IT security: Outsource or in-house?

When it comes to IT security, you want the best talent possible protecting your company, but you are also most likely on a budget. This conundrum ultimately leads companies to the question, “do we outsource our IT team or keep it in house?”

Outsourcing

Outsourcing IT has been a popular choice for many years because it is cost-effective. Many times it is less expensive to pay a monthly fee than to keep on 2 or 3 full-time staff members on board.

For that monthly fee, you are hiring well-trained security experts who can manage everything from your email to threat intelligence. The best part is that you are hiring a whole company for that fee. You have access to people who are experts in every aspect of IT and security versus hiring an individual team member who may only be knowledgeable in one or two distinct disciplines.

In-house

In-house IT security is on the rise. IT companies have reported that with each yearly renewal, companies are reducing the amount of services they outsource and are handling many of them in-house. Companies who switch from outsourcing to in-house IT cite a lack of innovation as the reason. They felt that their own IT team, with intimate knowledge of how the company works, could keep their business up-to-date with technology better than an outsourced team.

Security itself is also a factor in this decision. One 2013 report found that 63% of global data breaches were connected to a third-party element of companies’ IT system administration. Good IT companies exist, but not all businesses are willing to take the risk.

Why not both?

In many situations, it makes sense to use a combination of in-house and outsourced IT. Each option has benefits, so a combo effect helps you take advantage of both sides of the scenario.

Many companies are finding success in outsourcing the day-to-day tasks and keeping the innovation in-house. Daily tasks like setting up email accounts or fixing computer issues are time-consuming. If your in-house team is freed from that time commitment, they will have the ability to use their insider knowledge of your company and their technical expertise to keep your company and data safe and up-to-date with technology.

Unfortunately, there is no scientific formula for how much to do in-house and how much to outsource. You need to consider your company’s budget and needs to come up with the perfect combination.

Has your company made the switch or used a combination of in-house and outsourced IT services? Leave us a comment below about your opinions and experiences.