For most software companies, the best answer is a blend: an outsourced IT partner handling security, infrastructure, support and the day-to-day, so your own engineers stay focused on building the product. A single in-house IT hire rarely covers security, networking, servers and helpdesk well, and is a risk if they are off or leave. An MSP gives you a whole team for less than the cost of one.
Here’s how to weigh it up for your firm.
1. The cost and cover question
One in-house IT person is a single point of failure and a broad skill set to ask of one role. An MSP brings a team across security, infrastructure and support for a predictable monthly fee, with no gaps when someone is on holiday or off sick.
2. Keep engineers on the product
In small tech firms, IT often falls to a developer who would rather be building. Handing the IT to a partner frees your most valuable people to do the work that grows the business.
3. Security and compliance depth
Keeping up with security, accreditations and client due-diligence is a job in itself. A good MSP does this every day and can help you reach standards like Cyber Essentials, which matters when clients ask how you protect their data.
4. When in-house still makes sense
Larger tech firms may want internal people for product-specific systems, with an MSP handling the wider IT and security. The blend gives you focus where you need it and breadth everywhere else.
A real example: a steady partnership
We supported a software company serving financial trading firms for years as their outsourced IT team, handling security, infrastructure and support across global offices so their engineers could focus on the product. The feedback was consistent: “Excellent service, they always know what to do to correct any issue.”
For most technology and trading firms, this sits within fully managed IT at about £45 to £100 per user per month, billed per user, with the security and resilience these businesses rely on built in.
Why technology and trading firms choose First Stop IT
First Stop IT has supported businesses since 2002, including software and technology companies and firms that serve financial markets. We know the systems these teams depend on: secure VPN and remote access, source control and build pipelines, virtual dev and test environments, Microsoft 365 and Teams, and the security that banks and regulators expect, from multi-factor authentication and endpoint protection to application allowlisting and email security. We work with technology and trading firms in London and across Essex and Hertfordshire. Our credentials include:
- Cyber Essentials Certified
- IASME Cyber Assurance (Gold)
- NCSC Assured Service Provider (Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials)
- Microsoft Partner
- Crown Commercial Service Supplier (G-Cloud)
- Quality Principles Certified
We look after more than 2,000 endpoints across 50 companies, we’ve been named a Top 50 UK MSP for three years running, and we support organisations with 10 to 100 employees across Essex, Hertfordshire and London, including Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford.
Book a free IT and cyber security review
Weighing up in-house versus outsourced? Book a free IT and cyber security review with First Stop IT and we’ll give you an honest view.