Comparison
Managed Services vs. In-house IT
Does an in-house IT team still pay off — or does a managed services provider deliver better security, availability and cost control? We compare both models for Swiss SMBs running Microsoft Cloud.
The three deciding factors
Cost transparency
Fixed service packages instead of fluctuating staff and tool costs. You know per month what Microsoft 365, Intune, Azure and Security cost — including maintenance, patching and support.
Specialised security expertise
ISO 27001 and CIS-aligned baselines, hardening, vulnerability management and incident response — without hiring your own security engineers.
24/7 availability
Round-the-clock standby, defined response times and documented SLAs — even on holidays, weekends and when individual staff are out.
Side-by-side comparison
Criteria that regularly decide evaluations at Swiss SMBs.
| Criterion | Managed Services | In-house IT |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Predictable, per user/device. Scales with the business. | High fixed costs for salaries, tools, licences, training. |
| Availability | 24/7 standby with SLA. | Office hours; holidays & sickness reduce coverage. |
| Security expertise | Dedicated team, ISO/CIS baselines, threat intelligence. | Generalists; security often a side role. |
| Compliance (revFADP, ISO 27001) | Documented processes, audit-ready reporting. | Has to be built from scratch; effort intensive. |
| Incident response time | Defined SLA, reachable 24/7. | Depends on individual staff availability. |
| Deep knowledge of internal processes | Built up during onboarding. | Strength of an in-house team. |
| Scalability | New users/sites in days. | New hires take months. |
| Tools & automation | Microsoft 365, Intune, Defender, Sentinel — in production use. | Procure, configure and maintain yourself. |
When cloud managed services win
- SMBs up to ~250 employees running Microsoft Cloud productively.
- High security & compliance bar, but no dedicated security team.
- Multiple locations, home office and mobile devices.
- Growth or restructuring: IT needs to flex with the business.
When in-house IT still makes sense
- Highly regulated industry with its own compliance department.
- Highly specialised line-of-business apps under daily development.
- More than ~250 employees with an existing IT organisation.
Ready for predictable IT costs?
Run your setup through the pricing calculator or book a no-commitment call.