IT Outsourcing for SMBs in Western Canada.
Hiring a full-time IT person in BC or AB costs between $70,000 and $100,000 per year in salary alone, before benefits and turnover risk. Outsourcing your IT to North Star gives you a full team - helpdesk, security, cloud, and network specialists - for a fraction of that cost. No HR headaches, no sick days, no knowledge leaving when someone quits.
What does IT outsourcing actually include?
IT outsourcing means North Star takes full responsibility for your technology stack under a flat monthly retainer. That includes helpdesk support for your staff, proactive monitoring and patching of every device, endpoint security, backup management, vendor coordination for your internet and phone providers, and a named account manager who knows your business. We act as your IT department: setting strategy, handling day-to-day requests, and making sure your systems are ready before you need them. Unlike hiring one generalist employee, you get a team with specialists across networking, cybersecurity, cloud, and user support - all included.
What North Star delivers.
Unlimited support tickets, no per-ticket billing.
Your staff can call, email, or open a portal ticket any time during business hours. Critical issues get 24/7 coverage on our higher-tier plans. No hourly billing surprises.
24/7 eyes on every device and server.
We monitor CPU, disk, memory, services, and security events across your whole environment. Most issues are caught and resolved before they affect your team.
OS and software updates on a defined schedule.
Unpatched systems are the leading cause of breaches. We patch Windows, macOS, and common third-party applications on a monthly cycle, with emergency patches deployed within 48 hours of a critical release.
Endpoint protection and threat response included.
Enterprise-grade EDR software on every device, with alerting and response handled by our team. You do not need a separate security provider.
We deal with your ISP, Microsoft, and other vendors so you do not have to.
Internet outage? Microsoft 365 problem? Hardware warranty claim? We open and manage the tickets so your team can stay focused on your actual business.
Quarterly reviews and a named contact.
Your account manager checks in quarterly with a report on ticket volume, security posture, and upcoming technology decisions. No anonymous support queue.
What buyers ask before they sign.
How is IT outsourcing priced?
North Star prices IT outsourcing on a per-user or per-device monthly basis. Most SMBs in BC and AB pay between $100 and $200 per user per month depending on the service tier. There is no setup fee for most engagements.
What is the minimum contract term?
North Star's standard agreements are 12 months. Month-to-month arrangements are available at a higher rate. Longer commitments (24 or 36 months) come with price protection.
Do we still need any internal IT staff?
No. North Star can function as your entire IT department. If you already have an internal IT coordinator or office manager who handles basic requests, we work alongside them rather than replacing them - that is co-managed IT. See our co-managed IT page for details.
What happens if our account manager leaves North Star?
Your environment documentation stays with us and is not locked to any individual. A new account manager is briefed and up to speed before the transition is communicated to you. This is one of the key advantages of outsourcing over hiring.
Can North Star support remote and hybrid teams spread across BC and AB?
Yes. The vast majority of support is delivered remotely using secure remote access tools. For on-site work in Prince George and surrounding communities we dispatch technicians directly. For other BC and AB locations we coordinate with vetted local partners or send a technician for planned work.
Ready to hand off your IT?
Tell us about your environment and we will come back with a scoped proposal in two business days. No obligation, no pressure.
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