In a world increasingly dependent on technology, the shortage of IT personnel has become a major challenge for many companies. According to the Journal de Montréal (2023), there are currently only 0.4 unemployed people per vacancy in professional, scientific and technical services, a figure that speaks volumes about the growing demand for IT skills. Furthermore, a study by Gartner (2022) indicates that only 29% of IT workers intend to stay in their current job, underlining the volatility of the job market in this sector. Finally, according to TECHNOCompétences, the Comité sectoriel de main-d’œuvre (CSMO) des technologies de l’information et de la communication, attracting qualified candidates has become the main challenge for companies.  

Faced with this situation, it is essential for companies to find innovative solutions to manage their IT infrastructure efficiently, while minimizing the costs and risks associated with IT staff shortages. This is where outsourcing, also known as IT managed services, comes in.  

What is outsourcing? 

Outsourcing is a form of IT outsourcing that involves delegating the management of part or all of a company’s information system to a specialized third-party supplier. This delegation may concern various aspects, including hardware, operating systems, applications and user support.  

Here are the major differences between outsourcing and in-house IT management:  

• Specialized outsourcing: With outsourcing, the management of IT services is entrusted to third-party experts, whereas in-house IT management relies on an in-house team often made up of IT generalists.  
• Human resources management: With outsourcing, the service provider takes charge of recruitment, training and human resources management, whereas in-house management involves the complete management of these aspects.  
• Expertise and experience: Outsourcing provides access to a team of experts with specialized skills and extensive experience in different IT environments.  
• Flexible pricing model: Outsourcing costs are based on a fixed or pay-per-use pricing model, enabling greater control over expenses, unlike in-house management, which includes salaries, benefits and staff training costs. 
• Responsibility and availability: With outsourcing, the service provider is responsible for the availability, security and performance of IT systems 24/7, relieving the company of this burden.  
• Focus on core business: Managed services enable companies to concentrate on their core business, leaving IT management to the experts.  

Benefits for your organization  

By opting for outsourcing, your organization can benefit from a number of advantages, including:  

• Reduced costs associated with human resources management, such as hiring, training and vacations.  
• Access to a team of IT experts and specialists to quickly resolve problems and implement best practices.  
• Improved responsiveness of IT support, ensuring greater productivity and peace of mind when it comes to cybersecurity.  
• Availability of IT resources at all times, ensuring operational continuity.  
• Proactive management of IT infrastructure and cybersecurity, with the service provider assuming these responsibilities.  
• Access to carefully selected high-end tools to optimize your IT operations.  

Our 3 packages: find what you’re looking for! 

We understand that every company has specific IT needs. That’s why we offer three outsourcing packages to meet a variety of requirements:  

• Basic Managed Services: Ideal for organizations with a limited budget, but wanting full IT support and optimum management of their IT assets. This package is suitable for companies with moderate risk tolerance and basic security needs.  
• Secure outsourcing: Designed for companies with a strong focus on security and a desire to implement advanced protection practices. It improves your organization’s security posture.  

• Premium Managed Services: Perfect for organizations concerned about the health of their technology infrastructure, with a focus on maximizing security solutions. This package offers comprehensive support and proactive advice.  

Case studies  

To give you an idea of how outsourcing can have a positive impact on your organization as a whole, let’s take a look at the case study of one of MS Solutions’ customers.   

This company of 25 employees had no dedicated in-house IT staff. IT issues were handled in part by its finance director. 

In anticipation of its growth, the company chose to call on MS Solutions for secure outsourcing. MS Solutions took charge of the support and monitoring of the company’s IT infrastructure, servers and M365 environment, as well as the cybersecurity aspect.  

As a result of this organizational change, the company grew from 25 to 35 employees in just a few months, won major contracts and gained in efficiency thanks to outsourcing!   

MS Solutions was also able to assist this customer in complying with Bill 25, structuring its SharePoint document management system, obtaining cyberinsurance, and raising employee awareness of cybersecurity using the Vigilance platform.  

Criteria for choosing an outsourcing provider  

When choosing an outsourcing partner, consider the following criteria:  

• Third-party certification validating the security of operations and services (e.g. ISO 27001)  
• Cyber insurance to cover your damages if an attack originates from the provider’s environment  
• A solid reputation, longevity in business and customer references in your sector  
• Stable, experienced technical resources, in place for several years  
• Transparent and stable pricing  
• Related services for your other IT needs 
• A communications strategy to keep you abreast of new technologies and imminent threats  
• A human resources team to support your staff (recruitment, training, evaluation)  
• Geographic coverage to match your needs  

In short 

In conclusion, the shortage of IT staff is a worrying reality for many companies, but it doesn’t have to stand in the way of their growth and operational efficiency. Outsourcing is emerging as an invaluable solution for overcoming this major challenge. This IT outsourcing model offers a flexible, cost-effective alternative to in-house IT management. It enables companies to focus on their core business, while benefiting from access to a team of experts, specialized resources, and even, depending on the option chosen, proactive cybersecurity management. 

Whether you opt for basic outsourcing, secure outsourcing or premium outsourcing, these packages are designed to meet the specific needs of your organization. They offer tangible benefits, such as reduced human resources management costs, improved IT support responsiveness, increased resource availability, 24/7 security management, and access to state-of-the-art tools. The example of a company that opted for outsourcing and reaped the rewards perfectly illustrates the benefits of this approach. Not only did it gain in efficiency, but it also saw its growth accelerate and its security strengthened. 

Finally, the choice of a managed services provider should not be taken lightly. It is essential to look for partners with security certifications, adequate cyber-insurance, a solid reputation, stable and experienced resources, transparent pricing, complementary services and a proactive view of technology. Managed services offer an exceptional opportunity for companies to transform the way they manage their IT infrastructure. It enables them to thrive in an ever-changing digital environment, while focusing on what really matters: their business success. Don’t let IT staff shortages hinder your growth – explore the invaluable benefits of outsourcing today.  

If you’d like to find out more about our outsourcing offerings, please don’t hesitate to contact our team of experts!    

This article features content discussed during a previous webinar. To watch a replay of that webinar (french only), click here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive invitations to future webinars.