In today’s fast-paced IT landscape, Network Operations Center (NOC) support services are essential for ensuring stable, secure, and high-performing networks. As your MSP grows and you take on multiple clients, the complexity of managing NOC services increases, making strategic decisions that support both your business and your customers more important than ever.
One key decision is whether to outsource NOC support. This can be an ideal solution, whether you’re scaling up, streamlining, or setting up NOC operations for the first time. While some MSPs still prefer in-house monitoring and management, outsourcing NOC support can offer substantial advantages.
By partnering with a trusted, white-glove NOC service provider that offers 24/7 coverage, you can bridge operational gaps and enjoy a range of benefits. These include improved efficiency, reduced downtime, enhanced security, access to the latest technologies and tools, better performance monitoring through KPIs and metrics, and freeing up internal teams — all of which lead to greater productivity and better outcomes for your clients.
Additionally, outsourcing allows you and your team to focus on growing and improving your business, while your NOC provider handles the day-to-day operations. Finally, it also eliminates the burden of scaling your in-house resources up or down as your needs change.
The decision to outsource your NOC support is especially correct in case of the following:
- Increasing IT support workload
- Increasing pressure on the technical team
- Increase in downtime and stack of customer support tickets
- Increasing need for employees to work post office hours
To help you make an informed decision, this blog highlights factors you need to consider when outsourcing NOC support and the benefits of 24×7 NOC services.
What are Outsourced NOC Services?
Outsourced NOC Services refer to the practice of partnering with a third-party provider to handle your network operations center (NOC) tasks. Instead of managing network monitoring, alerts, and incident responses in-house, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can rely on external experts to deliver these services around the clock.
Outsourced NOC Services, also referred to as NOC as a Service (NOCaaS), allow businesses to delegate part or all of their network operations to an external team of experts.
This model eliminates the burden of managing complex IT infrastructure internally, while ensuring around-the-clock support and performance monitoring.
These services can be tailored to fit specific requirements—ranging from basic tasks like alert monitoring, firewall management, and patch updates to more advanced responsibilities such as database configuration and full-scale network oversight.
A fully managed NOC solution offers end-to-end control, delivering enhanced uptime, improved security, and streamlined network performance.
A Network Operations Center (NOC) monitors IT systems 24/7 to detect issues like downtime, connectivity problems, or security alerts. When you outsource this function, you gain access to a skilled team that continuously watches over your clients’ networks, resolving issues quickly, often before they become serious problems.
Outsourced NOC services typically include:
- 24/7 network monitoring
- Incident detection and resolution
- Alert management and escalation
- Patch and update management
- System performance reporting
For MSPs, this model is highly efficient. It eliminates the need to hire and manage a full-time internal NOC team. Instead, you receive reliable support through a cost-effective, scalable, and white-label solution, so your clients never know it’s outsourced.
This approach allows MSPs to grow faster, reduce operational costs, meet SLAs more consistently, and provide uninterrupted service, even during holidays or off-hours.
In today’s competitive IT landscape, outsourced NOC services help MSPs stay ahead by improving service delivery, boosting uptime, and increasing client satisfaction—all without expanding internal resources.
If your MSP is looking to scale without sacrificing service quality, outsourcing your NOC operations could be the smartest move you make in 2025.
Top 5 NOC Monitoring Challenges MSPs Face Today with Smart Solutions
Running a successful Network Operations Center (NOC) is essential for any Managed Service Provider (MSP) that wants to ensure uptime, meet SLAs, and grow confidently. But behind the promise of proactive monitoring and incident resolution lie several operational challenges that can impact performance and client satisfaction.
Here are the top five NOC monitoring challenges that MSPs commonly face in 2025—and what you can do to overcome them.
1. Alert Fatigue
Too many alerts can lead to team burnout. When technicians are flooded with constant notifications—many of them false positives or low-priority—they begin to overlook or ignore them. This “alert fatigue” can cause real issues to slip through the cracks.
Solution: Fine-tune alert thresholds, use intelligent filtering, and implement correlation rules that reduce noise. Smart automation can help your team focus only on actionable, high-priority alerts that truly matter.
2. Time and Resource Constraints
Operating a 24/7 NOC requires a significant investment in time, personnel, and infrastructure. Many MSPs struggle to keep pace with growing client demands while managing internal workloads. As a result, network issues may go unaddressed, and service levels suffer.
Solution: Outsourcing part or all of your NOC operations can offload routine monitoring and free up internal teams to focus on strategic tasks. This model saves time and reduces the need for additional headcount or overtime.
3. Lack of Specialized Expertise
Running a NOC isn’t just about monitoring—it’s about understanding networks, systems, and troubleshooting. Many MSPs face skill gaps when trying to maintain a knowledgeable, experienced NOC team around the clock, especially for advanced issues or overnight shifts.
Solution: Access certified expertise by working with an outsourced NOC provider. These teams are staffed with trained professionals who can quickly detect, triage, and resolve issues across multiple technologies and platforms.
4. Managing Complex Toolsets
From RMM and PSA tools to backup and security platforms, managing multiple systems in the NOC can be overwhelming. Disconnected toolsets often lead to inefficiencies, missed alerts, and slower response times.
Solution: Consolidate tools where possible and choose platforms that offer strong integration. A unified dashboard or single-pane-of-glass view can dramatically improve visibility and help streamline operations.
5. Process Management and Maturity
Many MSPs lack well-documented processes for incident response, escalation, and resolution. Without mature workflows, it’s hard to ensure consistent service delivery, especially when dealing with different technicians, shifts, or remote teams.
Solution: Establish standardized processes and continuously review them for improvement. A mature NOC should follow clear runbooks, escalation paths, and reporting structures to maintain service quality across the board.
Outsourced NOC Support Services: Factors You Must Consider When Deciding
Relative Costs
A lot of times, MSPs struggle with high platform acquisition, integration, and implementation and staffing costs. It is especially true when the need to hire arises due to temporary requirements. Thus, calculating the in-house cost and comparing it with outsourced services becomes essential. In most cases, the outcome is in favor of outsourcing since it offers access to better service at comparatively lower costs.
Cost-effectiveness is primarily due to economies of scale. Moreover, outsourcing eliminates the need to worry about sudden expenses due to changes in requirements or technical issues.
Speed to Market
Given the limited resources and flexibility an MSP has when it comes to in-house operations, it can take up to months to achieve complete operational control and maturity over NOC.
This can significantly increase the time it takes for the business to establish itself in the market while planning expansions. Factors like resource scarcity and lack of expertise/ training can delay it even further. On the contrary, outsourcing is the one-step solution to take care of all the needs and factors affecting NOC operations, support, and maintenance.
Access to Expertise
Building, monitoring, and maintaining NOC demands skills and expertise. Finding talents that can help develop NOC’s operational framework and maturity can be challenging. It will consume a lot of time, effort, and money.
Outsourcing NOC Services eliminates this hassle by providing real-time access to resources, expertise, and technology required to keep the network up and running.
In-house NOC vs Outsourced NOC: Choosing the Right Fit for Your MSP
As a Managed Service Provider (MSP), offering reliable and continuous network support is a key part of your service promise. But how you manage those operations—whether through an in-house NOC or by outsourcing—can significantly impact your efficiency, scalability, and profitability.
Choosing between the two depends on several factors. Let’s explore how organization size, staff expertise, and cost influence this important decision.
Characteristic | In-House NOC | Outsourced NOC |
---|---|---|
Relative Costs | Higher costs due to platform, staffing. | Lower costs due to economies of scale. |
Speed to Market | Slower due to limited resources. | Faster, one-stop solution for needs. |
Access to Expertise | Challenging to find and retain talent. | Real-time access to resources and skills. |
Operational Efficiency | Burden on employees, scaling issues. | Frees employees, scales resources easily. |
Service Quality | Can be inconsistent, slower response. | Better service, prompt availability. |
Access Advanced Technologies | Requires investment, underutilized potential. | Latest tech, focused maintenance, optimized use. |
Cost Savings | Limited savings, hiring constraints. | Considerable savings, flexible scaling. |
Value Added Resources Allocation | Limited additional resources. | Capacity change, incident management, etc. |
Organization Size
- In-house NOC: An internal NOC is generally best suited for large MSPs with significant infrastructure, financial resources, and high client volumes. These organizations typically already have IT operations and support teams in place, making it easier to integrate a full-time NOC.
- Outsourced NOC: For small to mid-sized MSPs, outsourced NOC services offer an easier, faster, and more cost-effective path to delivering 24/7 network monitoring and support. Even rapidly growing MSPs often find outsourcing a practical solution during scaling phases. It removes the need to invest in office space, infrastructure, and additional full-time staff.
Staff Skills and Resource Allocation
- In-house NOC: Building your own NOC means hiring and managing a team of experienced network engineers and technicians. It requires continuous training, 24/7 scheduling, and the ability to respond quickly to alerts or incidents. This model works well if you have a skilled internal team ready to take on full-time monitoring and maintenance responsibilities.
- Outsourced NOC: Outsourcing provides immediate access to a team of highly skilled professionals. These experts are trained in the latest monitoring tools, ticketing systems, and response protocols. It’s a great way to bridge skill gaps, reduce onboarding time, and keep your internal team focused on customer service, business development, and strategic projects.
Cost and Operational Efficiency
- In-house NOC: Running an in-house operation comes with higher ongoing costs—salaries, shift differentials, hardware, software, and backup infrastructure. You also need a physical space and dedicated management resources. While this model offers full control, it can become a financial burden for smaller providers.
- Outsourced NOC: With an outsourced model, you benefit from predictable, flat-rate pricing. There are no hidden infrastructure or training costs. You pay only for what you use, allowing for easier budgeting and better profit margins. Outsourced NOC providers often operate on a white-label basis, allowing you to maintain your branding while delivering 24/7 support.
Outsourced NOC Support Services: Benefits of 24-Hour Outsourced Support
MSPs often consider it unnecessary or expensive to outsource their NOC support and maintenance completely. However, the benefits it offers overshadow the expense you need to bear. Of all the benefits, some of the most important ones are:
Enhanced Operational Efficiency
Outsourcing your entire NOC support frees your employees from the burden of looking after even the slightest errors, allowing them to focus on more valuable tasks.
Moreover, you will not need to worry about operational efficiency and scaling the resources depending on the customer support requirements. The outsourced organization will have all the experts and necessary skills to meet the various support demands of your clients across industries.
Improved Service Quality
A team of expert technicians possessing the necessary skills, training, and knowledge will naturally result in better service quality. It is also one reason why most MSPs choose to outsource their operations.
Moreover, outsourced NOC support and maintenance ensure prompt availability and quick response time, leading to efficient support operations.
Access Advanced Technologies
With the increase in business, the pressure on your in-house NOC team will increase, too. As a result, you might have to invest in infrastructure, recruitment, and technology. However, considering the workload and stress, the chances of them leveraging the technology or software at their best are reduced.
The best solution is to outsource your NOC support. The team will entirely focus on maintaining your NOC, ensuring that customer requests are quickly and effectively solved. Moreover, they will have all the latest technologies, software, and skills that they will use to benefit your business and customers.
Machine learning and automation are constantly improving, which can lead to increased efficiency, operational dividends, better reporting, and enhanced communication. Since this is a huge investment requiring money, time, and effort, it is not recommended that MSPs try to build such infrastructure in their internal surroundings.
Saves Considerable Costs
Outsourcing NOC support to a trusted service provider will save you more than you can imagine. This is because customer support requirements fluctuate a lot, and to meet those requirements, you might have to employ more people. Many MSPs refrain from hiring due to the tentative nature of requirements and budget constraints, ultimately burdening the existing employees, which leads to stress and inefficiency.
On the contrary, when you outsource NOC support Services, all the fixing tasks are taken over by experts who will ensure you meet the requirements efficiently. Moreover, depending on the requirement, they can scale the resources up and down.
Thus, eliminating the woes of hiring, onboarding, and training new people ultimately saves considerable time, effort, and, of course, money.
Value Added Resources
Apart from carrying out routine support and maintenance tasks effectively, the outsourced NOC support service provider will bring much more. While the value addition can be subjective, we, as a leading white-label service provider, offer the following:
- Capacity management
- Change management
- Continual service improvement
- Incident and problem management
- Root cause analysis
- RMM optimization
- Vendor liaison
How to choose an outsourced NOC provider?
Choosing the right outsourced NOC (Network Operations Center) provider is an important step for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) that want to deliver high-quality, 24/7 network support without increasing internal workload or overhead.
With Infrassist Technologies, many providers offering NOC services, it’s essential to evaluate a few key factors to make the right decision for your business. First, confirm that the provider offers true 24/7/365 monitoring—not just automated alerts, but live technicians who actively manage issues in real time.
This ensures that network problems are identified and resolved quickly, even after hours. Next, look for white-label support. This allows the NOC team to act under your brand name, so your clients receive a consistent and professional experience. Technical expertise is also critical.
Your NOC partner should have trained and certified engineers with hands-on experience in remote monitoring tools, ticketing systems, and incident resolution. Make sure they are familiar with the platforms your MSP already uses, such as RMM or PSA software.
Integration with your tools should be smooth and efficient to avoid delays or communication gaps. Additionally, review the provider’s Service Level Agreements (SLAs). These documents define response times, uptime guarantees, and issue resolution timelines, giving you confidence that the provider is accountable and reliable.
Finally, choose a provider that can scale with your business. As your client base grows, your NOC partner should be flexible enough to support more devices, endpoints, and users without disruption.
In summary, the right outsourced NOC provider should be more than a vendor; they should be a trusted partner that supports your business goals, helps you improve client satisfaction, and enables your team to focus on growth instead of reactive support. Taking the time to evaluate these areas will help your MSP choose a partner that delivers long-term value and mutual growth.
Conclusion
The final call regarding outsourcing NOC support is yours. However, please note that choosing 24/7 outsourced NOC support services will deliver better efficiency and quality at reasonable prices, benefiting both your business and the customers.
At Infrassist Technologies, we provide 24/7 proactive support and monitoring, ensuring that all support queries are addressed. To learn more about our NOC services, schedule a free NOC consultation.