Is it time to outsource IT?
If you, a relative, or a part-time “computer guy” have been keeping the lights on, you’ve probably felt the clock running. This guide walks through the signs you need managed IT, how outsourcing compares with doing it yourself or hiring, and what switching to ShowTech Solutions actually looks like.
Rather talk it through? Call 813-793-4700. A real person picks up.
Typical time for a real person to answer the phone at ShowTech.
Live help desk, every day of the year, including holidays.
Help desk client satisfaction over the last 12 months.
Ten signs it’s time to outsource IT
Every growing company hits a point where the way it handles technology stops matching the size of the business. Check the statements that sound familiar and watch the dial.
How many hours a week does IT eat?
Count everyone: the owner resetting passwords, the office manager on hold with the internet provider, staff staring at a frozen laptop. Then slide.
A rough estimate based on 52 weeks and a 40-hour workweek. It doesn’t count downtime, lost sales or the cost of a breach.
That’s roughly 13% of one full-time employee’s year, spent on IT instead of on your business.
DIY, hire, or outsource: an honest comparison
There are really only three ways a small business runs IT. Here’s how they stack up on the things that matter day to day, with no price tags, because the right fit depends on your size and needs.
| Criteria | Option ADIY / part-time helper | Option BIn-house IT hire | Option C · RecommendedShowTech Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who answers when something breaks | Limited: Whoever is free, often the owner | Moderate: One person, during their working hours | Strong: A live help desk, 24/7/365. A real person typically answers in under 4 minutes |
| Nights, weekends & holidays | Weak: Usually waits until Monday | Limited: Only if they agree to be on call | Strong: Covered around the clock |
| Vacation & sick days | Weak: Coverage disappears | Limited: Coverage disappears | Strong: A whole team, so no single point of failure |
| Depth of expertise | Limited: Whatever they’ve picked up along the way | Moderate: Strong in some areas, thin in others | Strong: Specialists in security, Microsoft 365, networks, backup and phones |
| Security monitoring | Weak: Antivirus, maybe | Moderate: Depends on their tools and free time | Strong: 24/7 monitoring, endpoint detection & response, DNS filtering, monthly phishing training |
| Backups | Limited: Set up once, rarely tested | Moderate: Checked when there’s time | Strong: Monitored in real time, including Microsoft 365 email, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams |
| Planning & budgeting | Weak: None. Everything is reactive | Moderate: Possible, if they’re senior enough | Strong: Quarterly vCIO meetings with an IT roadmap and budget |
| Cost predictability | Weak: Unpredictable repair bills | Limited: Salary, benefits, training, tools and turnover | Strong: One flat monthly rate, no hidden fees |
| Growing headcount | Limited: Gets harder with every hire | Limited: Eventually means a second hire | Strong: Scales with you as you add people and locations |
A good in-house IT person is a real asset. The trouble is asking one human to be the help desk, the security team, the network engineer and the budget planner, all at once and around the clock. If you already have someone, the next section is for you.
Keep your IT person. Give them a team.
Outsourcing isn’t all-or-nothing. With co-managed IT, your internal IT lead keeps doing what they do best: knowing your people, your quirks and your priorities. ShowTech fills in everything one person can’t realistically cover, from overnight security monitoring to vacation backup.
You decide the split, and it can change as you grow. Many Tampa Bay companies start co-managed and adjust the mix over time. There’s no ego in it for us; the goal is that your IT person stops drowning and your business stops waiting.
Owns the inside
- Day-to-day requests from the people they know
- Business-specific apps and workflows
- Internal projects and priorities
- The relationships only they have
Covers the rest
- After-hours and overflow help desk
- 24/7 security monitoring and response
- Patching, backup and network monitoring
- Microsoft 365 administration
- Escalations, specialist projects, vacation coverage
From first call to covered
Changing how you handle IT sounds disruptive. In practice it’s a calm, planned handoff that happens around your schedule, not in the middle of your busiest day.
- 01Phase one
Assessment
A free IT checkup. We look at your network, computers, accounts, backups and security, and ask what’s working and what drives you crazy.
- 02Phase two
Plan
You get plain-English findings, fixes ranked by priority, and a flat monthly rate. No pressure. You decide whether and how to move forward.
- 03Phase three
Onboarding
We document everything, secure your passwords, set up monitoring and protection, and coordinate politely with whoever helped before.
- 04Phase four
Ongoing support
Your team calls one number, any hour. Behind the scenes: proactive maintenance, onsite visits when needed, and quarterly planning.
Every business is different, so we don’t quote a schedule before we’ve seen your setup. After the assessment, you’ll get a realistic timeline you can plan around.
One plan. One flat monthly rate.
ShowTech One bundles the support, security and planning a growing business needs into a single flat monthly rate with no hidden fees. Your rate depends on your size and needs.
Support
- 24/7 live help desk
- Onsite support across Tampa Bay
- Help desk portal
- New-hire setup & procurement
Security
- Endpoint detection & response
- DNS filtering
- Microsoft 365 security monitoring
- Monthly phishing simulations
Protection
- Real-time network & backup monitoring
- Automated patching
- Microsoft 365 backup
- Health alerts & change auditing
Strategy
- Quarterly vCIO meetings
- IT roadmap & budgeting
- Risk assessments
- Compliance guidance & audit prep
Local, owner-run, and still answering the phone.
ShowTech Solutions has served Tampa Bay for more than 16 years from our office in downtown Tampa, with onsite support from Clearwater to St. Pete and beyond. We work with nonprofits, schools, law firms, CPAs, real estate offices and manufacturers.
- SecurityGTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark
- 2025Channel Partners MSP 501
- 2026SonicWall Central Partner of the Year
- 2026MSP Titans of the Industry, Southeast Finalist
- CommunityOfficial IT partner of Tampa Bay Sun FC
Get a free IT assessment
Tell us a little about your business. A ShowTech team member (a real one, not a bot) will reach out to set up a no-pressure checkup and answer the big question: should you outsource IT yet?
Or call now 813-793-4700