top of page
Untitled design-22.png

The Real Cost of Supporting Macs Internally

HELPING MAC BUSINESSES MAKE SMARTER IT DECISIONS

Using Macs in specific departments is very common in larger organisations. However, this can create challenges when internal IT teams aren’t fully equipped to manage and support them. The result can be extra time spent troubleshooting and additional costs for your business.

​

Understanding these hidden costs can help you make smarter decisions about whether to invest in internal expertise or bring in co-managed Mac support.

Why Macs Can Make things Complicated

Having a few departments using Mac when the rest of your organisation uses PCs, can be the best choice for your team using them but can come as a frustration for an internal IT Team trying to manage things.

This is due to:​

  • Macs often being seen as “plug and play” compared to PCs, but managing them at scale requires specialist tools and expertise.

  • Fewer technicians have deep Mac experience, so internal teams often spend more time problem-solving.

  • Creative depmartments (often the Mac enthusiasts) frequently rely on large files, Adobe software, cloud collaboration, and hybrid workflows, all of which can increase complexity.
     

In short, the issue isn’t the device cost, it’s the time and effort to keep them running efficiently.

Co-Managed Mac Engineers

Key Factors Driving Internal Support Costs

1. Specialist Expertise

Not all IT teams have Mac experience. Supporting Macs internally can require:

  • macOS device management

  • experience in creative software like Adobe Creative Cloud

  • File storage and sync solutions

  • Mixed Mac/PC network management
    ​

If your team doesn’t have this expertise, each issue takes much longer to resolve, which can cause a indirect increase to costs.

​

2. Workflow Complexity

Mac-heavy teams often deal with:

  • Large media files

  • Cloud collaboration (Google Workspace, OneDrive, Dropbox)

  • Remote working setups
     

Supporting these workflows internally can stretch resources, especially if IT staff are primarily Windows-focused.

​

3. Tools and Maintenance

Traditional IT management tools are often built for Windows. Macs require:

  • Proper MDM and management platforms

  • Regular updates and security oversight

  • Integration with mixed environments
     

Without the right setup, IT teams will spend an disproportionate amount of time firefirghting issues as a result of this.

The Hidden Costs

Managing Macs internally without the proper expertise can often bring unexpected costs and challenges.

These can include:

  • Downtime: Creative teams lose productivity when systems fail or are misconfigured.

  • Inefficiency: IT staff spend hours learning Mac-specific fixes instead of strategic projects.

  • Recurring problems: Small issues can become repeated interruptions without proper oversight.

  • Scalability challenges: As the team grows, ad-hoc support can’t keep up.
     

Over time, these “hidden costs” often outweigh the perceived savings of doing everything in-house.

When Co-Managed Mac Support Makes Sense

For businesses with mostly PCs but a few departments using Macs, it’s often far more cost-effective to outsource Mac support through a co-managed model.
 

This approach offers several benefits:

  • Your internal IT team can focus on core systems, primarily Windows infrastructure

  • Mac specialists handle Apple devices, creative software, and mixed environments

  • Teams gain expert oversight without the expense of hiring additional in-house staff
     

The result is a more productive IT environment, with your team supported efficiently and without the high costs of employing dedicated Mac technicians.

Want To Speak To Our Co-Managed Mac Experts? 

If you're considering outsourcing you Mac support, you're in the right place. We love working with internal IT teams to:
 

  • Handle macOS device management and updates

  • Support creative applications like Adobe Creative Cloud

  • Integrate Macs into mixed Windows networks

  • Ensure security, compliance, and access control

  • Reduce downtime and improve workflows
     

By outsourcing Mac-specific tasks to a Apple specialist provider like us, your internal team can stay focused on their areas of expertise and ensure the rest of your business is getting the level of IT services they need.

117-111125.jpg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mac IT support always more expensive than PC support?

Not necessarily. Specialist support may cost more upfront, but well-managed Mac environments often save time and money over the long term. Read our guide made specifically on this topic to find out more →

Do Macs require different security management?

Yes. While Macs are generally secure, they still require proper secuity, inlcudng patching, device management, access controls, and monitoring. Without this leve of structured management, Macs can fall outside standard security policies used for Windows devices.

Can my internal IT team support both Macs and PCs?

Yes it definitely can be done, but it requires the right experience and tools. Many businesses underestimate the time and complexity involved without specialist Mac expertise involved. That's why it's often recommended to either hire an in house Mac engineer or outsource to a Mac specialst partner.  

At what point do Macs become difficult to manage internally?

Many businesses start to feel pressure once Macs grow beyond a small number of devices, especially when the departments/teams using them rely on creative software or shared storage. At this stage, specialist oversight often becomes the better option

bottom of page