The demands placed on modern IT landscapes are constantly increasing: systems must be stable and secure, but also flexible. Companies are therefore often faced with the question of whether they need a managed service or would rather rely on traditional project work. Managed services and project work are two different approaches to providing services, particularly in the IT sector. While project work focuses on temporary, one-off tasks, managed services are aimed at the continuous, long-term management of processes or systems.
Both models have their strengths and, more importantly, they can be perfectly combined. Find out more in this article,
- exactly what managed services and project work mean,
- where the two approaches differ,
- when which model is worthwhile and
- how you can get the most out of your IT by combining both strategies.
Managed Services
Managed services are permanently provided IT services that you outsource to a specialized provider. Your partner takes on defined tasks, such as monitoring your systems, data backup, patch management, IT security or operating your cloud infrastructure.
Instead of maintaining staff and resources yourself, you use the expertise and capacities of an external team. The goal is stable, secure and efficient IT operations that leave you free to focus on your core business.
Typical examples of managed services are
- 24/7 system monitoring (monitoring and alerting)
- IT security management (e.g. firewalls, endpoint protection, SIEM)
- Backup and recovery services
- Patch and update management
- Cloud or infrastructure operation
- Helpdesk and user support
Your advantages at a glance:
- Predictable costs: You benefit from clearly calculable budgets and fixed costs.
- High availability: Professional providers monitor the systems around the clock.
- Proactive maintenance: Problems are detected early and rectified before they lead to failures.
- Relief for your team: You can concentrate on strategic issues instead of routine tasks.
- Scalability: Services can be flexibly adapted to your requirements.
In short: with Managed Services, you ensure that your IT runs reliably, securely and without any effort on your part.
Project work
Project work is time-limited and goal-oriented. The focus is on a specific project that is implemented within a set period of time.
Typical IT projects are, for example
- the introduction of a new cloud environment,
- the migration of on-premises systems,
- the development of a security architecture or
- the integration of new applications.
During the project phase, your external partner works closely with you from analysis to planning and implementation. After completion, the project is documented.
Advantages of project work:
- Individual solutions: Every project is tailored precisely to your requirements.
- Clear target definition: You know right from the start what will be implemented and when it will be finished.
- High flexibility: You can react to new technologies or requirements.
- Knowledge building in the team: Your internal team benefits from new know-how through close collaboration.
In short: project work is ideal if you are striving for innovation, change or modernization in your IT.
Differences
| Criterion | Managed Services | Project work |
| Objective | Stability, operational safety, maintenance | Implementation of a specific, unique IT objective |
| Time frame | Ongoing, permanent | Limited (start and end point) |
| Cost model | Foreseeable, recurring costs | One-off or phase-based billing |
| Responsibility | External service provider takes over operations | Shared responsibility until project completion |
| Use of resources | Permanent relief | Temporary increase in expertise |
| Target group | Companies with ongoing IT operations | Companies with a need for change |
| Focus | Monitoring, maintenance, optimization and operation of systems | Implementation, development or migration of new solutions |
| Relationship with the customer | Long-term partnership in which the service provider assumes operational responsibility | Often more transactional and short-term |
| Risk distribution | Service provider assumes the operational risk for the agreed services | Customer bears the risk associated with the project result |
| Mode of operation | Often proactive work with remote tools to prevent problems | Reactive work driven by the project objective |
| Examples | Monitoring, security, cloud operation | Migration, implementation, rollout |
When is which model worthwhile?
Both models make sense, it depends on your goals and resources.
Managed services are worthwhile if you
- want to stabilize your IT in the long term.
- outsource recurring tasks such as backups, monitoring or security.
- reduce costs and risks.
- do not have your own IT team or only have limited capacities.
- require continuous support and maintenance.
Project work is worthwhile if you
- want to introduce or modernize a new system.
- plan specific change projects (e.g. cloud migration, IT security strategy).
- you need external expertise at short notice.
- want to take the pressure off your internal team.
Practical tip: Many companies start with a project and then transfer the operation to a managed service.
Synergies: When managed services and project work go hand in hand
These two models are not mutually exclusive, but can complement each other perfectly. Projects can be the starting point for long-term managed services and vice versa.
Project as a starting point for managed services: Many companies use a project to implement a new solution (e.g. a cloud migration). Once the project is complete, operational responsibility can be handed over to a managed service provider (MSP). The MSP then takes over the continuous monitoring, maintenance and optimization of the new systems.
Managed services as the basis for projects: An ongoing managed service can in turn trigger projects. An MSP that continuously monitors a customer’s systems can proactively identify potential for improvement or new technologies and propose a corresponding project to the customer.
The specialists carrying out a project can pass on their expert knowledge to the MSP team. This ensures a smooth transition and ensures that the new solution continues to operate optimally.
One example:
- You carry out a project with a partner to introduce a cloud environment.
- After successful implementation, the same partner takes over ongoing monitoring, maintenance and security as a managed service.
This creates a seamless transition from the project to permanent support, where no knowledge is lost and quality and efficiency are consistently high.
The advantages of this combination are
- unified IT approach: From planning to operation, you get everything from a single source.
- Continuity: There is no break between project completion and operation.
- Time saving: No need to train new service providers.
- Proactive further development: Your IT partner knows your environment and can continuously optimize it.
- Long-term partnership: Trust grows through repeated cooperation.
This synergy makes managed services and project work an unbeatable duo that perfectly combines stability and innovation.
Conclusion: stability meets innovation
Managed services and project work do not contradict each other, but complement each other. While projects stand for innovation, modernization and change, managed services ensure security, stability and reliability in ongoing operations.
The decision to opt for managed services or project work depends on the specific objectives and time frame. Long-term operation and stability speak in favor of managed services, while one-off changes or developments are better implemented as projects. By combining both approaches, companies can benefit from innovative new features as well as efficient and secure continuous operation.
If you want to make your IT sustainable and future-proof, the combination of both approaches is the key.
- Project work sets new things in motion.
- Managed services ensure long-term success.
This keeps you flexible, efficient and optimally positioned: today and in the future.
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