What is a 'Managed Service Provider' (MSP) and Do You Need One?

Published: June 17, 2025

As you look for IT support for your business, you'll encounter two main models: the "break-fix" model and "Managed Services." Understanding the difference is key to choosing the right partner for your company's future.

The "Break-Fix" Model: Reactive Support

This is the traditional model of IT support. When something breaks—a server goes down, a computer gets a virus, email stops working—you call an IT technician for help. They come in, fix the specific problem, and send you a bill for their time and any parts used. It's purely reactive.

  • Pros: You only pay when something goes wrong.
  • Cons: You pay for downtime, there's no incentive for the provider to prevent problems, costs are unpredictable, and fixes are often temporary patches rather than long-term solutions.

The Managed Services Model: Proactive Partnership

A Managed Service Provider, or MSP, takes a completely different approach. Instead of waiting for things to break, an MSP works proactively to prevent problems from happening in the first place. You typically pay a flat monthly fee for this service.

An MSP partnership means they take on the responsibility for your IT environment. This includes:

  • 24/7 Monitoring: Actively monitoring your systems to detect and resolve issues before they can cause downtime.
  • Proactive Maintenance: Regularly applying security patches, updating software, and managing backups to keep your systems healthy and secure.
  • Strategic Planning: Acting as your virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO), providing expert advice and helping you budget for future technology needs.
  • Predictable Costs: A flat monthly fee covers all support, making IT costs a predictable operational expense.

In this model, the MSP is incentivized to keep your systems running smoothly, because the fewer problems you have, the more profitable the relationship is for them. Your goals and their goals are perfectly aligned: maximum uptime and efficiency.

While The Tec Wizard can operate on a break-fix basis for smaller issues, we specialise in providing proactive, managed IT services for businesses in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire who want a true technology partner. If you're tired of reactive IT firefighting and want a stable, secure system, let's talk about a managed approach.