One of the most common questions growing businesses ask is: “Do we actually need managed IT yet?”
The answer depends heavily on your size. A 20-person business has very different IT needs compared to a 50 or 100-person company. As your team grows, so do the risks—downtime, cybersecurity threats, and system complexity. In Australia, most businesses start considering managed IT around 15–25 staff, and by the time they reach 50+ employees, proactive IT support becomes critical to maintain performance, security, and productivity.
Let’s break down what IT support should realistically look like at each stage.
IT Support for a 20-Person Business
At this stage, most businesses are still somewhat reactive.
Typical Setup:
- Mix of cloud apps (Microsoft 365, Xero, etc.)
- Basic cybersecurity
- Ad-hoc or part-time IT support
What You Actually Need:
- Reliable helpdesk support
- Basic device management
- Email & endpoint security
- Backup solution
Budget range:
$80–$150 per user/month
Biggest Risks:
- No proactive monitoring
- Weak cybersecurity
- Over-reliance on one “IT person”
IT Support for a 50-Person Business
This is where things start to break if not managed properly.
Typical Setup:
- Multiple systems integrated
- Increased reliance on uptime
- More sensitive data
What You Need:
- Fully managed IT support
- 24/7 monitoring
- Standardised devices & systems
- Backup & disaster recovery
- Security stack (EDR, email protection)
Budget range:
$120–$200 per user/month
Biggest Risks:
- Downtime costing $1,000s per hour
- Security gaps
- Lack of IT strategy
IT Support for a 100-Person Business
At this size, IT becomes business-critical.
Typical Setup:
- Complex infrastructure
- Hybrid cloud environments
- Compliance requirements
What You Need:
- Mature managed IT environment
- Advanced cybersecurity (Essential Eight alignment)
- IT strategy & roadmap
- Vendor & infrastructure management
- Performance monitoring
Budget range:
$150–$250+ per user/month
Biggest Risks:
- Cybersecurity incidents
- Scaling inefficiencies
- Poor system performance
The 3 Stages of IT Maturity Framework
Stage 1: Reactive (0–25 staff)
- Fix issues as they happen
- Minimal planning
Stage 2: Managed (25–75 staff)
- Proactive support
- Standardisation
- Security baseline
Stage 3: Strategic (75+ staff)
- IT aligned with business goals
- Ongoing optimisation
- Risk management
Real Example
A Brisbane-based company grew from 22 to 55 staff in under 18 months.
Before (22 staff):
- Ad-hoc IT support
- Frequent minor issues
After (55 staff):
- Moved to fully managed IT
- Implemented standard systems
- Added cybersecurity stack
Results:
- Downtime reduced by ~50%
- Faster onboarding for new staff
- Predictable IT costs
How to Know When You’ve Outgrown Your Current IT
Ask yourself:
- Are issues happening weekly?
- Is downtime affecting staff productivity?
- Are you unsure about your cybersecurity?
- Is IT reactive instead of planned?
If yes to 2 or more—you’ve likely outgrown your setup.
Closing
IT support isn’t about your current size—it’s about your risk level and growth trajectory.
The right setup at 20 staff will break at 50.
And what works at 50 won’t scale to 100.
The key is evolving your IT before problems start—not after.