YOUR FAMILY-OWNED IT SERVICES SOLUTION
Managed Service Provider Model vs. IT Consultant Model
At LME Services, we bring 30 years of experience helping small and mid-sized businesses stay focused on what matters to them and watched the industry change.
Please allow us to explain how the way IT firms work has changed as IT has moved to the cloud.
An MSP Is a More Modern Manifestation of an IT Consultant
So, what is the difference between an MSP and a traditional IT Consultant, and what are some misconceptions about the MSP business model?
IT Consulting Model
Service Model:
IT Consulting Firms focus on providing strategic guidance and project-based solutions and are generally hired for specific projects or hourly work. They provide expert advice and implementation but usually do not handle proactive support. Because they bill hourly, they are financially incentivized to prolong projects, find additional work and to have things break, as this means more hours of billable work
Engagement Duration:
IT Consulting Firms are typically engaged in short-term, project-based engagements; once the specific project or consultation request is complete, the relationship may end, unless additional issues arise. The engagement is often based on a one-time fee or hourly rate for the duration of the project.
Scope of Services:
IT Consulting Firms can provide similar expertise on specific technology-related problems, business strategies, or technical implementations, however they lack the tools and motivation for preventative maintenance. They are focused on solving specific problems, and while they may find additional issues that they can work on, once the work is complete, they are done until something else breaks.
Responsibility:
IT Consulting Firms provides expert advice and implements specific solutions but does not usually take responsibility for ongoing management. They offer analysis, recommendations, and hands-on support for a defined period but typically do not engage in continuous monitoring or support after the completion of a project.
Cost Structure:
IT Consulting Firms charge based on a fixed project fee or hourly rate for consulting services. Costs are typically one-time or related to the specific project timeline, with expenses tied to the complexity and scope of the project.
Managed Service Model
Service Model:
MSPs provide ongoing IT services under a subscription-based or contractual model. This method makes MSP responsibility for the day-to-day management of a company’s IT infrastructure, systems, and networks as their services are proactive and continuous and are incentivized to keep systems from going down as more work means lower profits.
Engagement Duration:
MSPs provide Long-term, ongoing relationships with clients with continuous monitoring, updates, and maintenance of systems. Contracts are often structured as monthly or yearly agreements, with the MSP being responsible for always keeping the IT environment operational.
Scope of Services:
MSPs manage the entire IT ecosystem of an organization, acting as an outsourced or co-managed IT department. Services include network management, cybersecurity, data backup, disaster recovery, hardware and software procurement, help desk support, and compliance management. Because they want to keep issues at a minimum, they focus is on ensuring operational efficiency and preventative maintenance (fixing issues before they become critical).
Responsibility:
MSPs take full responsibility for the ongoing functioning of IT systems and infrastructure proactively ensuring systems are secure and operational, offering regular updates, security patches, and monitoring services to prevent downtime or data breaches. They can provide remote and onsite support, acting as an extension of your IT team or as your entire IT department.
Cost Structure:
MSPs work on a subscription-based pricing model (often per-user or per-device), providing predictable, recurring monthly costs. They include service-level agreements (SLAs) that define the performance expectations, response times, and up-time guarantees.
The Difference Between an MSP and an IT Consulting Company Is Proactivity vs. Reactivity
MSPs provides continuous, proactive long-term IT management while IT Consulting Firms are brought in to handle project-based or one-off IT Support requests with a defined start and end date to their services.
At LME, we know which is a better choice for serious businesses across the US.
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Experience
Founder Leon Engelking has been in IT since the beginning, having worked under Bill Gates in Microsoft’s early days. Count on us to choose the right solutions and implement them correctly.
Responsiveness
The stereotypes about “IT Professionals” aren’t wrong…We pride ourselves on how our clients review our communication quality and timeliness.
Reliability
We understand that our work keeps mission-critical systems flowing for your business and ultimately, your clients and don’t take that responsibility lightly.
Clients You May Recognize
In our 30 years in business, the surface layer of systems and technology has changed quite a bit, and we live in a much more distributed world.
But at LME Services, our values haven’t changed a bit. We want to provide a 5-Star service to our clients who deserve to have IT be a growth tool for their businesses and avoid any disruption from all the bad-actors on the internet.
That’s why we have so many long-term clients.
Joe Engelking
CEO
Horror Stories Our Clients Avoid
The costs of choosing the wrong technology partner can be astounding:
Ransom payouts
Idle office staff
Angry clients
Aggravated employees
Lost data
Reputational damage
Bad client experience & negative reviews
…And the list goes on.
Our Approach
We know the products we choose and services we provide are mission critical.
We:
Quote realistic deadlines and then meet them
Manage the process from end-to-end
Maximize reliability
Minimize disruption
Take a long-term view
Provide delightful customer support
…And that’s why we have so many 5 year+ client relationships.
Ready to Find Out if LME Services Is Your IT Services Partner for the Next Decade?
STEP 1: SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
Meet Our Friendly, Experienced Team & Talk Through Your Situation & Goals
Systems Assessment
Employee Needs Assessment
Growth Plan
STEP 2: ACCEPT OUR PROPOSAL
We Spell Out What Is Needed to Get Your Systems In Shape & Then Keep Everything Running Smoothly Thereafter
Equipment Updates or Replacement
Software Adoption
Policy Implementation
Team Training
STEP 3: CELEBRATE!
With Cybersecurity Managed Professionally, You & Your Team Can Get Back to Business
Safety Systems Enforced
Robust Monitoring
Happy Clients
Data Secured
Schedule an Introductory Meeting
Hi, I’m Joe Engelking and I’m excited to learn more about your business.
Our family-owned business has been keeping our clients and their systems safe and optimized for over 30 years, and we’d be happy to let you know if we’re the right fit to do the same for you.
Please book a free consultation using my live scheduler.
In Our Clients’ Words:
Marlan Walker
CEO | TherapeuticsMD
Boca Raton, FL
LME is an amazing team and have been great development partners in this project. They deliver and time and keep us updated frequently during the project!!!
David Schuelke
CEO | Spring Bank Wisconsin
Brookfield, WI
LME Services has diligently fulfilled all the project’s requirements with commendable transparency. The team is committed and exhibits exceptional support, delivering the client’s requests promptly and efficiently.
Travis Penfield
CEO | 49 Financial
Austin, TX
Thanks to LME Services’ efforts, the client’s server-related issues have been resolved. The team’s seamless collaboration allows the client’s workforce to work from home while accessing the company’s data on the cloud. LME Services has excelled at project management and communicates efficiently.
Shashi Narahari
CEO | HighRadius
Boca Raton, FL
LME has proven to be an exceptionally reliable and flexible partner, consistently delivering high-quality results across a diverse range of projects, their expertise and commitment have been invaluable to our success. LME excels in custom software development, full-stack web development, and API development with technologies like NodeJS and C#.
Lara Cleary
Attorney/Partner | Hansen & Cleary
Northbrook, IL
We are not IT savvy people and wanted the best equipment within our budget with the easiest set-up and usage possible, so we could focus our time on our legal clients. They consulted us to purchase the optimal technologies and made it very easy for us.
George Dades
Accountant/Partner | James G. Dades & Co.
Skokie, IL
They deliver on a wide-breadth of IT services and ensure everything works correctly. With the personal touch of a small team, LME communicates efficiently and is always available by phone or email.
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