Managed IT Services for Consulting Firms

Your consultants sell expertise. Every minute they spend fighting technology is a minute they can't bill.

Consulting firms operate differently from most businesses. Your people work from client sites, home offices, airports, and coworking spaces. Your revenue depends on utilization rates. Your clients trust you with their most sensitive strategic, financial, and operational data. And your internal teams are too lean to absorb the burden of managing IT on top of delivering client work.

Framework IT provides IT support, strategy, and security services built for the way consulting firms actually operate. We serve as your complete IT department or work alongside your existing internal resources, covering everything from daily help desk support to strategic technology planning and cybersecurity, so your partners and consultants can focus on what they do best.

For a deeper look at how managed IT supports consulting operations, read Why Consulting Firms Need Managed IT Services.

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The IT Challenges Consulting Firms Face

Hybrid and remote work that has to work everywhere, every time. Your consultants move between client sites, home offices, and the road constantly. When cloud-based collaboration tools like Teams, Zoom, or VPN access break down, billable hours stop. Industry research shows that 91% of employees report frustration with inadequate technology, and in a consulting firm, that frustration translates directly to lost revenue.

Reactive IT support that pulls senior people away from client work. Many firms in the 20 to 200 employee range still rely on ad hoc IT support where problems are only addressed after they disrupt work. Partners and senior consultants end up troubleshooting technology instead of serving clients.

No internal IT team and no realistic path to building one. The IT talent shortage is real. Over half of hiring managers report IT staffing shortages even when budgets allow for it. Consulting firms in this size range typically cannot justify or afford a full internal IT department, but they still need enterprise-grade support, security, and strategic guidance.

Client data that demands serious protection. Consulting firms hold confidential strategic plans, financial data, M&A details, and personnel information for multiple clients across multiple industries. A single breach can cascade across every client relationship. The average cost of a data breach rose 10% in 2024 to $4.88 million, and cyberattacks hit a record 1,900 per organization per week in Q3 2024.

Compliance obligations that shift with every engagement. Depending on your client base, your firm may need to satisfy HIPAA, SOC 2, CMMC, PCI-DSS, GDPR, or CCPA requirements. Each new client engagement can introduce different compliance obligations, making a static security posture insufficient.

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How Framework IT Serves Consulting Firms

Your Complete IT Department

About 70% of our clients have no internal IT staff. For them, we function as their entire IT department. For consulting firms, this means you get daily help desk support, proactive infrastructure monitoring, strategic technology planning, enterprise-grade cybersecurity, vendor management, and user onboarding and offboarding, all without the overhead of hiring, training, and retaining an internal team. For firms that do have internal IT resources, our Co-Managed Services plan complements your existing team with infrastructure management, cybersecurity, and strategic vCIO services while your people focus on business-specific applications and initiatives.

A Dedicated Account Team That Knows Your Firm

Every consulting firm we support receives a dedicated account team, not a rotating pool of strangers:

Virtual CIO (vCIO): Your strategic technology partner who aligns IT investments with your firm's growth goals, manages vendor relationships, develops your technology roadmap, and guides AI readiness
Service Manager: Your service delivery advocate who monitors support quality, manages escalations, and ensures accountability
Help Desk Team/Pod: A consistent group of engineers assigned to your firm who learn your environment, your people, and your workflows
Client Lead Engineer (CLE): The senior engineer who serves as the internal technical authority for your account
Proactive Infrastructure Engineer (PIE): Your dedicated maintenance specialist who performs scheduled health checks, updates, and optimizations to prevent issues before they occur

Our average employee tenure is 5 years with over 95% retention, so the people who learn your business stay with you.

Responsive Support That Matches Partner-Level Expectations

Consulting firm principals expect fast, capable support. Our Service Hotline is answered live by a trained Service Coordinator during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Central Time. You will never leave a voicemail. Our actual average response time across all priority levels is under 5 minutes. We guarantee response times by priority level with SLAs backed by service credits, and we resolve approximately 78% of all tickets on the same business day and on the first touch.

For after-hours emergencies, we provide 24/7/365 coverage at no additional charge for critical issues affecting your entire firm.

Support That Works From Anywhere

Your consultants work from everywhere. Our support model is built for that reality. We resolve 97% of issues remotely for faster resolution regardless of where your people are. For Chicagoland offices, we dispatch our own W2 engineers. For locations outside Chicago, we coordinate qualified field technicians directed by our senior engineers. All of your staff get the same quality of support whether they are in your main office, at a client site, or working from home.

Enterprise-Grade Cybersecurity Included, Not Extra

Every managed services agreement includes our full cybersecurity stack at no additional charge:

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) with AI-powered threat detection
24/7/365 Security Operations Center (SOC) monitoring and managed detection and response, operated by a SOC 2 Type 2 certified partner
Advanced email security protecting against phishing, spoofing, and business email compromise
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enforcement
Security awareness training with simulated phishing campaigns
Dark web monitoring for compromised credentials
SIEM logging for threat intelligence and compliance auditing
Vulnerability scanning and managed application control
Encrypted backup and disaster recovery with AirGap anti-ransomware protection and automated backup verification

This stack meets over 97% of cyber liability insurance requirements and typically helps clients achieve 20 to 40% lower insurance premiums, savings that often exceed the monthly managed services fee.

Strategic Technology Planning, Not Just Break-Fix

Most small and midsize consulting firms lack a formalized IT strategy. Technology decisions get made reactively. Your vCIO changes that by providing:

Technology roadmaps aligned with your firm's growth plan and budget
Annual technology budget forecasts with detailed cost estimates
Cloud optimization to eliminate redundant subscriptions and cost overruns
AI readiness guidance with practical, low-risk pilot recommendations
Lifecycle management to proactively replace aging equipment before it fails
Vendor management and contract negotiation
Compliance guidance across HIPAA, SOC 2, FINRA, CMMC, PCI, GDPR, and other frameworks
Cyber liability insurance support including pre-renewal questionnaire guidance and security posture documentation

Strategic Business Reviews are conducted at minimum twice per year. If we fail to deliver them, we credit your account $500.

Predictable Costs That Scale With Your Firm

Consulting firms operate on project-based revenue and tight margins. Our pricing model provides fixed monthly costs rather than surprise invoices. Our No Surprise Billing Guarantee means you will never pay for any hourly or project work that was not pre-approved by an authorized decision-maker. When your firm wins a big engagement and needs to onboard new consultants quickly, we add users at a designated per-user rate. When projects wind down, we adjust accordingly. We recommend 10 business days' notice for standard onboarding, but we have a strong track record of turning around last-minute requests to ensure new hires are ready on day one.

Cybersecurity That Protects Client Trust

Your firm's reputation depends on protecting client data. We help you demonstrate a strong cybersecurity posture through:

Documented security policies including Acceptable Use, Password, Incident Response, Data Backup and Recovery, Remote Access, and Vendor Management policies, all with employee attestation workflows
Compliance support tailored to the frameworks your clients require
Comprehensive audit trails with every action logged to individual accounts
Incident response planning coordinated with your leadership team
Ongoing security posture documentation for client assurance and insurance purposes

Why Consulting Firms Choose Framework IT

41 full-time, U.S.-based employees with 30 engineers across varied tiers and specializations
95% of service delivery staff located in the Chicagoland area
Net Promoter Score of 75 (scores above 50 are exceptional)
Customer Satisfaction score of 96%
Client Retention Rate of 96%
93 comprehensive managed services clients ranging from 3 to 230 users, with the majority between 20 and 100 employees
Multi-year winner of MSP501, CRN MSP500, Inc. 5000 (7-time honoree), and Best Managed IT Services Provider in Chicago (2020 through 2024)
11 Partnership Guarantees including a 30-day money-back guarantee, a 90-day month-to-month trial, and guaranteed live call answering

30%

Improve Resolution Times

15+

Years Of Experience

100%

Satisfaction Guarantee

Our Services

Secure AI & Automation

Accelerate AI adoption with a managed service designed for security, governance, and long-term success. Our Secure AI & Automation solutions provide a dedicated AI advisor, structured implementation, employee training, and ongoing optimization to help your business build AI-powered workflows and automation with confidence. We help you increase productivity, reduce manual work, and deploy AI responsibly without compromising security or compliance.

IT Support

Ensure your business operations run smoothly with our proactive IT support. We provide 24/7 monitoring, issue resolution, and ongoing maintenance to keep your systems operational and secure. Our expert team is always ready to address your IT challenges, minimizing downtime and enhancing productivity.

IT Strategy

Align your technology with your business goals through our IT strategy services. Our vCIO consulting and tailored roadmaps help you plan and implement IT initiatives that support growth, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. We ensure your IT investments deliver maximum value.

Cybersecurity

Protect your business from evolving threats with our advanced cybersecurity solutions. From dark web monitoring to managed detection and response, we provide multi-layered defense strategies that secure your data, systems, and network. Stay compliant and safeguard your reputation with Framework IT.

IT Project Management Services

Ensure the success of your IT initiatives with our project management expertise. From infrastructure upgrades to software implementation, we deliver projects on time, within budget, and aligned with your business objectives. Let us handle the complexities of your IT projects while you focus on growth.

Cloud Services

Leverage the power of the cloud to improve flexibility, scalability, and collaboration. Our cloud solutions include migration, optimization, and ongoing management to ensure your business benefits from secure and efficient cloud infrastructure. Whether hybrid or fully cloud-based, we've got you covered.

Business Communication Solutions

Enhance team collaboration and customer interactions with our business communication solutions. From VoIP systems to unified communication platforms, we provide the tools your business needs to stay connected, productive, and efficient across all communication channels.

Business Internet Services

Optimize your connectivity with reliable, high-speed business internet solutions. We ensure your business stays connected with tailored plans designed for maximum performance and minimal downtime, supporting everything from daily operations to data-intensive applications.

What Our Clients Are Saying

★★★★★

They are always super quick to get back to you (usually less than an hour) while other jobs I've worked have taken literal days if not weeks. Everyone is always super nice super helpful. Every issue I've had has been resolved quickly and correctly. The last 2 times Ethan and Zander helped me out...

Tyler Kraus

Club Colors Buyer, LLC

The biggest benefit of your cloud phone system platform is the seamless communication and efficiency it provides, especially for remote team members who can stay connected and productive through user-friendly desktop and mobile apps. Your hands-on guidance, ethical billing practices, and real-time support distinguish you from other companies, ensuring we feel supported and confident. For anyone considering your services, I would highlight your unmatched combination of reliability, ethics, and support, which simplifies communication and offers invaluable peace of mind.

Shavon Truman

McCready Law Office

Framework IT is the most reliable MSP I have worked with in my 25 years in Office Management. Every staff member I encounter is professional and knowledgeable, and interactions in general are consistently positive. They have completely elevated the level of service we receive, and they are the...

Chelsea Woodmansee

IL Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism

We've been working with Framework for over 4 years now and their services and support are top notch. Our VCIO Arthur has been instrumental in enhancing our IT and security solutions and a big shout out to the entire support team including Matt and Irfaan for their incredible support in finding...

April Lickovitch

Lotus Marketing

I am very grateful for our partnership with Framework and appreciate the team so much! My most recent interaction was with Matt who is always so friendly as well as knowledgeable and efficient with any requests I send their way.

Kelly Yacono

NewRoot Learning Institute

"As a former owner of an MSP, I understand how challenging it can be to price IT services effectively. When I discovered Framework IT, I was blown away by their unique model—it perfectly captures what I tried to achieve for years in my own business. Their approach is transparent, fair, and tailored to fit the needs of businesses of all sizes, making it easy to budget. But what truly sets Framework IT apart is their commitment to partnership. They don't just offer support; they genuinely partner with you to ensure your success and back that up with their business model. Their team is incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, and always willing to go the extra mile to resolve any issues quickly. If you're in the market for an IT provider that combines innovative pricing with top-notch service, look no further than Framework IT."

Mark Kennedy

"Framework IT provides so much more than network support for our organization. We value the insightful advise and long term planning strategies offered to us. Framework IT scales technology solutions to our needs at a budget we can support. Year after year, we receive dependable service from...

Oak Leyden

What IT services do consulting firms typically need?

Consulting firms usually need daily help desk support, proactive monitoring and maintenance, cybersecurity, cloud and collaboration tools, data backup and recovery, and strategic technology planning. Because consultants work across client sites and multiple devices, mobile-ready support and secure remote access matter more than they do for office-bound businesses. Many firms get all of this through a managed service provider instead of building an internal IT team.

Why do consulting firms outsource IT to a managed service provider?

Consulting firms sell billable expertise, so every minute their people spend fighting technology is lost revenue. Most small and midsize firms can't justify a full internal IT department but still need enterprise-grade support, security, and strategic guidance. Outsourcing to a managed provider gives them a whole team of specialists at a predictable monthly cost, without the burden of hiring, training, and retaining staff.

Should a consulting firm hire an internal IT person or outsource to a managed IT provider?

An internal hire gives you one person with one skill set, plus salary, benefits, tools, and no coverage during vacations or sick days. A managed provider gives you a team across support, security, cloud, and strategy, with bench depth so you're never dependent on one person. For lean firms, outsourcing usually delivers broader expertise at a predictable cost. Framework IT serves as a consulting firm's complete IT department, or works alongside existing internal staff.

What's the difference between fully outsourced and co-managed IT for a consulting firm?

With fully outsourced IT, the provider acts as your entire IT department, handling help desk, infrastructure, security, and strategy. With co-managed IT, the provider works alongside your internal staff, taking on infrastructure, cybersecurity, or strategic planning while your people focus on business-specific applications. Firms with no IT staff usually choose fully outsourced; firms with a small internal team often prefer co-managed.

How do consulting firms get reliable IT support for consultants working remotely, at client sites, and while traveling?

Distributed support relies on strong remote tools: most issues get resolved remotely through phone, email, chat, portal, or a device agent, regardless of where someone works. For hands-on needs, providers dispatch engineers locally or coordinate qualified field technicians directed by senior staff. After-hours emergency coverage matters for firms whose people work across time zones. Framework IT resolves the large majority of issues remotely and dispatches its own engineers across Chicagoland.

How do consulting firms protect confidential client data across multiple client engagements?

Consulting firms hold sensitive strategic, financial, and personnel data for many clients, so a single breach can cascade across relationships. Strong protection combines layered cybersecurity (endpoint detection, email security, multi-factor authentication, and around-the-clock monitoring) with clear data-handling policies, access controls that segregate client information, encrypted backups, and staff security training. Documented policies and audit trails also help demonstrate that protection to clients.

What compliance frameworks do consulting firms typically need to meet?

It depends on the clients a firm serves. Consulting firms often need to satisfy SOC 2, and depending on the engagement, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, GDPR, CCPA, or CMMC. Because each new client can introduce different obligations, a static security posture usually isn't enough. Firms typically build a flexible baseline of documented policies, access controls, and audit trails that can stretch to satisfy multiple frameworks rather than just one.

How can consulting firms adopt AI without putting client confidentiality at risk?

Safe AI adoption starts with governance: an AI usage policy, a review process before new tools go live, and data-classification rules for what information AI tools may access. Enterprise-grade tools with data protections beat consumer apps that may train on your inputs. Pair governance with training so staff use approved tools well, and start with small, low-risk pilots tied to real work. Framework IT guides consulting firms through responsible AI adoption as part of its managed services.

How much does managed IT support cost for a consulting firm?

Managed IT is usually priced as a flat monthly fee, most often per user, covering support, security, and strategy for a predictable cost instead of unpredictable hourly or per-ticket billing. Pricing depends on the number of users and how well the firm's technology aligns with security and best-practice standards. Firms winning new engagements can add users as they scale.

What should a Chicago consulting firm look for in a managed IT provider?

Look for a provider that understands professional services: fast, capable support your partners expect, security strong enough for confidential client data, and strategic planning through a virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO). Ask about response-time guarantees, remote and on-site coverage, compliance experience, and whether staff are local. Consistent, tenured teams that learn your firm matter more than a rotating help desk. Framework IT delivers all three, with most of its service team based in the Chicago area.

How much does managed IT support cost for a consulting firm in the Chicago area?

Chicago-area pricing follows the same model as elsewhere: a flat monthly fee, usually per user, covering support, security, and strategy. Being in a major metro doesn't set the price by itself. What drives cost is the number of users and how closely the firm's technology matches security and best-practice standards, since a better-aligned environment needs less reactive work.

Do Chicago consulting firms still need on-site IT support, or is remote support enough?

For most consulting firms, remote support handles the large majority of issues quickly, since consultants work from client sites, home, and the road as much as the office. On-site help still matters for hardware, new-office setups, and hands-on projects. The best model combines fast remote resolution with local engineers available when physical presence is needed. Framework IT dispatches its own engineers across Chicagoland and coordinates field technicians elsewhere.

Get in Touch

Let Framework IT be your trusted partner in managing the complexities of IT for consulting firms in Chicago. Contact us today to learn more about how our proactive solutions can safeguard your business.

Phone: (312) 564-5446
Email: info@frameworkit.com
Address: 700 N Sacramento Blvd., Suite 101, Chicago, IL 60612

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