If your Carmel or Indianapolis business is relying on “call us when it breaks” tech support, it might be costing you more than you realize.
There are two main models of IT support: Managed IT Services and Break/Fix. One is proactive and strategic. The other is reactive and unpredictable. Let's break down the difference—and what makes more sense financially and operationally for growing healthcare practices and small businesses in Central Indiana.
What Is Break/Fix IT Support?
Break/fix is exactly what it sounds like. When something goes wrong—your server crashes, your email won’t sync, your network goes down—you call a tech to come fix it.
Pros:
- Pay only when you need help
- No monthly fees
Cons:
- No preventive maintenance
- Downtime is longer and more expensive
- Issues often recur
- Costs are unpredictable
- No strategic guidance or long-term planning
Break/fix can work for small teams with minimal infrastructure. But as soon as your operations rely on uptime, compliance, and cybersecurity, it becomes risky.
What Are Managed IT Services?
Managed IT is a proactive model. You pay a monthly fee for ongoing monitoring, maintenance, cybersecurity, backups, help desk support, and strategic planning.
Pros:
- Predictable monthly costs
- Prevents problems before they happen
- Includes regular software updates and security patches
- Faster response time
- IT strategy aligned with your business goals
Cons:
- Monthly investment (but usually far less than ad-hoc support)
- Requires trust in your IT partner (which is why local matters!)
For healthcare practices and small businesses navigating HIPAA, remote work, and cloud migration, managed services deliver far more value and protection.
Which Model Saves You More in the Long Run?
Let’s do the math.
With Break/Fix:
- Server crash = $1,200+ repair
- Downtime = lost productivity, appointments, and revenue
- No updates = vulnerability to ransomware or compliance fines
- No strategy = costly tech surprises
With Managed IT:
- Flat-rate pricing covers support, maintenance, monitoring
- Most issues are prevented or resolved before they disrupt
- Upgrades and security are budgeted, not emergency expenses
- Strategic planning helps you scale without surprises
💡 In our experience, break/fix costs a typical small business 2–3x more per year—once you factor in downtime, data loss, and emergency labor.
When Is Break/Fix Still Viable?
- Your business has <5 people and minimal tech
- You can afford occasional downtime
- You don’t store sensitive data or require compliance
For everyone else—especially medical and professional offices—it’s not worth the risk.
Thinking of Switching to Managed IT?
If you're ready to ditch the IT rollercoaster, we can help. PropellerHeads specializes in providing managed IT services to small businesses and healthcare practices in Carmel and Indianapolis.
Our plans are affordable, transparent, and designed to grow with you.
