Published January 7, 2026
A managed service provider (MSP) is a company that remotely manages a business's IT infrastructure and end-user systems on a proactive basis. Unlike break-fix IT support that responds only when something fails, MSPs provide ongoing monitoring, maintenance, security, and strategic guidance for a predictable monthly fee. For Orange County businesses, choosing the right MSP means finding a partner who understands local business needs and can provide responsive, expert support.
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Most MSPs in Orange County charge $100-175 per user per month for comprehensive managed services. This typically includes 24/7 monitoring, help desk support, security tools, and strategic guidance. Some MSPs also offer per-device pricing or hybrid models. The right question is not "what is the cheapest?" but "what delivers the best value for our needs?"
Break-fix IT charges hourly when something breaks. There is no proactive monitoring or maintenance—you call when there is a problem. MSPs charge a fixed monthly fee and actively monitor, maintain, and secure your systems to prevent problems. The MSP model aligns incentives: they profit when your systems run smoothly, not when they fail.
Yes, this is called co-managed IT. The MSP provides specialized expertise, 24/7 monitoring, and overflow capacity while your internal IT person handles day-to-day support and serves as the primary contact. This model works well for businesses that have some internal IT capability but need additional depth and coverage.
A well-planned MSP transition takes 2-4 weeks. This includes documentation of your current environment, deployment of monitoring and security tools, staff introductions, and parallel operation with your previous provider if applicable. Rushing this process leads to gaps in support and security coverage.
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