Who Should You Hire: A Server Management Company or a Freelance Sysadmin?

Selecting between a server management company and a freelance sysadmin is a tough choice. Which is better for you or your company: a server management firm or a freelancer? Although the differences between the two can be significant, the best answer is determined by your needs. To define your needs, you should answer the questions below. It would be easier to make the best decision relying on your responses.

Do you require assistance in more than one area?

A freelancer can only excel in one or two areas at a time. He or she may be an expert in Linux but does not know Windows server processes. Due to the diversity of their team, a server management company will be able to offer a variety of services. We have engineers dedicated to each area, such as DevOps, cloud computing, CI/CD, and so on, in addition to general Linux and Windows system administrators and technical support staff. Various aspects of your project may be delegated to company members who are experts in their fields.

Is it essential for you to have a quick response and a quick solution to a problem?

A freelancer can only concentrate on one task at a time and must manage you and your expectations while working on multiple tasks at the same time, which might take longer based on your project and the number of tasks you have. Always inquire about a freelancer's workload. It may be difficult for a freelancer to be responsive if they are overburdened with other projects. A company could assign multiple staff to work on your servers at the same time, and their response time is usually quick and obvious.

Is your server mission-critical and requires round-the-clock monitoring and support?

While customers in your immediate area may not mind visiting your office or shop during normal business hours, Internet users expect service and support 24x7. What if a freelancer becomes ill, goes on vacation, or simply ceases to respond to your messages? What if your web server goes down in the middle of the night in your freelancer's time zone? Even if a freelancer has the best workflow in the world, it's clear that one person cannot manage your server 24x7/365.

Do you require a flexible and responsible service?

Companies, on the whole, have well-defined and well-documented processes, responsibilities and workflows, and communication policies. They can quickly replace employees if necessary. Companies frequently have software and access to technologies that freelancers cannot. In terms of larger projects, companies are usually better equipped to handle a variety of client requirements.

Do you have enough time to remember everything and the necessary skills in managing the entire process on your own?

Some customers believe that working directly with a freelance sysadmin is preferable to working with a server support company's staff, which includes a sales manager, Level 1 staff, a project manager, and at last sysadmins. It appears to be easier and less expensive to communicate with one person all of the time. Please keep in mind that interacting with just one person will not cut down on the time you spend managing the entire process, deciding on which tasks to delegate to your service provider, remembering to perform regular server maintenance, comprehending technical terms, and so on. Working with a freelance sysadmin usually necessitates a greater level of involvement in the process and a thorough understanding of the technical side of your project or server.

Will you require additional support after the project is completed, or will you require ongoing server support?

Most customers value customer support after a project is completed. Consider your current server requirements as well as your long-term needs as you consider hiring companies and freelancers. Ask these questions to a server management company or a freelance sysadmin: Can you provide long-term support for my server? Do you have any other servers that you support? Do you have the right tools to keep an eye on your servers and services around the clock? How many projects are you presently focusing on, and can you devote the necessary time to my server? When do you generally make yourself available? What time zone do you work in?

Do you want to stick to a budget?

It's a common misconception that hiring a freelance sysadmin on a one-time basis is much less expensive than using a company's service or, for instance, having a monthly server management subscription. However, experience has shown that hiring a freelance sysadmin can eventually cost much more. Consider what would happen if your server went down or was hacked while you were on vacation, and your customers were unable to access your online store. To find a solution, you should easily discover a systems administrator or contact one you already have. What if he or she isn't available at the time? Doesn't it sound awful? Of course, if you have a small project or your server isn't essential, there's nothing wrong with hiring a freelancer, but when it comes to larger projects, hiring a server management company is always the best option.

Summary

We can't always say that a company is preferable to a freelance sysadmin. It is debatable. Each project has its own set of tasks and specifications. Each individual has a different budget, service level expectations, and technical staff availability requirements. You will make the best decision if you answer these questions for yourself.

Whatever option you prefer, make sure you've thoroughly researched all of your options. Never be afraid to inquire. Do what's best for your company's objectives. Hope you found this article useful!