Overcoming the IT Skills Gap: Managed Services or Staffing?

Overcoming the IT Skills Gap:

Managed Services or Staffing?

Overcoming the IT Skills Gap: Managed Services or Staffing?

Massive layoffs by tech companies have put more than 125,000 people back into the job market, but it has not made a dent in the IT skills shortage. According to workforce analytics firm CyberSeek, the global tech worker shortfall now stands at about 3.5 million people, with 68 workers per 100 job openings in the U.S.

Widespread migration to the cloud hasn’t eased the tech shortage, either. Think about it: Companies may need fewer IT professionals, but cloud providers need more. And cloud providers and other tech giants can afford to pay these pros more and offer better career opportunities than organizations in other sectors.

These forces are having a very real effect on organizations’ IT strategies. In a recent survey, two-thirds of organizations said a lack of skilled IT staff hindered their ability to leverage key technologies, including analytics, automation and edge computing. A number of organizations have reported that they’re consolidating systems and performing forklift upgrades of their IT infrastructure because they can’t find enough people with the right skill sets.

To avoid falling behind and potentially crippling your business, you can outsource IT operations to a managed services provider or hire additional staff. Each option has benefits depending upon your requirements.

The Case for Managed Services

You can focus on your core business. IT may be critical to your company’s growth, but IT operational tasks are probably not among the core business activities that made your company successful. Managed services enable you to outsource these functions so you can focus on strategy and new initiatives.
You can control costs and operate more efficiently. With managed services, you pay a predictable monthly budget for the work performed and the results produced. You gain greater productivity, increased uptime, more efficient operations and reduced overhead.
You can maintain flexibility and adaptability. Managed services allow you to ramp up and scale back your IT operations as needed to meet changing business requirements.
You can avoid recruiting and training — and gain 24x7 operations without staffing multiple shifts. Forget about job listings, interviews, training or learning curves. With managed services, your outsourced IT team has the skills needed to hit the ground running. And they’re available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to meet mission-critical requirements.
You don’t have to worry about a “bad hire.” The MSP has a vested interest in applying the right resources to meet your requirements. Additionally, qualified MSPs have a deep bench of engineers who oversee and collaborate with one another and work together to ensure a successful outcome.

The Case for Staffing

You can gain the resources you need to drive strategic projects within your organization. If a particular initiative is integral to your operations or creates competitive advantages, it often makes sense to bring on staff. The right individuals will help shape the technology around your specific business needs.
You can maintain complete control of your resources. You can closely monitor everyone onsite and make sure each individual is aligned with your business processes and goals.
You can leverage new and existing resources. Staffing enables you to bring in new skills and knowledge that can be transferred to your employees to improve their job performance and productivity.
You can promote and enhance collaboration. Don’t underestimate the power of a close-knit team that can instantly share ideas face-to-face. This can improve morale while reducing confusion and corrections.

The Case for Working with a Provider that Offers Both

Managed services may be a better fit for certain operational requirements, while staffing is ideal for other types of projects. Sometimes these needs will overlap. Wouldn’t you rather get the best of both worlds from one company?

DeSeMa offers managed services, technical recruiting, supplemental staffing and talent-on-demand services to help keep your IT operations and initiatives moving forward efficiently and effectively. Instead of constantly trying to fill skills gaps, you can take full advantage of technology to advance your business using the model that best meets your needs and budget.