For most clinics under 50 staff: Managed IT wins. You get 24/7 coverage, specialist expertise, and healthcare compliance knowledge for 40-60% less than hiring in-house. This article breaks down the real numbers.
The Question Every Clinic Owner Faces
You need IT that works—reliably, securely, and in compliance with HIB. But should you hire someone or outsource?
Think of it like choosing between employing a full-time practice nurse versus using a locum service. Both can work. The right choice depends on your volume, budget, and specific needs.
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Option 1: In-House IT
What You Get
| Immediate availability | On-site when problems occur | But only during their working hours |
| Deep knowledge | Learns your specific systems | Takes 6-12 months to reach full effectiveness |
| Cultural fit | Part of your team | Still just one person's perspective |
| Direct control | You manage priorities | You're also responsible for their development |
What It Actually Costs
The true cost of in-house IT in Singapore:
| Salary (junior-mid level) | S$48,000 - S$72,000 |
| CPF (17%) | S$8,160 - S$12,240 |
| Benefits, leave, bonus | S$6,000 - S$12,000 |
| Equipment, training | S$5,000 - S$8,000 |
| Total | S$67,000 - S$104,000/year |
And that's for ONE person.
The Hidden Risks
Single point of failure:
Sick? No coverage.
On leave? No coverage.
Resigns? Months to hire and train replacement.
Knowledge leaves when they leave.
Limited expertise: One person cannot be expert in:
- Cybersecurity and threat detection
- Healthcare compliance (HIB, PDPA)
- Network infrastructure
- Cloud platforms
- Your specific dental/clinic software
No after-hours coverage: Problems don't wait for 9am Monday.
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Option 2: Managed IT
What You Get
| Team of specialists | Security expert + compliance expert + network expert—not one generalist |
| 24/7 coverage | Monitoring and support around the clock |
| Healthcare expertise | Provider already knows HIB, PDPA, MOH requirements |
| Predictable cost | Fixed monthly fee, no surprise expenses |
| Scalability | Add locations or services without hiring |
| No HR headaches | No recruitment, payroll, performance reviews, or turnover |
What It Actually Costs
| Clinic Size | Managed IT Cost | Typical Savings vs. In-House |
| 1-5 staff | S$1,200/month (S$14,400/year) | 67% savings |
| 6-15 staff | S$2,200/month (S$26,400/year) | 62% savings |
| 16-30 staff | S$3,500/month (S$42,000/year) | 58% savings |
The Trade-offs
What you give up:
Immediate physical presence — Remote support first, on-site when needed
Complete customisation — Some standardisation required
Direct employment relationship — Provider manages the team
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The Real Comparison
Small Clinic (1-5 staff)
| Factor | In-House (Part-time) | Managed IT |
| Annual cost | S$24,000-36,000 | S$14,400 |
| Hours coverage | Limited | 24/7 monitoring |
| Expertise | General | Healthcare specialists |
| Compliance knowledge | Variable | Built-in |
Verdict: Managed IT. No contest at this size.
Medium Clinic (6-15 staff)
| Factor | In-House (Full-time Junior) | Managed IT |
| Annual cost | S$70,000+ | S$26,400 |
| Hours coverage | 9-6 weekdays | 24/7 |
| Expertise | Learning curve | Immediate specialists |
| Compliance knowledge | Must be trained | Built-in |
Verdict: Managed IT. Still clear savings with better expertise.
Large Practice (16-30 staff)
| Factor | In-House (Full-time Senior) | Managed IT |
| Annual cost | S$100,000+ | S$42,000 |
| Hours coverage | 9-6 weekdays | 24/7 |
| Expertise | One senior person | Team of specialists |
| Compliance knowledge | Depends on individual | Built-in |
Verdict: Managed IT still wins for most. Consider hybrid for very complex environments.
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Healthcare-Specific Factors
Why General IT Isn't Enough
You wouldn't ask a GP to perform your root canal. Similarly, general IT knowledge doesn't equal healthcare IT compliance expertise.
Healthcare-focused managed IT understands:
- HIB requirements and how to implement them
- PDPA obligations specific to patient data
- MOH audit expectations
- Dental/medical software security configurations
- How to work around patient care schedules
Compliance Is Non-Negotiable
With HIB enforcement coming:
| Knowledge Area | General IT | Healthcare Managed IT |
| HIB requirements | Must learn | Already knows |
| 2-hour notification rule | May not know exists | Has procedures ready |
| MOH audit preparation | No experience | Has done it before |
| Healthcare threat landscape | General awareness | Specific monitoring |
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Making Your Decision
Choose In-House If:
- [ ] You have 50+ staff (economies of scale improve)
You have highly unique systems requiring dedicated attention
You're willing to pay for a senior security professional (S$100K+)
You can provide career growth to retain talent
You have backup coverage plans for leave/turnover
Choose Managed IT If:
- [ ] You have fewer than 50 staff
You want predictable monthly costs
You need 24/7 coverage
HIB/PDPA compliance matters to you
You prefer focusing on patients, not IT management
Consider Hybrid If:
- You're 30+ staff
- You have complex, unique systems
- You want a coordinator on-site
- You still need specialist expertise for security/compliance
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How Transition Works
If Moving to Managed IT
| 1-2 | Assessment of current systems, documentation of setup |
| 2-4 | Deploy monitoring, configure security, set up support |
| 4+ | Optimise, train staff on new procedures, continuous improvement |
Typical transition: 2-4 weeks for full handover. No downtime required. Your existing systems continue working throughout.
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The Bottom Line
For Singapore clinics under 50 staff:
| Expertise | One generalist | Team of specialists |
| Compliance | Must develop | Built-in |
| Risk | Single point of failure | Distributed team |
The question isn't "Can I afford managed IT?"
It's "Can I afford the cost, risk, and compliance gaps of not having proper IT expertise?"
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*Wondering what managed IT would cost for your specific clinic? Synexo provides transparent pricing based on your actual needs. Book a free assessment—we'll show you exactly what you'd get and what it would cost.*