IT support for small businesses: managed service or pay as you go?
What managed IT support includes, typical costs per user in Ireland, and the security basics every small business should have.
By the TechQuotes team · Updated 15 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
When the email stops working or a laptop dies, you need help fast. Small businesses usually choose between two ways of getting IT support: a managed service for a monthly fee, or pay as you go when something breaks.
Managed IT support
You pay a fixed monthly fee, usually €30 to €90 per user per month in Ireland, depending on what's included. In return the provider looks after your systems before problems happen:
- a helpdesk your staff can call or email;
- updates and security patches for computers and phones;
- monitoring and antivirus;
- backups of your files and Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace data;
- setting up new staff and closing accounts when people leave;
- advice when you buy new equipment.
Good for: businesses with five or more staff, or anyone who can't afford downtime.
Pay as you go
You call a technician when you need one and pay by the hour or by the job. There's no monthly fee, but nobody is keeping an eye on things in between, and urgent call-outs can cost more.
Good for: very small businesses with simple setups and few problems.
The security basics
Whichever you choose, make sure these are in place. They stop most attacks on small businesses:
- Two-step login (multi-factor authentication) on email and every important account.
- Backups that are automatic, stored separately from your main systems, and tested.
- Updates installed promptly on computers, phones, routers and websites.
- A password manager so staff don't reuse passwords.
- Staff awareness of phishing emails and fake invoices.
Some larger businesses in certain sectors also have legal cyber security duties under the EU's NIS2 rules. If that might apply to you, ask your provider or adviser.
Questions to ask an IT provider
- What's included in the monthly fee, and what costs extra?
- How quickly do you respond, and during what hours?
- Can you support staff who work from home?
- Where are our backups stored, and when did you last test a restore?
- Is there a minimum contract term?
Post a request for IT support and compare quotes from IT professionals in your county.