If you've been looking to outsource IT functions there's probably two terms you see quite frequently: it services and managed services. But what's the difference? There can be quite a bit of overlap and interchangeability between the two, but they do usually imply different things:
IT Services
The term "it services" is usually a higher-level catch-all term for any consulting, management, or integration services in the world of tech. It can be used to refer to general tech strategy consultants, software developers, phone and email providers, hardware distributors, and more. These services can be in-house, outsourced, or some combination of the two.
Managed Services
The term "managed services" is a bit more specific and refers to a subset of IT services. Managed services usually refer to an offering by a managed service provider ("MSP") who will setup, manage, and monitor most or all of a company's IT infrastructure, whether that's phones, printers, workstations, fax machines, etc. This is almost always accompanied by helpdesk services, with the idea that the client can completely offload all IT needs, both during the startup of their business and in day-to-day operations.
If you're curious, Cosmistack does both! We primarily offer managed services, but are also available for general consulting and special project support. No job is too big or small! We'd love to learn how we can help - reach out to us today!
