Why Cheap MSPs Cost You More

The hidden economics of managed IT

Many businesses choose Managed Service Providers (MSPs) based on price alone until they discover:

• The “Bare Minimum” Trap: 62% of low-cost MSPs only meet SLAs 70% of the time (Ponemon Institute)

• Security Neglect: No real 24/7 monitoring = average breach cost of $4.45M (IBM)

• Vendor Lock-In: Cheap MSPs often use proprietary tools that make switching painful

Smart businesses look for:
✔ Transparent Pricing (no hidden fees for “emergencies”)
✔ Proactive Patching (prevents 85% of attacks)
✔ Clear Exit Clauses (you own your passwords/data)

*Example: A local accounting firm saved $28k/year by switching from a break-fix model to an ITGuys flat-rate MSP plan—with 99.9% uptime.*

What I’d Do If I Was Searching for a Managed Service Provider Near Me

An IT insider’s cheat sheet

Step 1: The “Friday 4:55 PM Test”

• Call their help desk—do you get a human or a voicemail?

Step 2: Demand a Network Health Report

• Real MSPs will expose risks (like outdated firewalls) for free

Step 3: Stalk Their Clients

• Check LinkedIn for unsolicited endorsements from actual users

Step 4: Ask for a Disaster Recovery Drill

• Do they have a tested plan, or just promises?

The ITGuys Solution

At ITGuys, our outsourced IT model covers day-to-day issues, long-term planning, and everything in between.

• Helpdesk Support – Quick answers, remote fixes, and onsite visits when needed.
• Monitoring and Patching – We watch your systems 24/7, apply updates, and prevent downtime.
• Cybersecurity – Firewalls, antivirus, phishing protection, and MFA. 
• Cloud Management – Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and hybrid solutions. 
• Backup & Disaster Recovery – Automated backups, restore tests, and business continuity planning.
• Vendor Management – We deal with ISPs, software providers, and vendors, so you don’t waste hours on hold.
• IT Consulting – Planning and strategy built into your support.