Fractional IT manager for Australian businesses, delivered remotely
Most businesses with 10 to 80 staff have outgrown “whoever is good with computers” but can't justify a full-time IT manager. We give you an experienced IT manager for a set number of days each month. We plan your IT, manage your vendors, keep Microsoft 365 secure and report to your leaders.
What a fractional IT manager does, and what they don't
We're based in Adelaide and work with businesses across Australia remotely. If you're in Adelaide and want your manager in the office, see our fractional IT manager in Adelaide page.
A fractional IT manager does the work an in-house IT manager would do, for part of the month. That means planning your IT and your IT budget, managing your vendors (including your IT provider, internet and phone carriers, software suppliers and printer leases), overseeing your security starting with Microsoft 365, and reporting to the owners or the board in plain English.
A fractional IT manager doesn't answer your helpdesk phone. They don't replace your managed service provider either. Most of our clients keep their provider for day-to-day support, and we make sure that provider delivers what you pay for. If you have no provider, we also offer managed IT and IT support, and we'll tell you plainly whether you need one, the other or both.
A typical month
Each month depends on what's happening in your business. The regular pieces look like this.
Planning
We keep a 12 to 24 month IT plan covering hardware replacement, software, security work, AI adoption and budget. It's tied to what your business is trying to do, so every spending decision has a reason behind it.
Vendor calls
We deal with your vendors for you. We review contracts and renewals, check that support tickets are handled properly and push back on quotes that don't make sense.
Security review
We review your Microsoft 365 setup, multi-factor authentication, admin accounts, backups and device management against the Essential Eight. You get a list of gaps ranked by risk. We fix them or get your provider to fix them. Each month we check that what was fixed stays fixed.
Reporting
You get a written report in plain English covering security status, open risks, project progress and IT spend.
Who it suits
This service is built for businesses with roughly 10 to 80 staff and no IT manager. Usually someone has ended up owning IT on top of their real job: the office manager, the finance lead or one of the owners.
A stable business with 10 to 20 staff usually fits the 2-day package. A business with 50 or more staff, or one in the middle of a migration or security project, usually needs more. We agree a starting number of days in the first meeting and review it after three months.
It's a good fit if:
- You pay an IT provider, or several vendors, and aren't sure what you're getting for the money.
- A client, insurer or auditor has asked about your cyber security and you couldn't answer with confidence.
- A project is coming up, such as an office move, a Microsoft 365 migration or an AI rollout, and nobody owns it.
- Your board or owners want regular, plain reporting on IT risk and spend.
Fractional IT manager or managed service provider
A managed service provider runs your helpdesk, monitors devices and fixes things when they break, usually for a monthly fee per user. A fractional IT manager works for you and makes the calls an in-house manager would make.
| Managed service provider | Fractional IT manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Support, monitoring and fixes | Planning, oversight and decisions |
| Works for | Its own contract with you | Your business |
| Typical pricing | Per user per month | Set days per month |
| Reports to your board | Rarely | Yes |
Many businesses use both. We wrote a longer comparison: fractional IT manager or managed service provider for a 20-person business. For a plain look at how the cost works, read what a fractional IT manager costs in Australia.
Packages and price
You pay a fixed monthly fee for a set number of days. All prices are in Australian dollars and exclude GST.
| Package | Days per month | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time | 2 | $2,200 + GST per month |
| Extended | 4 | $4,400 + GST per month |
| Additional days | On top of either package | $1,200 + GST per day |
The full price list is on our pricing page.
Optional on-site days
Most of the work happens remotely. If your business is in the Adelaide metro area, some of your days can be spent at your office instead.
Fractional IT manager Australia: FAQs
Common questions about part-time IT management for Australian businesses.
Book a free initial chat
Start with a free conversation about where your IT is now and what's worrying you. Tell us your location and how many staff you have. We'll reply within one business day.
Call 0404 311 791 or email support@essetech.com.au.