# Managed IT for small businesses [Read the public page](https://www.adarkcloud.com.au/services/managed-it) Ongoing IT care for a small business. Agree on account management, device upkeep, backups and support coverage before the arrangement starts. Managed IT is an ongoing arrangement for maintaining the technology your business depends on. It differs from a single support job because the responsibilities, recurring tasks and support coverage are agreed in advance. Perth based, with remote support across Australia. From $79 an hour ex GST, with the fee agreed before work begins. Call Josh C on 0408 530 303. ## What we can help with - Account and device administration - Agreed maintenance tasks - Backup and access reviews - Support coverage documented in the agreement If IT work only happens when something breaks, account changes and maintenance can drift between jobs. Managed IT gives recurring work an agreed owner and schedule, with the support coverage written down. The arrangement should fit the size of your business. We start with the devices, accounts and data you rely on, then discuss which responsibilities make sense to include. An ongoing agreement should be understandable without a sales presentation. ## When recurring care may be useful New starters take days to gain access because nobody owns setup. Staff leave and their accounts remain active. Device updates are postponed indefinitely. Backups exist, but no one knows when a restore was last checked. These are reasons to discuss recurring responsibilities. A single computer fault may still be a one off support job. The decision depends on the pattern of work, the consequences of interruptions and whether the business has someone able to maintain the environment. ## Make the agreement specific Ask which people and devices are covered, when support is available and which tasks are included. A response target is useful only if the agreement explains how requests are prioritised and what happens outside the covered hours. We scope an arrangement around your business rather than publishing an unverified promise of round the clock support. Projects, hardware and software subscriptions need their own treatment in the quote. ## Start with an accurate inventory The first review identifies devices, subscriptions, administrators and important data. We check what is already managed by another provider and where responsibilities overlap. That gives both sides a starting point for maintaining the environment. Recurring work may include updates, access changes and backup checks. The frequency and evidence should be stated in the agreed plan. ## Keep the handover usable Your business should retain ownership of its domain, accounts and records. Documentation should explain the environment and how to change providers if needed. Regular support is easier when new starters, departing staff and planned changes are reported before they become urgent. ## Compare coverage rather than a monthly headline A price is only useful alongside the people, devices and tasks covered. Ask about support hours, request handling, monitoring, recurring reviews and project work. Also check what happens when a request exceeds the included scope. Hardware, cloud subscriptions, security products and backup services may carry separate charges. The business needs to understand the full recurring cost and what it will still be responsible for. ## What the handover should include The starting output should be an accurate environment register, documented responsibilities and an agreed maintenance plan. Subsequent work should leave evidence of completed tasks and unresolved issues. The agreement should also explain access and documentation at the end of the arrangement. Business ownership of accounts and recoverable records makes a future handover possible. ## Common questions ### Is managed IT the same as unlimited support? Coverage depends on the agreement. Ask about included requests, hours, exclusions and project work rather than assuming everything is covered. ### Can we begin with a review? Yes. An initial review can identify the environment and recurring needs before an ongoing arrangement is proposed. ### What is the difference between IT support and managed IT? IT support can address an individual request. Managed IT adds agreed recurring responsibilities, maintenance tasks and support coverage over time. ### Can our existing IT person remain involved? Yes, if responsibilities and access are clear. We need to agree on which work each person owns so maintenance is not duplicated or missed. ### How much does managed IT cost? Ad hoc support starts from $79 an hour ex GST. A managed arrangement is quoted per month from your devices, accounts and the cover you want, and you'll see the price and exclusions before an agreement begins. Published 2026 guides put support only plans at about $90 to $150 per user per month ex GST. ## Useful next steps - [One off IT help](https://www.adarkcloud.com.au/services/it-support) - [Managed IT buying guide](https://www.adarkcloud.com.au/blog/managed-it-services-perth-what-to-expect-and-what-it-should-cost) - [Australian small business security guidance](https://www.cyber.gov.au/learn-basics/explore-basics/small-business/educational-pack) - [Ten questions to ask an IT support provider](https://www.adarkcloud.com.au/blog/how-to-choose-an-it-company-in-perth-10-questions-to-ask) Reviewed 2026-10-07 - [Ask for IT help](https://www.adarkcloud.com.au/contact) - [Check your IT basics](https://www.adarkcloud.com.au/tools/it-health-check)