What’s the difference between IT consulting and managed IT services?

While IT consulting and managed IT services are related, they serve different purposes. IT consulting focuses on strategy—assessing needs, planning technology initiatives, and guiding decision-making—while managed IT services handle the day-to-day management, monitoring, and support of your IT systems. For example, an IT consultant might help you design a secure network architecture, while a managed services provider ensures it stays operational and secure. Many HERO clients use both services: consulting to create the roadmap and managed IT services to execute and maintain it. This combined approach ensures your IT strategy is not only well-planned but also effectively implemented and maintained over time.