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- Managed Solutions Guide
Everything you need to know about managed IT
What managed IT is, the service models, what’s included, how pricing works, and how it compares with break-fix support.
The basics
What is managed IT?
Managed IT means handing the day-to-day care of your technology to a dedicated partner who keeps it running, secure, and up to date for a predictable monthly fee.
A managed service provider (MSP) like FUSION 1 looks after your computers, network, cloud apps, security, and backups, remotely and onsite when needed. Instead of calling someone after something breaks, your systems are monitored around the clock so most problems are caught and fixed before your team ever notices.
The result is simple: fewer interruptions, stronger security, and an IT budget you can plan around. You get the expertise of a full IT department without the cost of hiring one.
Read: 8 strategic reasons to outsource your IT96%of issues handled remotely, often in minutes
160+clients served
2K+projects completed
20+years of experience
Service models
Three ways to get IT support
Every business needs IT support. The difference is how much of it you want to own. Here's how the three main models compare.
Co-managed IT
We work alongside your internal IT staff, filling gaps in expertise, tools, or after-hours coverage.
Talk to us about co-managed ITFully managed IT
FUSION 1 becomes your complete IT department: support, monitoring, security, backups, and planning for one monthly rate.
Explore fully managed ITWho handles what
| Responsibility | On-demand | Co-managed | Fully managed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help desk for everyday issues | When you call | Shared | Yes |
| 24/7 monitoring and alerts | No | Yes | Yes |
| Patching and updates | No | Shared | Yes |
| Security tools (EDR, email filtering) | No | Shared | Yes |
| Backup monitoring and restore tests | No | Shared | Yes |
| Vendor and license management | No | Partial | Yes |
| IT roadmap and budgeting (vCIO) | No | Partial | Yes |
| Projects and upgrades | Billed per project | Planned together | Planned together |
What's included
Everything your IT needs, under one plan
Fully managed IT from FUSION 1 covers the core services a growing business depends on.
Remote monitoring & management
24/7 monitoring of every device and server, with automated maintenance.
- Patch management
- Health and performance alerts
- Asset inventory
Help desk support
Real people ready to help your team by phone, email, or chat, any time of day.
- Around-the-clock availability
- Remote fixes in minutes
- Onsite when needed
Cybersecurity management
Layered protection that's built in, not bolted on.
- Endpoint detection & response
- Email and web filtering
- Threat monitoring
Backup & recovery
Automated, secure backups that are checked regularly so recovery actually works.
- Servers, PCs, and Microsoft 365
- Integrity verification
- Recovery planning
Network management
Monitoring and upkeep of your wired and wireless network.
- Firewalls, switches, routers
- Wi-Fi performance
- Secure remote access
Cloud management
Administration of Microsoft 365 and Azure, from users to licensing.
- User setup and removal
- Security settings
- License cost optimization
Unified communications
Voice, video, and messaging that work together.
- Hosted VoIP phones
- Microsoft Teams integration
- SMS and video
Consulting & procurement
Strategic guidance and help buying the right technology.
- Device lifecycle planning
- Hardware and software sourcing
- Vendor management
The bigger picture
The managed services landscape
You'll hear a lot of acronyms when shopping for IT support. Most managed services fall into one of three families.
Managed technology
The systems we watch and maintain for you.
- Network (NOC)
- A network operations center monitors internet, firewalls, and switches for outages and slowdowns.
- Security (SOC)
- A security operations center watches for threats and investigates alerts 24/7.
- Endpoint (UEM)
- Unified endpoint management configures, patches, and secures laptops, desktops, and phones from one place.
- Cloud (DC)
- Servers and workloads running in the cloud or a data center, kept healthy and backed up.
Managed expertise
People and know-how, when and where you need them.
- Onsite support
- Technicians dispatched to your location, nationwide.
- Project support
- Migrations, office moves, and new deployments, planned and delivered.
- Augmentation
- Extra hands or specialist skills for your existing IT team.
- Consulting (vCIO)
- A virtual CIO for budgeting, roadmaps, and technology decisions.
Managed consumption
Technology delivered as a service, billed by subscription.
- Software (SaaS)
- Apps like Microsoft 365, delivered over the internet.
- Platform (PaaS)
- Tools for building and running custom apps without managing servers.
- Communications (CaaS)
- Hosted voice, video, and SMS.
- Infrastructure (IaaS)
- Hosted servers, storage, and virtual desktops.
How it works
From first call to fully managed
A clear, structured start means fewer surprises and faster results.
Discover & assess
We learn how your business works and review your current setup, risks, and goals.
- Network and device review
- Security and backup check
- Clear proposal and pricing
Onboard
We document everything, install our monitoring and security tools, and fix urgent gaps first.
- Admin access and documentation
- Monitoring and security agents
- Team introduction to the help desk
Support & protect
Day-to-day, your systems are monitored, patched, and protected while your team gets help on demand.
- 24/7 monitoring and alerts
- Automated patching
- Unlimited expert support
Review & plan
Regular reviews keep technology aligned with where your business is going.
- Service and security reporting
- Technology roadmap
- Budget planning
Side by side
Break-fix vs. managed IT
Break-fix feels cheaper until something goes wrong. Here's what really changes when you switch.
| Break-fix IT | Managed IT | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Hourly, when something breaks | Fixed monthly rate |
| Provider's incentive | More problems mean more billable hours | Fewer problems mean lower cost to deliver |
| When problems are found | After they disrupt your team | Often before anyone notices |
| Monitoring & maintenance | No | Yes |
| Security | Whatever you set up yourself | Built into the service |
| Budget predictability | Surprise invoices | Predictable, easy to plan |
| Strategic planning | No | Yes |
| Documentation | Often missing | Maintained and shared with you |
Pricing
How managed IT pricing works
Simple, per-user plans with no surprise invoices.
Managed IT is usually priced per user or per device each month, so your cost grows only as your team does.
Per user covers everything a person uses (laptop, phone, Microsoft 365 account) and suits most offices. Per device works well for shared equipment, servers, or machines that don't belong to one person.
What affects your price: the number of people and devices, servers or specialized systems, compliance requirements, and how much onsite work you need. Standard agreements run for 12 months, and nonprofits receive discounted pricing.
Get an instant quoteLite Care Essentials
from $59 /user/mo
Core care for smaller teams.
- Monitoring and updates
- Backup
- Help desk support
Total Care Pro
from $99 /user/mo
Everything in Essentials, plus stronger security and planning.
- Endpoint detection & response
- Threat intelligence
- Consulting and quarterly reviews
Ultimate Care Premium
from $149 /user/mo
Everything in Pro, plus strategy and data protection.
- Virtual CIO
- Security awareness training
- Data loss prevention
- Hardware lifecycle management
Device-only monitoring is available from $29 per device per month. See full plan details.
Benefits
Why businesses switch to managed IT
Predictable costs
Flat-rate pricing makes budgeting simple. Add or remove users and services as your needs change.
Less downtime
Proactive monitoring and maintenance prevent many common problems, saving hours of lost work.
Stronger security
Security tools, updates, and monitoring are part of the service, not an afterthought.
Expert help on demand
Skilled specialists are one call away, and up to 96% of issues are handled remotely in minutes.
A plan for what's next
Regular reviews and a technology roadmap mean upgrades are planned, not emergencies.
Happier, more productive staff
When technology just works, your team spends its time on customers, not computer problems.
Self-check
Signs it's time for managed IT
If a few of these sound familiar, your business has probably outgrown reactive support.
- The same IT problems keep coming back
- An employee or the owner handles IT on the side
- IT bills are unpredictable month to month
- Nobody is sure whether backups actually work
- Security means 'we have antivirus'
- Onboarding a new hire takes days
- You've lost productive hours to an outage this year
- Your business is growing and IT hasn't kept up
Not sure where you stand?
Take our free 4-minute IT Health & Readiness Assessment for an instant score and a prioritized action plan.
Take the assessmentWhy FUSION 1
More than a provider: your technology partner
We're dedicated to keeping your business productive, protected, and ready for what's next.
Expert guidance
Strategic IT planning that lines up with your business goals, not just your tickets.
24/7 support
An always-on help desk and around-the-clock monitoring.
Security-first approach
Cybersecurity is built into every service we deliver.
Scalable solutions
Services that grow with you, from a handful of users to multiple locations.
Local presence, national reach
Personal service with enterprise-grade capabilities and nationwide onsite support.
Certified specialists
Our team holds certifications from Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco, and others.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between managed IT and break-fix support?
Break-fix support is reactive: you call when something breaks and pay by the hour. Managed IT is proactive: your systems are monitored and maintained continuously for a fixed monthly fee, so many problems are prevented or fixed before they disrupt your team.
How much do managed IT services cost?
Most businesses pay a monthly fee per user or per device. FUSION 1 plans start at $59 per user per month, and device-only monitoring starts at $29 per device. Use our cost calculator for an instant estimate.
Do I need to sign a long-term contract?
Our standard managed IT agreement is 12 months. That gives us time to onboard your systems properly and deliver real improvements. If you only need occasional help, our on-demand support has no long-term commitment.
We already have an IT person. Can we still work with FUSION 1?
Yes. With co-managed IT we support your internal staff with tools, after-hours coverage, security expertise, or extra hands for projects, so they can focus on the work that matters most.
Is support really unlimited?
Yes. Our managed plans include unlimited expert support for your team, so no one has to hesitate before asking for help.
What happens during onboarding?
We review and document your environment, set up secure admin access, install our monitoring and security tools, and introduce your team to the help desk. Urgent risks, like missing backups or unprotected accounts, are addressed first.
Do you provide onsite support?
Yes. Most issues are resolved remotely in minutes, and when hands-on work is needed we provide onsite field services nationwide.
Will we still own our accounts, data, and documentation?
Always. Your accounts, data, and system documentation belong to your business, and we'll share them with you whenever you ask.
Do you offer pricing for nonprofits?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations receive significantly discounted pricing. Contact us for details.
Get the ultimate value for your business today.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation and see what fully managed IT would look like for your team.