Introduction
IT services and IT consulting have similar names, but they’re actually quite different. Many businesses confuse the two, believing they are one and the same. This is a common misconception that can cost your business time and money. Here’s what you need to know about IT services vs IT consulting.
What are IT Services?
IT services are a set of pre-defined products and services that allow companies to outsource their IT needs. For example, many companies outsource their help desk needs because it is expensive to hire full-time or part-time staff for this task.
IT service provider offers these set packages in order to make things easier for businesses that don’t have the internal resources or know-how necessary to solve problems on their own.
What is IT Consulting?
IT consulting is a service that helps businesses or organizations to solve problems and improve efficiency. It is related to the IT infrastructure, but it is not a part of it. The main difference between IT services and IT consulting lies in the fact that one deals with hardware, software, networking, and other technological aspects of information security whereas the other deals with business processes and strategies.
The main purpose of IT consulting is to help organizations in solving their problems and improve their efficiency by offering them a set of tools and strategies. This is one of the many benefits of IT consulting services.
The 10 Key Differences Between IT Services & IT Consulting
- IT services provide a specific solution to a problem, whereas IT consulting helps companies succeed in business and meet their objectives by relying on technology
- Managed IT service providers have been at the forefront of leveraging new IT paradigms such as cloud computing and cloud archiving to drive down costs and improve scalability.
- IT services are a one-time solution that is often a part of an ongoing contract.
- IT consulting is a long-term solution that is often a part of a project.
- You can create a workable business strategy for your company with IT consulting, but it will be the IT services provider who helps you implement that strategy.
- IT consultants may have more boundaries in the services they can offer compared to IT services, but there are also instances where an IT consultant can provide the same service as an IT service.
- IT consultancy is more about building relationships, at least most of the time
- IT consulting provides guidance to customers on everything from overall IT strategy.
- IT consulting can assist in identifying top concerns and developing a basic strategy for addressing them.
- IT services tend to take on a technical approach, calling on specific tools and methodologies in order to help clients reach their stated IT objectives.
Services That IT Services Provider Offers:
Computer Training. An IT services provider can provide computer training to your staff. This is especially useful for people who are new to technology and need help becoming proficient with it.
Managed Print Services. Managed print services mean that the provider takes responsibility for the management of your printer hardware, software, and supplies. They also ensure that you have adequate supplies when you need them and they’ll perform routine maintenance on your printers as needed.
Help Desk Support. Help desk support refers to a service provided by an IT services provider whereby they answer questions from users of the various technologies in use at their facility or organization. This may include questions about how to use certain software programs or how something works (e.g., how can I connect this device?). The help desk also provides guidance on best practices when using various technologies (e.g., why should I password-protect my USB drive?).
Network Security. Network security refers generally to securing your network from unauthorized accesses, attempted intrusions into the system by hackers or other malicious entities, etcetera; this could involve things like installing firewalls and antivirus software on computers connected via Wi-Fi networks within company offices; installing intrusion detection devices onto servers located off-site (in case someone tries hacking into them remotely); encrypting data stored on laptops so if one gets lost or stolen there won’t be much harm done; etcetera).
Backup Recovery. A backup recovery service is designed to ensure that your data is always secure. This is usually offered that comes with options, from automated backups to manual backups and everything in between. The IT services provider will work with you to determine the best solution for your needs and budget.
Cloud Services. Cloud services are a great way to get started with your business, no matter where you’re at. IT services providers offer a variety of different plans and features to help you find the best fit for your company—whether that means having access to our data center or just making sure your data is safe in the cloud.
What is a Software Consulting Company?
A software consulting company is a business that offers professional services to help clients develop, implement and maintain software solutions. Like IT services companies, they can be of any size, but they typically don’t offer as many products or services as IT service providers do.
In fact, the only difference between a software consulting company and an IT service provider is that one offers professional expertise in specific areas (like mobile application development) while the other offers more general technical support. These are two different ways to approach the same goal: helping businesses get their hands dirty with technology in order to make their lives easier.
Software consulting companies can be found in nearly every country around the world – but unlike most IT service providers who tend to focus on local markets only (such as India), these firms often have offices all over the globe so they can provide remote access while still ensuring high-quality work product.
When do you Need IT Consulting vs. IT services?
IT services are for the ongoing support of your systems, while IT consulting is for new projects and strategic planning.
Compare this to your car: You can have a mechanic come in to fix a flat tire or do routine oil changes, but when you’re building a new house, you hire an architect and contractor.
Similarly, if you’re looking for someone to help with project management or business analysis—or if you just want some outsourcing software development done—you’ll likely want an IT consultant rather than an IT service provider.
When IT Services and IT Consulting Work Together
IT services and IT consulting work together to provide the best possible solutions to your business. It’s important to understand the differences between the two:
IT services are a more traditional approach to IT support. They involve hardware, software, and network maintenance and management. They’re also known as “on-premise” or “in-house” services because they’re part of your business’s internal operations.
IT consulting is what we call an “off-premise” service because it does not require you to have any of those things on-site at all! With IT consulting, you can hire a team of experts from a remote location who will come in and help you solve your problems without having any permanent infrastructure in place. This means that you don’t have to worry about managing or maintaining anything yourself, but still get all the benefits of having a team that can address any issues on demand.
Conclusion
IT consulting and IT services are both valuable to businesses. However, it’s important to distinguish them from one another so that you can make the best decision on which type of company will help your business thrive. This blog post outlined some key differences between these two service types, including what they offer, when they work together, and when it is best to use them.