Let’s face it: IT can be confusing. Even the terms we use to describe computer operations are often misunderstood. This may lead to confusion and frustration.
Three popular types of IT services include managed services, hosted services, and cloud services. Understanding the difference between these popular types of IT services can help you make smarter decisions about your business’s technology needs going forward.
Keep reading to learn about managed services vs. hosted services vs. cloud services and the benefits of managed services.
Managed Services
Let’s look at what managed services are: they’re an IT outsourcing model that covers the entire IT system. This includes software, hardware, and networking.
Managed service providers (MSPs) manage your entire network and provide support and maintenance for it. They can also provide upgrades and enhancements to the system. This includes security, backup, disaster recovery, etc.
Managed services can be provided on-premises or in the cloud. However, they have traditionally been seen as less cost-effective than hosted or cloud solutions.
This is because of their higher overhead costs associated with supporting in-house hardware/software as opposed to using third-party infrastructure hosted elsewhere.
Hosted Services
The key difference between hosted services and managed services is that the provider maintains the hardware. Hosting providers are mainly responsible for backing up your data.
They are also responsible for doing scheduled maintenance and upgrading software and hardware as needed. They will provide support if something goes wrong with your server—you name it.
This means that if something happens on their side of things, they’re responsible for getting it fixed quickly. In addition, they often have staff members available 24/7 in case anything goes wrong at all hours of the day or night.
Cloud Services
Cloud services are hosted on the internet and accessed via an internet browser. They’re usually cheaper than renting your own servers. That’s because you’re not paying for the hardware necessary to run them.
Cloud services are also more secure than hosting your own servers because they’re run in a data center that has security measures built in. So, if someone hacks into your private network, they won’t have access to any other people’s data or information.
Finally, cloud services can be scaled up or down depending on demand. If sales suddenly skyrocket during the holidays but then drop off again you can scale back from 24/7 service. Instead, you can just receive coverage during business hours.
This will save money on unnecessary resources at all times of day/night when there aren’t enough users active on your website at once (which happens often with sites like Twitter).
Summing Up These IT Services
You’ve probably heard of managed services, hosted services, and cloud services. However, it can be challenging to understand the differences between them and how they apply to your IT needs.
We’ve clarified some common misconceptions about these three options as well as provide an overview of what each type offers.
If you’re in need of IT services in Orlando, Bayshore Interactive is here for you. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.
