However, if you have a business that heavily relies on IT and ensuring that it runs smoothly, then IT management services may be for you.

In general, IT support can offer you great all-around support and you will have a skilled team that can prioritize your needs if an IT issue ever arises.

If you would like to get started with IT support services today, then why not view our services here.  

Get More Information on Software Support Services 

Choosing the right software support service doesn't have to be a challenge. There are many different options out there and it's all about finding what works for your business.

If you would like to learn more about IT services and how we can help you, then why not get in touch now.