Updated in January 2026

Managed IT Services vs Break-Fix: Which Model Saves Your Business Money?

Managed IT services use proactive monitoring and a fixed monthly fee, helping UK businesses avoid costly downtime and unpredictable repair bills. Break-fix support only kicks in after something goes wrong, which can leave your business vulnerable. For most UK companies, managed IT delivers better long-term value through prevention, security, and predictable costs.

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Managed IT services vs break-fix is a decision that affects every UK business owner. Managed IT services provide proactive, ongoing support for a fixed monthly fee. Your systems are monitored around the clock. Problems get fixed before they cause downtime. Break-fix support is reactive. You only pay when something breaks. This sounds cheaper, but hidden costs add up fast.

Here is the thing. The model you choose determines whether you spend your time running your business or dealing with IT disasters. This guide breaks down both options so you can make the right choice for your company.

Table of Contents

1. What Is the Difference Between Managed IT and Break-Fix Support?
2. How Does Proactive IT Support Compare to Reactive Support?
3. What Are the Top 10 Benefits of Managed IT Services?
4. What Are the Hidden Costs of Break-Fix IT Support?
5. How Do You Decide Which IT Model Is Right for Your Business?
6. What IT Support Trends Should UK Businesses Know for 2026?
7. Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between Managed IT and Break-Fix Support?

Understanding these two IT support models is crucial for making the right investment. Let us break them down simply.

What Are Managed IT Services?

Managed IT services involve partnering with a specialist provider who takes responsibility for your entire IT infrastructure. Think of it like having your own IT department, but without the overhead of hiring full-time staff.

Key features include:

• 24/7 system monitoring to catch problems before they affect your business
• Regular maintenance, updates, and security patches
• Fixed monthly fee for predictable budgeting
• Helpdesk support when your team needs assistance
• Cybersecurity protection and backup management
• Strategic IT planning aligned with your business goals

At Kratos IT, we deliver this through a proactive, strategy-driven approach. Our in-house team of IT consultants works directly with your business. We never outsource. This means you get consistent, reliable support from people who understand your systems inside and out.

What Is Break-Fix IT Support?

Break-fix is the traditional approach to IT support. Something breaks, you call someone to fix it, and you pay for the repair. Simple as that.

This model typically involves:

• Paying per incident or by the hour
• No ongoing monitoring of your systems
• Waiting for problems to occur before taking action
• Variable costs depending on what goes wrong
• No regular maintenance or preventative care

You might be wondering if break-fix is cheaper. On paper, it can seem that way. But when your server crashes during your busiest period, the real costs become clear very quickly.

How Does Proactive IT Support Compare to Reactive Support?

The core difference comes down to prevention versus cure.

Proactive IT support (managed services) focuses on:

• Identifying potential issues before they cause disruption
• Regular health checks on all your systems
• Keeping software updated and secure
• Planning for your technology needs as you grow

Reactive IT support (break-fix) means:

• Waiting until something goes wrong
• Scrambling to find help when you need it most
• Dealing with downtime while repairs are made
• No guarantee of quick response times

According to the UK Government Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, 43% of UK businesses experienced a cyber attack in the past year. That is around 612,000 companies. Without proactive monitoring, many of these attacks could have been prevented or detected much earlier.

What Are the Top 10 Benefits of Managed IT Services Over Break-Fix?

Here is why so many UK businesses are making the switch to managed IT support.

1. Predictable monthly costs. You know exactly what you are paying each month. No surprise bills. No budget chaos. This makes financial planning much simpler.
2. Reduced downtime. Proactive monitoring catches problems early. Your team stays productive instead of waiting for systems to come back online.
3. Stronger cybersecurity. Regular security updates, threat monitoring, and protection against malware, phishing, and ransomware. Learn more about protecting your business from malware.
4. Guaranteed response times. Service level agreements mean you know exactly how quickly your provider will respond. No more waiting and hoping.
5. Strategic IT planning. Your IT grows with your business. A good MSP helps you plan for expansion, new technology, and changing needs.
6. Compliance support. Help meeting GDPR requirements and industry regulations. Essential for legal firms, healthcare providers, and accountancy practices.
7. Access to expertise. A full team of specialists without the cost of hiring them yourself. Our team has over 20 years of experience supporting UK businesses.
8. Regular updates and maintenance. Software stays current. Hardware gets replaced before it fails. Everything runs smoothly.
9. Backup and disaster recovery. Your data is protected and recoverable if the worst happens.
10. Single point of contact. One team handles everything. No more juggling multiple vendors or trying to work out who to call.

What Are the Hidden Costs of Break-Fix IT Support?

Break-fix might look cheaper at first glance. But consider these hidden expenses that often get overlooked.

How Much Does IT Downtime Really Cost UK Businesses?

When your systems go down, the costs multiply quickly.

• Lost productivity: Staff cannot work. Projects stall. Deadlines get missed.
• Lost revenue: Customers cannot order. Transactions fail. Sales opportunities disappear.
• Reputation damage: Clients lose confidence when you cannot deliver. That trust is hard to rebuild.
• Recovery costs: Emergency callouts cost more. Rushed repairs can cause further problems.

Research shows UK SMEs lose significant productivity each year to IT issues. When you factor in emergency support premiums, hardware replacement, and lost business, the true cost of reactive IT becomes clear.

Why Do Security Gaps Cost More Than Prevention?

Without proactive security monitoring, your business faces increased risk.

The National Cyber Security Centre recommends that all UK businesses implement basic cyber hygiene measures. With break-fix support, these protections often get neglected until after an incident occurs.

The 2025 Cyber Security Breaches Survey found that 62% of small businesses now have cyber insurance, up from 49% the previous year. This shows growing awareness of the financial risks involved.

How Do You Decide Which IT Model Is Right for Your Business?

Ask yourself these five questions to find the right fit.

1. How much would one hour of downtime cost your business? If the answer makes you uncomfortable, proactive support is worth considering.
2. Do you have internal IT expertise? If not, managed services fill that gap without the cost of hiring.
3. Does your industry have compliance requirements? Regulated sectors like legal, healthcare, and finance benefit from expert guidance.
4. Is your business growing? Managed services scale with you. Break-fix treats each change as a separate problem.
5. How critical is technology to your daily operations? The more you rely on IT, the more valuable proactive support becomes.

Here is the honest truth. Break-fix can work for very small businesses with simple IT needs and high tolerance for risk. But for most UK companies relying on technology daily, managed IT delivers better value and peace of mind.

Some businesses also consider a hybrid approach. Co-managed IT lets you keep some internal IT capacity while getting specialist backup and 24/7 coverage. This works well for organisations with existing IT staff who need extra support.

What IT Support Trends Should UK Businesses Know for 2026?

The IT landscape keeps evolving. Here is what forward-thinking businesses should prepare for.

AI-Powered Cyber Threats Are Getting Smarter

Cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to create more convincing phishing emails and attacks. Traditional reactive approaches struggle to keep pace. Proactive monitoring with advanced threat detection is becoming essential, not optional.

Cyber Insurance Requirements Are Tightening

Insurance providers increasingly require proof of proper IT security measures before offering coverage. Having a managed service provider helps demonstrate you take security seriously and can make obtaining coverage easier.

Remote and Hybrid Work Demands Better Connectivity

With more teams working flexibly, businesses need reliable connectivity solutions and secure remote access. Managing this piecemeal becomes increasingly difficult. Integrated IT support handles all these moving parts together.

Compliance Continues to Evolve

Data protection regulations like GDPR are not going away. The Information Commissioner's Office continues to enforce requirements and issue fines. Having expert support ensures your systems remain compliant as rules change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between managed IT and break-fix?

Managed IT provides proactive, ongoing support for a fixed monthly fee. Your systems are monitored continuously and problems get addressed before they cause disruption. Break-fix is reactive. You only call and pay when something goes wrong. Managed services typically cost more upfront but save money long-term through prevented downtime and issues.

Is managed IT support worth it for small businesses?

For most small businesses relying on technology daily, yes. The predictable costs, reduced downtime, and enhanced security typically deliver better value than reactive support. However, very small businesses with minimal IT needs and low downtime impact might find break-fix sufficient initially. The key question is: what would an outage cost you?

How long does it take to switch from break-fix to managed IT?

Onboarding typically takes two to four weeks for SMEs. This includes an IT audit, documentation, tool deployment, and introducing your team to the new support process. Good providers phase the transition to minimise disruption, often running both services briefly during handover.

Can I combine managed IT with some break-fix support?

Yes. Many providers offer co-managed IT where they handle core infrastructure while you retain some internal IT capacity. This hybrid approach works well for businesses with existing IT staff who need specialist backup or 24/7 coverage they cannot provide alone. Learn more about co-managed IT.

What should I look for when choosing a managed service provider?

Look for clear service level agreements with guaranteed response times. Check their experience in your industry. Ask about their approach to cybersecurity and compliance. Find out if they outsource or use an in-house team. At Kratos IT, we pride ourselves on honest, transparent services with no outsourcing. We take a people-first approach because we take care of the people using the technology, not just the computers.

Does break-fix save money if we rarely have IT problems?

It seems that way on the surface, but consider this: a single server failure can cost thousands in downtime. Managed services prevent most issues before they happen. The question is not whether something will go wrong, but whether your business can afford it when it does. Prevention almost always costs less than cure.

Which IT Support Model Is Right for Your Business?

Choosing between managed IT services and break-fix comes down to how much you value prevention, predictability, and peace of mind.

The bottom line:

• Break-fix works for businesses with minimal IT needs and high risk tolerance
• Managed IT delivers better value for companies relying on technology daily
• The true cost of reactive support often exceeds proactive prevention
• Co-managed IT offers a middle ground for businesses with existing IT staff

With over 20 years of experience supporting UK businesses across Kent, London, and the wider UK, we understand that every organisation is different. Our team takes a people-first approach, delivering IT solutions that empower your team to do their best work.

Not sure which model suits your business? We are happy to help you work it out. Book a free 30-minute consultation with our team. No pressure, no obligation. Just honest advice about what makes sense for your situation.

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