Outsourcing IT support is an exploding trend in the UK, with many businesses benefitting from partnering with IT experts. In the two years leading up to 2024, 32% of UK businesses predicted they would outsource more of their IT support. Across most sectors surveyed, two out of three organisations planned to outsource as much or more in future (Source: PA Consulting).

But how do you know when the time is right to outsource your IT? If yours is a growing business, you want to be confident you’re investing in the right areas. (We know, we’ve been there!).

We’ve created this guide to help you figure out if outsourcing your IT might be beneficial in the not-too-distant future. Every business is different, but there are some common signs to look out for.

Of course, if you’d rather just speak to us about it, then drop us a note. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

Whether you have an IT team or a single employee who’s taken IT under their wing, the signs of an overwhelming IT ‘to-do list’ will be similar. Look out for:

• The people responsible for IT consistently saying there’s too much to do and not enough time to do it
• People across the business repeatedly saying it’s taking a long time to fix any IT issues
• Slower-than-expected systems, like internet access, file access and file loading remotely and in-office
• Lots of network downtime
• Customers reporting issues with your website or communications

All these issues suggest there’s higher demand on your IT team than they can support. Speaking to the people responsible may help identify the most valuable areas they need extra manpower to cover. Outsourcing can often lead to faster response times and better problem resolution, relieving a lot of staff frustration.

If your IT questions are often going unanswered, or you’re not confident in the responses you’re getting, it could be that your IT people are lacking the expertise you need. That’s not to say they’re not good at what they do – more that there are just some tasks out there that require highly technical skills and knowledge.

Maybe you have a technically demanding IT project that needs specific experience to be successful. Or perhaps your team has been making do while your business gets off the ground but now it’s time to get your network setup to a standard that supports a growing team.

Many businesses’ IT requirements vary as they grow, from video conferencing to network expansion, or from increased cyber security requirements to additional software licenses. It’s difficult for anyone to be an expert in all the areas of tech support that are required, which is why relying on a partner that is dedicated only to IT can be beneficial.

As a business grows, it’s common for business costs to grow. However, if you’ve noticed that your IT costs are increasing at an unexpected rate, it can be worth investigating the causes of this. You could be paying multiple suppliers for overlapping services or missing out on potential savings from bulk-buying software user licences.

If you suspect you’re spending too much on IT, a managed service provider should be able to review your existing setup and identify any opportunities to help bring your costs down as part of any IT support contract they offer.

Data breaches can be catastrophic for small businesses and the importance of cyber security cannot be overstated. If you’re not 100% confident that your business has the right systems and procedures in place to protect your staff and data from cyber attacks, it could be time to call in the experts.

Perhaps you’re about to increase the size of your team, move to a bigger office or take on a huge new customer. Growing businesses often look to outsource their IT support as external partners can provide the flexibility to help them scale. It also means the teams within your business can focus on their core activities rather than being distracted by troublesome IT tasks.

Once you’ve decided the time is right, you then need to find the right IT company to outsource to. We might be a bit biased, but we’ve also got years of experience in the business, so we like to think we know what we’re talking about. Here’s what we’d advise you to look for from your new IT partner:

Customer service you can trust

We’re committed to excellent customer service and pride ourselves on becoming part of our customers’ teams. From responding to helpdesk tickets quickly and efficiently, to regular onsite maintenance visits, we’re there when you need us. Don’t just take our word for it; check out our case study with happy client Lamb Building Chambers.

We are so delighted to have transferred our IT support to AJT Managed IT Services. They are extremely friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. Their level of service is literally top class.
Gary Goodger, Senior Clerk, Lamb Building

Local expertise

If you’re based in Brighton or Sussex, choosing a local IT partner means we can be there, onsite, when you need us. We can respond to requests in the same working hours as you, and we understand the business landscape of the area.

Proven track record

You need to know you’re trusting the right partner with your company’s cyber security and IT infrastructure. We have over 60 years’ combined experience across the team and we’ve never lost a customer to a competitor.

All round support

The IT requirements of a business evolve over time. Choosing a managed service provider that offers a comprehensive range of services and areas of expertise ensures you’re finding a long-term partner that can adapt their service to your changing needs as you grow.