The Old Way: Break-Fix IT Support

For decades, the default IT model for small businesses in Roanoke, Blacksburg, and throughout Southwest Virginia was simple: something breaks, you call someone to fix it. Pay an hourly rate, get it running again, repeat.

This “break-fix” model worked when computers were simple and isolated. In 2025, it’s a liability. Here’s why:

• Reactive, not proactive: By the time you call for help, the damage is already done.
• Misaligned incentives: A break-fix provider makes more money when things break more often.
• No visibility: Nobody is watching your systems for warning signs — failing drives, expiring certificates, malware activity.
• Unpredictable costs: A ransomware attack or server failure can mean a $10,000+ emergency bill with no warning.

The New Way: Managed Services (MSP)

A Managed Service Provider (MSP) like TTS provides proactive, flat-rate IT management. Instead of waiting for things to break, we continuously monitor and maintain your systems for a predictable monthly fee.

What Managed Services Includes

• 24/7 remote monitoring: We watch your servers, workstations, and network devices around the clock using our RMM platform.
• Patch management: Windows updates, third-party application patches, and firmware updates are deployed on your schedule.
• Endpoint security: Antivirus, EDR (endpoint detection and response), and ransomware protection managed centrally.
• Backup monitoring: We verify your backups are completing successfully and test restores regularly.
• Help desk: Your employees get fast, local support — not a call center overseas.
• SIEM/Security monitoring: Log aggregation and threat detection for compliance and early warning.

MSP Pricing: What to Expect

Managed services pricing for Southwest Virginia small businesses typically runs $100-200 per endpoint per month, depending on the service tier. This compares favorably to break-fix — when you account for the cost of downtime, emergency repairs, and ransomware recovery, the math strongly favors a managed model.

A business with 20 employees paying $150/month per endpoint spends $3,000/month on managed IT. That might sound like a lot until you compare it to the average $200,000+ cost of a ransomware incident for a small business.

Is Your Business Ready to Switch?

Ask yourself: Do you know the current patch status of every workstation in your office? When was the last time your backups were tested? Do you have visibility into what’s happening on your network right now?

If the answer to any of these is “I don’t know,” it’s time to talk to an MSP.

TTS serves businesses throughout the Roanoke Valley, New River Valley, and surrounding Southwest Virginia areas with local, US-based managed IT services. Contact us to learn what managed services would look like for your business.