Q, Private Corps w/o IT Dept

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CRX-YEM

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So out of curiosity is it common for a company w/ ~$5Mil in sales not to have an IT dept. and just limp along hoping that all hell doesn't break loose ?? Thoughts please.
 
my target clients are those companies between 1m and 5m revenue. usually between 25-50 users and up to 75 devices.
 
Most small places either have a guy who can fake it 90% of the time, and perhaps have a 1-day a week guy from a real IT firm to do harder problems, etc.
 
I work both. I have 3 clients in the 5-10 million range, and I'm their I.T. guy.

That's my business. Providing I.T. services throughout small to medium businesses.

One of my clients is now at 150 employees. We just hired a "Full time" guy for their work week, to handle the little stuff. I come in every-so-often to pick up slack or fix big problems.

In fact, in my business, I support about 300 people single handedly, from NYC to Hartford. I still get time off.
 
i would say it depends on staff/product
I have a few clients that hit 1m-5m with only a handful of people
most of it is just pass through
i've also got a client that doesn't hit 1m, but has someone on call all the time
 
Most companies that size outsource their IT work to people like Cel.

Hell my 20,000 employee company outsources our IT to HP. And HP sucks.. :(
 
And I'm sure they're happier now.

I don't think it makes much sense to have such a large organization outsource its IT.
 
outsourcing is all the rage
think of the health insurance and payroll tax savings alone
doesn't matter if the work is subpar and your tech support phone line gets answered in india
 
I think it should matter right?

Case in point. Thursday had a global Exchange outage for 3 hours. Yesterday a global exchange outage for 8 hours. Today another outage for 5 hours.

You can imagine how much work gets affected by not having something so simple as email. I'm sure that hurts bottom line.
 
We have taken a client from HP managed services :)

HP Managed services took my Dell PMO project at Unilever. They offered me to stay, but Dell threatened a devastating lawsuit on me if I did.

Good on them. Funny enough, when I got fired from Dell (Things went downhill after that) George77777 helped me move my shit out of my office. But we only had bikes. I had a plastic file cabinet on the back of my 1200 and he had a bunch of papers and office supplies belted to the back of his Virago. It was quite funny.
 
when we got bought out by Symantec our local IT guy was hired by HP. Glad they kept him at least, he gets shit done.
 
And I'm sure they're happier now.

I don't think it makes much sense to have such a large organization outsource its IT.

We have our own internal IT company and sell the technology to others. I guess we're a technology company that manufactures something so that helps.

Apparently Information Week magazine liked us bit last year. :p
 
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In the organization I work for ~$5m annual sales and growing. I'm trying to either make a case to completely outsource all IT functions. e.g Help Desk, manage all PC, Servers, Data Backup Management, Website, SEO, Solidworks System Admin, etc.. etc... Phone systems, Fire, Alarm, and Key Card Access systems. I'd like them to get to the point that all software is also correctly licensed (let's just say there are somethings that are questionable)

I know when I present all this info it's going to have a slight sticker shock reaction to what our IT budget actually is if 100% outsourced. As it is right now there are so many distraction as there are too many people trying to fill the void at present.

I'm an an engineer but I've been with this company for 16+ years. I understand all aspects of this company from Sales, Purchasing, Engineering etc... I myself have always enjoyed computer systems etc.. I've been looking at the company from a birds eye view and looking at all the technology in the company and I'd like to propose running a technology department. That would handle as much of the IT workload as possible, use outside help when only absolutely necessary. Manage all systems like Thermal test chambers, Test Equipment systems, things of that nature. To me at this point it looks like it's at least a 3/4 time job. I'd still do some engineering work during IT slow times, fill in on the low volume custom sensor request. Long story short I think it could prove to be a major improvement for the company.

Anyone have any pointers to aid me in my proposal?

I should add, the owners are to me a little on the cheap side. Like all engineers they like to do things themselves. eg. We have a gym on our 2nd flr and the cable drop were they wanted to install a TV for people to use while working out wasn't hooked up. So rather than calling a guy we use for our security system, low voltage wiring, network stuff they wasted their own time to run the cable the remaining way to the spliter and hook up the cable themselves, granted they don't have a RG6 cable crimper or stripper so they want me to bring mine in from home. Long story short it would of been cheaper and more productive to hire someone for the 15-25min job that it should of been. Or if I was running the Tech dept. have me do it etc...
 
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:horse:

Being the IT also can have it's downfalls. If anything leaks out or breaks in etc etc, it falls on your ass. In this respect, outsourcing it may be the better choice.

The hands down most expensive thing to do is to NOT do it right.
 
I love being the one who takes accountability and responsibility. That means that people listen to me, and don't go changing my shit on me - and if they do, I can counter.

When I say "I'm my own boss", That's what I mean. I have over 80 "Bosses" (Clients) but I'm the guy in charge of the task or project. If I lose accountability, then I'm no longer the boss.

I have no problems excepting that. I have the experience to be that guy.
 
I'm trying to either make a case to completely outsource all IT functions. ...Key Card Access systems.

Leave the keycard access with the facilities dept, or at least make sure they have control over its operation. Nothing hurts us more than when we need to get a vendor in the building to fix a heat pump at 3am and we can't get a hold of the access badge people.
 
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