Managed IT services means a company like The Techie Guy takes ongoing responsibility for your office technology for a fixed monthly fee: answering your team's IT questions, keeping every computer patched and protected, watching for problems, backing up your data and planning what to replace next. Instead of calling someone after something breaks, you pay to keep things from breaking.
The problem is that "managed IT" is not a regulated term. Two providers in Miramar or Pembroke Pines can quote the same monthly price and cover very different things. This guide lists what a solid plan should include, what is commonly billed separately, and the questions that expose the difference before you sign anything.
What does a managed IT provider actually do?
A managed service provider (MSP) acts as your outsourced IT department. The work falls into six areas. A plan that skips one of them leaves a gap you will eventually pay for, usually at the worst possible time.
| Area | What it covers | Why it matters for a small office |
|---|---|---|
| Help desk support | Phone, email, WhatsApp or remote-session help when someone can't print, log in or open a file | Your staff stop losing hours to problems they can't fix themselves |
| Patching and updates | Windows, macOS, browser and business-app updates applied on a schedule | Unpatched software is one of the most common ways attackers get in |
| Security | Endpoint protection, multi-factor authentication (MFA), email filtering, account reviews | Small businesses are targeted because they usually have the weakest defenses |
| Backup and recovery | Automated backups of files, Microsoft 365 data and key systems, with test restores | Ransomware, a stolen laptop or a hurricane shouldn't mean lost records |
| Monitoring and maintenance | Checks on network, devices and disk health, plus preventive maintenance | Problems get found before they stop work |
| Planning | Quarterly reviews, hardware replacement schedule, IT budget | No surprise purchases and no five-year-old laptops failing on deadline day |
Help desk: the part your team notices
Ask how support requests are submitted, who answers them and how fast. A plan should state a response time in writing. At The Techie Guy, the Business plan includes priority response within 4 business hours and up to 20 support hours a month; hourly Starter requests are answered the same day. A provider that won't put any number on response time is telling you something.
Security: more than antivirus
Antivirus alone stopped being enough years ago. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) lists turning on multi-factor authentication, keeping software updated and recognizing phishing among the core steps every organization should take (CISA, Secure Our World). A managed plan should enforce those steps for you, not just recommend them. That means MFA turned on for every Microsoft 365 account, updates applied without waiting for each employee to click "restart," and someone reviewing who still has access to what.
Backups that are actually tested
"We back you up" is not the same as "we restored a file last month to prove it works." Ask how often backups run, where copies are stored (at least one copy should live off-site or in the cloud, away from a South Florida hurricane), and when the last test restore happened. Microsoft 365 data needs its own backup plan too; deleted mailboxes and OneDrive files are only recoverable for a limited window by default.
Microsoft 365 administration
Most South Florida offices now run on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Managed IT should cover creating accounts for new hires, assigning the right license to each person, setting up shared mailboxes and Teams, and removing access the day someone leaves. These tasks are small one by one, but they are exactly where security gaps and wasted licenses pile up.
What is usually NOT included
This is where monthly prices that look similar stop being comparable. Read the agreement for these items:
- Hardware and software purchases. New laptops, firewalls and licenses are almost always billed separately. Microsoft 365 licensing is typically passed through on top of the IT fee; Simply IT's 2026 Florida pricing guide puts it at roughly $27 per user per month (Simply IT).
- Projects. Office moves, new network installs, server replacements and cloud migrations are normally quoted as projects. The Techie Guy bills one-time projects at $125 per hour.
- After-hours and 24/7 coverage. Many plans cover business hours only. At The Techie Guy, 24/7 monitoring is part of the Enterprise plan, not the Business plan.
- On-site visits. Some providers include them, some charge per trip. Ask.
- Hardware repair. Many MSPs send broken laptops elsewhere. We repair them in-house, with free diagnosis and repairs from $99.
How managed IT is priced
Providers price in three common ways: per user per month, per device per month, or a flat monthly fee for a defined scope. For South Florida market ranges, see our managed IT cost guide for South Florida. Our own pricing is published: the Business plan starts at $1,499 per month for up to 15 devices, the Starter option is $125 per hour, and the Enterprise plan is quoted. Every plan is month-to-month, with no 12-month contract.
Managed IT vs break-fix
Break-fix means you call someone only when something is broken and pay by the hour. It can work for a two-person office with simple needs. Once you have several employees, shared files and customer data to protect, the predictable cost and preventive work of a managed plan usually pays for itself. We compare both models in detail in Managed IT vs Break-Fix for Broward County businesses.
See exactly what your current setup is missing
The Techie Guy offers a free IT assessment for Miramar and Broward County businesses: we review your devices, security, backups and Microsoft 365, then show you in writing what a managed plan would cover.
Book a Free IT AssessmentQuestions to ask before you sign
- What is your guaranteed response time, and is it in the contract?
- Which of the six areas above are included, and which are billed separately?
- Are on-site visits included? What about after-hours work?
- How are backups tested, and how often?
- How long is the contract, and what is the cancellation notice?
- Who will actually work on my account?
Managed IT works best when you know exactly what you are paying for. If your Miramar, Pembroke Pines or Broward County business wants a straight answer, The Techie Guy will walk you through it in English or Spanish. Call 786-481-9288 or message us on WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in managed IT services?
A complete plan covers six areas: help desk support, patching and updates, security (endpoint protection, MFA, email filtering), tested backups, monitoring and preventive maintenance, and planning such as quarterly reviews and a hardware replacement schedule.
What is usually not included in a managed IT plan?
Hardware and software purchases, Microsoft 365 licenses, one-time projects such as office moves or network installs, and often after-hours or 24/7 coverage. At The Techie Guy, one-time projects are billed at $125 per hour and 24/7 monitoring is part of the Enterprise plan.
How much does The Techie Guy charge for managed IT?
The Business plan starts at $1,499 per month for up to 15 devices, with up to 20 support hours and 4-hour priority response. Hourly Starter support is $125 per hour, and the Enterprise plan is quoted. All plans are month-to-month.
Is managed IT worth it for a small office?
For a business with several employees, shared files and customer data, usually yes: preventive work and predictable monthly cost replace emergency hourly bills. A very small office with simple needs may be fine with hourly break-fix support.
Do you offer managed IT support in Spanish?
Yes. The Techie Guy supports Miramar and Broward County businesses in both English and Spanish.