Managed IT Support vs In-house IT Hire — Which Is Right for You?

Sooner or later, every company with more than 10–15 employees reaches the same question: we need IT support — do we hire someone or look for an IT company? There's no universal answer, but the numbers rarely lie. Let's compare the two options honestly.

What's included in subscription IT support?

Under the subscription model, a company like BGS takes over full responsibility for your IT infrastructure for a fixed monthly fee. This includes:

• proactive 24/7 monitoring of the network and devices
• helpdesk support for issues (remotely and, when needed, on-site)
• patch management — operating system and software updates
• managing antivirus protection and the firewall
• backup monitoring and testing
• planning and consulting on hardware purchases

The key advantage: you get access to a whole team of specialists with different skill sets — networking, security, servers, cloud — for less than the cost of a single employee.

The Real Cost of an In-House IT Specialist

When companies look at the cost of an in-house IT hire, they typically see only the gross salary. The reality includes a lot more:

• Gross salary: €1,500–€2,000/month (for an experienced specialist in Sofia)
• Employer social contributions: ~18% → €270–€360/month
• Equipment: laptop, licenses, tools → €1,500–€2,500 one-off
• Training and certifications: €1,000–€2,000/year
• Holiday pay, sick leave, social benefits
• Turnover risk: when an employee leaves — months without coverage and recruitment costs

The real cost of an in-house IT specialist is €2,000–€3,000/month — without counting one-off investments.

Comparison: Outsourced IT vs In-House Hire

Which Companies Are a Good Fit for Outsourced IT?

Outsourced IT support is especially well-suited for:

• companies with 5 to 80 employees, where an in-house IT hire is too expensive
• companies with offices in different locations that need remote support
• businesses that need specialised security but don't have an internal security team
• growing companies whose IT needs change quickly
• organisations transitioning to cloud infrastructure

An in-house IT specialist is justified when you have over 100 employees, a specific internal infrastructure, or regulatory requirements that demand internal control.

What Does the Process Look Like at BGS?

We start with a free audit of your current infrastructure — we understand what you have, what's missing, and what the risks are. Based on the audit, we put together a proposal with a specific package and price. Once the contract is signed, we take full responsibility for your IT infrastructure within 1–2 working weeks.

Each of our clients gets: a named account manager, a direct phone and email for emergencies, a monthly report covering activities and issues found, and access to our ticketing system.

Ready to calculate the real cost? Get in touch with BGS for a free consultation and we'll prepare a personalised quote.