Skip to content

24/7 Emergency Support Available

(919) 446-5484|Text Us
Triangle Tech - IT Support and Managed Services in Raleigh Durham NC

Triangle Tech

IT Support & Services

Home
Service AreasPricingAboutBlogContactGet a Quote
Triangle Tech - Managed IT Services Provider in the Triangle NC
Triangle Tech

We pick up the phone. We fix it fast. We don't BS you.

IT support for small businesses in the Raleigh-Durham Triangle.

(919) 446-5484sales@nctriangletech.com
3300 Gateway Centre Blvd, Morrisville, NC 27560

Services

  • Managed IT
  • Help Desk
  • Cybersecurity
  • Cloud Solutions
  • Network Services
  • Backup & Recovery
  • Web Development
  • App Development
  • VoIP Phone Systems

Company

  • About Us
  • Industries
  • Service Areas
  • Case Studies
  • Blog
  • Pricing
  • Compare Options
  • Contact
  • Referral Program
  • FAQ
  • Press & Media

Support

  • Client Portal
  • Support Tickets
  • Free Tools
  • Security Checklist
  • Password Checker
  • IT Cost Calculator

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Acceptable Use

IT Tips & Alerts

Short emails about security threats, tech tips, and what's new. No spam.

© 2026 Triangle Tech. All rights reserved.

Built with coffee and stubbornness in Morrisville, NC ☕

CallTextQuote
  1. Home
  2. Compare IT Models

Managed IT vs. In-House vs. Break-Fix

An honest, side-by-side comparison. No spin — just the facts so you can pick what actually works for your business.

Best for most SMBs

Managed IT

A team of IT experts manages your entire technology stack for a flat monthly fee. Proactive monitoring, security, help desk, and strategic planning included.

$150–$200/user/month
15-minute response time

✓ Predictable costs, full team, proactive

✕ Less physical on-site presence than in-house

Learn more →

In-House IT Hire

A dedicated IT employee on your payroll. Full-time presence in your office but limited to one person's skills and availability.

$6,000–$10,000+/month (salary + benefits)
Business hours only (unless on-call)

✓ Dedicated, knows your environment intimately

✕ Single point of failure, expensive, limited skills

Break-Fix

Call someone when something breaks. Pay by the hour with no ongoing relationship. No monitoring, no prevention, no planning.

$125–$250/hour (unpredictable)
Hours to days for response

✓ No monthly commitment, pay only when needed

✕ Reactive, unpredictable costs, no prevention

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureManaged ITIn-HouseBreak-Fix
24/7 system monitoring
Proactive maintenance & patching
Help desk supportPer hour
Cybersecurity tools includedExtra cost
Predictable monthly cost
No long-term contract
Team of specialists (not 1 person)varies
Backup & disaster recovery
Vendor management (Microsoft, etc.)
Strategic IT planning
Compliance support (HIPAA, etc.)varies
Scales with your teamExpensive
On-site when needed

Real Cost Comparison (20 Employees)

Managed IT

$3,000–$4,000

/month for 20 users

Full team, monitoring, security, help desk included

In-House IT Hire

$6,000–$10,000+

/month (salary + benefits + tools)

One person, 40 hrs/week, needs their own tools

Break-Fix

$500–$5,000+

/month (wildly unpredictable)

$0 some months, $5K+ when things break

Frequently Asked Questions

When does managed IT make more sense than hiring?
For most businesses under 75 employees, managed IT is significantly cheaper than a full-time hire. A single in-house IT person costs $55K-$85K+ in salary alone, plus benefits, tools, and training. That's $6,000-$10,000/month for one person. Managed IT for a 20-person company runs $2,000-$4,000/month — and you get a full team.
Is break-fix ever the right choice?
Honestly? Only if you have fewer than 5 computers, no server, and can tolerate multi-day outages. For any business that depends on their technology, the unpredictable costs and reactive nature of break-fix almost always costs more in the long run.
Can I switch from break-fix to managed IT?
Yes, and we make it painless. We'll assess your current setup, propose a plan, and handle the entire transition. Most transitions take 1-2 weeks with zero downtime.
What if I already have an IT person?
Many companies use a co-managed model — your internal IT handles day-to-day tasks while we provide monitoring, security, backup, and overflow support. It's the best of both worlds.
How much does managed IT cost at Triangle Tech?
Plans start at $150/user/month for our Light tier. Our Standard tier is $175/user and Heavy is $200/user. All tiers include the same features — pricing is based on industry complexity. We publish our pricing because hiding it is weird. Call us for an exact quote based on your setup.

Not Sure Which Model Fits?

We'll give you an honest recommendation based on your actual setup — even if that means telling you to hire internally. Free consultation, no obligation.

Get Free AssessmentCall (919) 446-5484
No contracts Honest advice Month-to-month