Most small businesses don't have an IT department. They have whoever in the office is "good with computers", a router nobody remembers the password for, and a vague hope that the backups are working. It holds together until a laptop dies the day before a deadline, or someone clicks a link they shouldn't have.

Managed IT services, sometimes called outsourced IT support, replace that arrangement with a proper one. You pay a fixed monthly fee and an outside team takes responsibility for your business technology: the computers, user accounts, email, network, security and backups. The work is ongoing and preventative. Problems are picked up early, updates get done, and your staff have someone to call.

WebGenix provides managed IT services to small and medium-sized businesses in Derby, the East Midlands and across the UK. If you'd like to know what it would cost for your business, request a quote and we'll come back to you with a fixed monthly price.

The IT problems that slow small businesses down

These are the situations we hear about most. If three or more sound familiar, your IT is probably being run on goodwill.

• Nobody owns it. IT jobs land on the office manager or the owner, on top of their real work.
• Updates get skipped. Windows, macOS and software patches are postponed for months because nobody wants the restart.
• Backups have never been tested. A backup exists somewhere. Whether it can be restored is another question.
• Leavers still have access. Former staff keep working logins to email, shared files and accounts long after their last day.
• Passwords are shared. One login for the whole team, written on a sticky note, with no multi-factor authentication.
• Suppliers blame each other. The broadband firm says it's the email host, the email host says it's the domain, and you spend the afternoon on hold.

Gaps like these do get found. In the government's Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025/2026, 43% of UK businesses said they had identified a cyber security breach or attack in the previous 12 months. Among small businesses the figure was 46%, and phishing was the most common type of attack.

What managed IT services include

Every provider packages things slightly differently. This is what our managed IT service covers.

AreaWhat we look afterHelpdeskA named point of contact for your staff by phone, email or WhatsApp, with remote fixes for everyday problemsComputers and devicesSetup, updates, security patches and health monitoring for laptops, desktops and mobilesUser accountsNew starters, leavers, password resets, permissions and multi-factor authenticationEmail and cloudDay-to-day administration of Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, including shared mailboxes and file storageNetworkRouters, switches, wifi and firewalls kept updated, documented and workingSecurityEndpoint protection, email filtering, access controls and regular checksBackup and recoveryScheduled backups of key data, with test restores so you know they workSuppliers and licencesOne team dealing with your broadband, software and hardware vendors, and keeping licences in orderAdviceA regular review of what is ageing, what needs replacing and what to budget for

Some things sit outside the monthly fee, and it's better to say so up front. New hardware is charged at cost. One-off projects, such as an office move or a move to Microsoft 365, are quoted separately. We put the full list of what is and isn't included in writing before you sign anything.

Our managed IT services in more detail

IT helpdesk and user support

When a member of staff can't print, can't log in or can't find a file, they contact us directly. Most issues are fixed remotely while they're on the phone. You are not handed to a call centre, and you don't have to explain your setup from scratch each time.

Device and patch management

We keep an inventory of every computer and phone used for work, apply operating system and software updates on a schedule, and watch for early warning signs such as failing drives or full disks. New starters get a machine that is set up and ready on their first morning.

Microsoft 365 and cloud IT support

We administer Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace for you: licences, mailboxes, shared drives, Teams, permissions and sign-in security. If you're still running an ageing server in a cupboard, we can advise on whether moving to the cloud makes sense and plan the migration.

Network management

Your router, switches, wifi and firewall are documented, kept on current firmware and checked regularly. Guest wifi is separated from the business network. When the connection drops, we deal with your broadband provider so you don't have to.

Cyber security and Cyber Essentials preparation

Good security for a small business is mostly unglamorous basics done consistently. We set up multi-factor authentication, endpoint protection, email filtering and sensible access controls, and we remove accounts when people leave.

If a customer or tender requires Cyber Essentials, we can help you prepare. The scheme is backed by the UK government and built around five technical controls: firewalls, secure configuration, security update management, user access control and malware protection. Certification itself is awarded by an independent certification body.

Backup and disaster recovery

We back up the data your business could not operate without, including Microsoft 365 mailboxes and files, and run test restores. You'll also have a short written plan for what happens if a laptop is stolen, a server fails or ransomware gets in.

Your website, domain and email under the same roof

This is where we differ from most IT companies. We also build and look after websites, so your domain, DNS, business email and site can sit with the same team that manages your office IT.

That matters more than it sounds. One wrong DNS record can quietly send your invoices to customers' spam folders, and a domain that lapses takes the website and every mailbox down with it. We keep renewals on a calendar and set up the email authentication records (SPF, DKIM and DMARC) that help your messages reach the inbox.

If you only need the website side, see our website maintenance services.

Benefits of managed IT services for UK businesses

Costs you can plan for. A fixed monthly fee replaces unpredictable call-out bills, and hardware replacements are planned ahead instead of arriving as emergencies.

Less downtime. Monitoring and routine maintenance catch many faults before they stop anyone working.

Stronger security. Patching, multi-factor authentication and tested backups close the gaps most attacks on small businesses rely on.

Your team gets its time back. The person who has been acting as unofficial IT support can return to the job they were hired for.

Help with compliance. Controlled access, secure devices and reliable backups support your obligations under UK GDPR. Our GDPR guide for UK business websites covers the website side.

One number to call. A single team is accountable, whichever supplier turns out to be at fault.

Managed IT vs break-fix vs in-house IT

Managed IT servicesBreak-fix supportIn-house IT employeeHow you payFixed monthly feePer call-out or per hourSalary and employment costsWhen work happensContinuously, mostly preventativeOnly after something failsContinuouslyCover for holidays and sicknessYes, it is a teamDepends on availabilityNo, unless you hire twoRange of skillsSeveral specialistsWhoever attendsOne person's experienceBest suited toMost businesses without an IT teamVery small setups with little reliance on ITLarger firms with complex, on-site needs

Who needs managed IT services?

Managed IT support tends to suit businesses with roughly 5 to 50 staff who depend on computers every day but aren't large enough to justify an IT department. It is worth considering if:

• you have no dedicated IT person, or one person who is stretched thin
• staff work from home, across sites or on the road
• you handle client data, as accountants, solicitors, clinics and recruiters do
• you need Cyber Essentials for a contract or for cyber insurance
• you are growing and each new hire adds another device and another set of logins
• your current IT support only appears once something has broken

It is not right for everyone. A sole trader with one laptop rarely needs a monthly contract. A company with hundreds of users and its own IT team needs a larger provider than us. If either describes you, we'll say so.

Why choose WebGenix?

We are a small Derby-based team that has been building and supporting websites and web applications for UK businesses since 2020. We bring the same way of working to managed IT.

You speak to the person doing the work. There is no ticket queue and no account manager in between. You can reach us by phone, email or WhatsApp.

One team for your website and your IT. Because we manage both sides, a fault that sits somewhere between your email, your domain and your office network has one owner.

Prices fixed in writing. You get a written quote with a clear list of inclusions and exclusions before you commit.

Plain English. We explain what we've found and what we recommend without the jargon, and we'll tell you when the cheaper option is good enough.

We can build what's missing. If an off-the-shelf tool doesn't fit how you work, our developers can build the internal system or integration you need. See our custom web development service.

How our managed IT service works

1. A first conversation. We ask how many people you have, what you use, and what's causing trouble. It's a short call and costs nothing.
2. An IT audit. We review your devices, accounts, network, security and backups, and give you a short written report with the risks in order of priority.
3. A fixed monthly proposal. You receive a single price per month, based on what the audit found.
4. Onboarding. We document your setup, install monitoring and security tools, fix the urgent issues from the audit and introduce ourselves to your team.
5. Ongoing support and reviews. Day-to-day support starts, maintenance runs in the background, and we meet you regularly to review what's happened and what's coming up.

Frequently asked questions

What are managed IT services?

Managed IT services are an arrangement where a business pays an outside provider a fixed monthly fee to run and maintain its IT. That usually covers a helpdesk for staff, device and software updates, user accounts, network management, security and backups.

How much do managed IT services cost in the UK?

Most providers charge per user, per month. Prices published by UK providers in 2026 range from about £20 for a basic remote-only plan to £150 for round-the-clock cover with strategic advice, and many small business packages sit between £40 and £65. Our quote depends on your number of users, devices and the level of cover you need, and it is fixed in writing after the audit.

What is the difference between managed IT services and IT support?

IT support usually means reactive help: something breaks and someone fixes it. Managed IT services include that helpdesk, and add the ongoing work that prevents problems, such as monitoring, patching, security and backup checks.

Is managed IT cheaper than hiring an in-house IT person?

For most small businesses, yes, and the sum is easy to do. Multiply the per-user fee by your headcount, then set it against a full-time salary plus pension, National Insurance, training and holiday cover. Larger firms often keep an in-house person and use an outside provider alongside them.

Do you provide on-site support?

Most issues are resolved remotely, which is quicker for everyone. On-site visits are available in Derby and the East Midlands when a job needs hands on the equipment, such as installing network hardware.

Can you take over from our current IT provider?

Yes. We agree a handover date, collect the passwords, licences and documentation from your existing provider, and audit the setup before we take responsibility for it. Your staff should notice very little apart from a new number to call.

Do you support Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace?

Yes, both. We manage licences, mailboxes, shared storage, permissions and sign-in security, and we can migrate you from one to the other.

Can you help us get Cyber Essentials?

We can prepare you for it by putting the five required technical controls in place and checking your setup against them. The certificate itself is issued by an independent certification body, not by us.