According to the most recent Quick Poll of ZDNet Small Business Center visitors, more than half say they rely on themselves for IT management.
The poll was posted over a period of approximately three weeks from January 17 to February 7, 2012 and asked, ”How do you manage information technology (IT) for your small or medium business?”
55% said they rely on self-service for IT management while only 5% indicated that they rely exclusively on third-party service providers.
That’s interesting because the SMB market for managed service providers is about $40 billion according to one recent estimate and could certainly rise along with the growing need for increasingly advanced IT services.
Maybe that’s why a retail services giant like Best Buy is boldly leaping into managed IT services for small business as previously reported by ZDNet.
What do you think? Are small and medium businesses moving more and more toward managed service providers or will economic and other realities increase the market for DIY-IT?
Josh Gingold is the Managing Editor of Business and Technology Research Libraries for CBS Interactive with primary responsibility for the presentation of key research and commentary through a combination of blogs, white papers, and Webcasts.
Disclosure
Josh Gingold
Josh Gingold doesn't have any actual or potential conflicts to disclose. He has no business relationships, affiliations, or investments that have a bearing on any subject covered in his blog.
Biography
Josh Gingold
Josh Gingold is the Managing Editor of Business and Technology Research Libraries for CBS Interactive with primary responsibility for the presentation of key research and commentary through a combination of blogs, white papers, and Webcasts. Josh's past experiences include a variety of editorial and production assignments for CNBC, CNET, Discovery Communications, History Channel, National Geographic Channel, TechTV, ZDTV, and many others. Previously, Josh was a TV producer, writer, and editor for several local stations where he was also recognized with a Golden Mic Award from the Radio and Television News Directors Association. Josh is a proud alumni of Fresno State University and California State University, Bakersfield where he studied Philosophy, English, and Communications.
According to the most recent Quick Poll of ZDNet Small Business Center visitors, more than half say they rely on themselves for IT management.
