What to Select? Staff Augmentation Vs Managed Services
Times are changing so are the needs; the most drastic change can be seen with enterprises. The way they use to work has evolved in many sectors that help an enterprise to grow. To fulfill the customer demand staff requirement is required by the company. To meet this need of an enterprise, we are presented with two models of enterprise management — Staff Augmentation and Managed Services.
Staff Augmentation is outsourcing work. In this model, the customers’ team will be guided by IT experts. Staff Augmentation is the adjective of temporary. IT experts come from outside to join the customers’ team for a specific time. An enterprise per project hires these people. This type of employment has been getting lots of attention lately. Managed Services talks about a team of IT experts who are present to assist customers. They are not limited to a project. They are present there 24*7 to help customers manage their enterprise. They come from remote services providers to assist an enterprise on a full-time basis.
Both these models are effective in their way and carry their setbacks. The effectiveness of these models depends on an enterprise’s need and the goal they want to achieve.
Virtues of Staff Augmentation
Staff Augmentation provides flexibility to employers as well as the employee. It is an hourly rate of work and payments. Its experts join for a brief time to complete a project that is assigned to them. They do not hold full responsibility for the project; most of the decisions are made by the customer. They do not show any involvement with the internal matters of the project. Their role is restricted to the completion of the assigned task. A sense of privacy is maintained for the enterprise, as sharing of information is minimal. If an enterprise wishes to keep their work hidden from the world or wants it to be known by fewer people — they can always opt for staff augmentation.
This model works perfectly for a company that requires cybersecurity for a particular time or a specific project. In addition, enterprises that wish to have no in house hiring usually go for this model.
Some setbacks of Staff Augmentation
Staff Augmentation has its pros to its workflow, but there are various loopholes too. These loopholes make Staff Augmentation not such an ideal model for every enterprise:
- The cost is high as IT experts are paid at an hourly rate.
- There is no stability as this addition to the customers’ team is temporary.
- The outcome of goal achievement is not associated with the IT experts hired under staff augmentation. As a result, they can not be held responsible for any misconduct, and the goal is not met.
Work efficiency is another issue. Again, the enterprise is free to change the employee if they do not meet their work standards. But it means they need to temporarily hire a new person to get the task done, which was meant to be completed earlier.
Managed Services and its upside
A service provider avails a group of people or a person for an enterprise to get the cybersecurity they desire. These IT experts come from a remote service provider. People address managed security services as outsourcing modules. These people will interact and work with enterprises on a full-time basis. They are not hired only for one task or project; they are hired to look after various projects and tasks that will come along the way. They are involved with the internal working of a project and usually have complete control over the project.
They have the right to make changes and modifications to the project as per the requirements. They are responsible and determine the goal of achieving. They are answerable to the enterprise if a project fails. They are not paid on an hourly basis. Creating a little Less stole from the customer. They do not need to find a new person for a new project. They have someone in the house who will be looking after many projects. Managed security services also help the enterprise to develop a good relationship with IT experts. Good communication can also be seen, which increases work efficiency.
The Dilemma of Outsourcing and Managed IT services
Outsourcing and Managed security services complete under the same line with a slight difference. While Outsourcing, you will be contacting the third party to look after a project and keep them updated. It is something that works similarly for a BPO. They take on a project from an enterprise and perform it according to their needs. Enterprise will be provided with all required information or demanded information.
The experts will be outsourced from a remote area to work full-time, but minimal physical interaction will be there. In contrast, Managed IT Services will be working within the enterprise with physical interaction. These services outsource people, but they are brought to work with the enterprise itself rather than handling a project for them on a full-time basis.
What To Select?
The requirement determines the effectiveness of the model. Both models are effective in their way. For example, the amount of production of goods is regulated according to demand. Just like this, the enterprise will adapt to a model that will help them amplify their production security rate without any stroller being pushed upon them.
Companies who like to work in a small way with their employees situated at different locations. Most such companies opt for staff augmentation, and if they are the ones who like to have everything present in a physical format in one place, they will go for managed security services.
If this needs to be concluded, that can be described in a few words. It depends on your needs. And to know your requirement, an enterprise needs to look at all factors that help and affect their company. Before going for any of these models, customers must be clear about their requirements and the result they desire.
