Is managed IT cheaper than hiring in-house IT in Vancouver?

For most small and medium businesses, yes. A 10-person team can be fully managed for about CA$1,500 to $2,000 per month (roughly CA$150 to $200 per user), while a single in-house IT hire in Vancouver typically costs CA$70,000+ per year in salary alone, before benefits and tools.

When does hiring in-house IT make sense?

In-house IT generally makes sense once a business has around 40 or more employees with constant full-time IT demand, runs proprietary systems needing dedicated ownership, or requires someone physically on-site every day.

Is managed IT more secure than in-house IT?

Generally yes for small businesses, because a managed provider applies 24/7 monitoring, layered security tools, and current threat intelligence across many clients, which is hard for a single in-house hire to match.

Managed IT vs Hiring In-House IT for Your Vancouver Business

Quick answer: For most small and medium-sized businesses in Metro Vancouver, managed IT services are the better choice. Fully managed support for a 10-person team typically runs about CA$1,500 to $2,000 per month (roughly CA$150–$200 per user), versus CA$70,000+ per year for a single in-house hire in salary alone — and you get a whole team instead of one person, with no coverage gaps. Co-managed IT is a middle option that pairs your internal IT person with outside specialists. A dedicated in-house team usually only makes sense at 40+ staff or with highly specialized, full-time needs.

Cost: managed IT vs. in-house

A single in-house IT technician in Vancouver typically costs CA$70,000 or more per year in salary alone, before benefits, payroll taxes, training, and tools. Fully managed IT replaces that with a predictable monthly fee — roughly CA$150 to $200 per user — and you get an entire team rather than one person, with no cost when someone is sick or on vacation.

Breadth of expertise

One employee can’t be an expert in cybersecurity, cloud, networking, procurement, and compliance all at once. A managed provider brings specialists across all of those areas, plus established vendor relationships (and often preferential pricing) with companies like Microsoft, Cisco Meraki, and ESET.

The co-managed middle ground

If you already have an internal IT person, it isn’t all-or-nothing. Co-managed IT (typically CA$100 to $150 per user per month) keeps your in-house staff in control of day-to-day work while an outside provider adds cybersecurity, after-hours coverage, and specialist depth — usually for less than the cost of hiring a second IT employee. It’s a common path for growing businesses that have outgrown one person but aren’t ready for a full internal team.

When in-house makes sense

You have 40+ employees with constant, full-time IT demand.
You run proprietary systems that need dedicated, on-site ownership.
You need someone physically present every day.

Even then, many businesses pair an internal team with a co-managed provider for depth, after-hours coverage, and specialist projects.

Frequently asked questions

What is co-managed IT?

Co-managed IT pairs your internal IT staff with an external provider that fills specific gaps — cybersecurity, after-hours support, or specialist projects — while your team keeps ownership of day-to-day operations. It’s a middle ground between fully managed and fully in-house.

Is managed IT more secure than in-house?

Generally yes for small businesses, because a managed provider applies 24/7 monitoring, layered security tooling, and current threat intelligence across many clients — a level of coverage that’s hard for a single in-house hire to match.

Can we switch from in-house to managed IT later?

Yes. Many businesses transition gradually, often keeping an internal coordinator while a managed provider takes on monitoring, security, and help desk.

Not sure which fits your team? Book a free IT assessment and we’ll help you weigh it for your business.