Should I Hire an IT Person or Outsource IT? A Perth Guide for Businesses With 50 Computers

If you have around 50 computers and no IT person, outsourcing is usually the better choice, because there is rarely a full week of work for one hire and one person can’t cover security, networks, Microsoft 365, projects, leave and after hours.

If you already have a good IT person, keep them and add a team behind them. That is called co-managed IT.

What does an IT person really cost in Perth?

Salaries here come from live Perth job ads in October 2026. The real cost is about 25% higher once you add super, leave, payroll tax, training and tools.

Level 1 support (password resets, new starters, printers): about $80,000 a year in salary, so about $100,000 all in.
Level 2 systems (servers, networks, Microsoft 365, backups, security): about $100,000 in salary, so about $125,000 all in.
IT manager (projects, vendors, budgets, the IT roadmap): about $150,000 in salary, so about $187,500 all in.

Most businesses hire one person and hope they can do all three jobs. They can’t, and that isn’t their fault.

How many computers before you need an IT person?

As a rough guide, one IT generalist can look after 50 to 100 computers in a typical business. Below about 50 there is rarely enough work for a full time hire. Above about 100 there is too much for one person. Treat these as guides, not rules, because what you already have in place matters more than the number.

Around 20 computers, no IT person: outsource.
Around 50 computers, someone “doing IT” on the side: outsource, or co-manage if that person is genuinely technical.
50 to 250 computers with one IT person: co-managed, so they keep the knowledge of your business and stop being the help desk for everyone.

What happens when your only IT person goes on leave or quits?

With one IT person, everything waits until they’re back, and when they resign the knowledge of your systems walks out with them. That is the biggest risk of in-house IT in a growing business.

It is also the best moment to look at all three options, before you advertise the role.

Signs your IT person needs a team behind them

They’re the help desk, the strategist and the security team all at once.
Projects keep slipping because support calls always come first.
Nobody covers them on leave, when they’re sick or after hours.
A cyber incident would land on one person.
Your insurer, your board or a customer is asking security questions your team can’t answer alone.

FAQ: Should I hire an IT person or outsource IT?

With around 50 computers or fewer and no IT person, outsourcing usually covers far more skills than one hire. If you already have a good IT person, keep them and add a provider behind them.

FAQ: What is co-managed IT?

Your IT person or team stays in charge, and an IT provider works alongside them, taking on the help desk, projects, security, after hours cover or specialist work, whichever part you need.

FAQ: Will an IT provider replace my IT person?

Not with us. Co-managed IT is there to back them up. They keep ownership and the knowledge of your business, and get a team behind them.

FAQ: Can I start co-managed and move to fully outsourced later?

Yes, in either direction. There is no lock-in contract, so the arrangement can change as your business does.

Not sure which suits you?

Bring us your current setup and we’ll tell you honestly which model suits you, including if the answer is to keep doing what you’re doing. You can read the full guide on our co-managed IT page.

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Tell us what you have today and we’ll tell you what we’d do, with no obligation.