Managed IT Services in Houston, TX
Houston Managed Service Provider (MSP) for Businesses With 40 to 250 Users
Preactive IT Solutions runs IT for Houston businesses with 40 to 250 users the way a well-run company runs everything else: with a documented process, measured response times and a weekly review of how we did. From our Houston headquarters, we manage the help desk, networks, security and IT strategy for construction, engineering, manufacturing and energy firms across Greater Houston and Texas.
Managed IT Services That Run
Like a Process, Not a Help Line
Proactive IT Management for Houston Businesses Since 2003
Most Houston companies that call us aren’t short on technology. They’re short on predictability. Tickets sit. The same problems come back. Nobody can say what the IT budget will look like next year, or whether last night’s backup actually worked.
Managed IT services fix that by putting one accountable partner in charge of your entire environment for a predictable monthly fee: users, devices, servers, network, cloud, Microsoft 365 and security. What makes Preactive different is how we run it. Every client is handled through the same audited, documented process our team has refined since 2003, so service quality doesn’t depend on which technician picks up the phone.
The result is enterprise-level IT for companies that don’t have, or don’t want, a large internal IT department, and the time back to focus on running the business.
The Preactive Process: Audit, Align, Prioritize, Plan, Execute
Five Steps From IT Assessment to Technology Roadmap, Reviewed Weekly on EOS
Every Houston client goes through the same documented cycle, whether you have 50 computers or 500. It starts with a detailed audit against our standards and ends with a plan executed on your budget and timeline. Then it starts again.
Perform a Standards Alignment Audit
We go through your servers and network with a magnifying glass, comparing every setting in detail to the Preactive standards. Nothing is assumed.
You get: a documented record of what is and isn't in alignment.
Quickly Address No-Cost Alignment Issues
Many issues, especially for new clients, are configuration changes to systems you already own. We fix those first, making things more stable and reliable without costing you anything.
You get: early wins in stability, before any budget conversation.
Determine Issue Priority
We document which of the remaining misalignment issues are the most critical to your business, ranked by risk rather than by what's easiest to fix.
You get: a clear, ranked list of what matters most.
Budget, Plan & Schedule High-Priority Issues
We meet with you to walk through the most critical issues, look at budgets and cost, and decide together which issues get addressed and when.
You get: a technology roadmap that fits your budget, with no surprises.
Execute the Plan
We make it happen. Our team carries out the plan we built together, within your budget and on your timeline, and reports back on what was done.
You get: work delivered as promised, then the cycle starts again.
Then we do it again, every week.
Preactive runs on EOS (the Entrepreneurial Operating System). Every week the team reviews help desk performance and customer satisfaction ratings, and your environment keeps coming back through the audit.
- <30 minresponse target
- <90 minavg. resolution target
- 0negative feedback goal
What's Included in Our Houston Managed IT Services
Help Desk, Network Management, Cybersecurity, Backup and IT Consulting in One Agreement
One agreement covers the day-to-day support your people need and the long-term planning your business depends on.
Houston, TX
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IT Help Desk
Sub-1-hour response target from real technicians.
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On-Site IT Support
Technicians at your office or job site.
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Network & IT Infrastructure Management
Servers, firewalls, switches and Wi-Fi, monitored.
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Cybersecurity
Layered protection from endpoint to inbox.
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Backup, Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
Verified backups and hurricane-ready recovery.
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Microsoft 365 & Cloud
Licensing, security, migrations and admin.
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IT Consulting & Strategy
Roadmaps, budgets and lifecycle planning.
- IT Help Desk: Real technicians answering tickets with a sub-1-hour response target and sub-4-hour resolution target, including support for Microsoft 365 and line-of-business apps like Procore, Bluebeam, AutoCAD and Revit.
- On-Site IT Support: Technicians dispatched from our Houston office to your office or job site for hardware, network and setup work that can't be done remotely.
- Network & IT Infrastructure Management: 24/7 monitoring, patching and lifecycle management for servers, workstations, firewalls, switches and wireless across every office and job site.
- Cybersecurity: Layered protection including endpoint detection and response, email security, application whitelisting, security awareness training and regular assessments.
- Backup, Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity: Verified backups for servers, Microsoft 365 and project data, with recovery plans built for Houston's hurricane season and grid outages.
- Microsoft 365 & Cloud: Licensing, security hardening, migrations and day-to-day administration for Microsoft 365, Azure and hosted infrastructure.
- IT Consulting & Strategy: Process-driven IT consulting that ties technology to your business goals: technology roadmaps, budgeting, lifecycle planning, risk and compliance.
Fully Managed, Co-Managed or Outsourced IT: Which Model Fits?
IT Outsourcing in Houston Compared: In-House, Co-Managed and Fully Managed IT
There's no single right way to staff IT. Most Houston businesses choose one of three models, and many move between them as they grow. Here's how keeping IT in-house compares with co-managed IT and fully outsourcing it to Preactive.
| Compare | In-House IT Only Your own IT staff | Co-Managed IT Your team + Preactive | Preactive's core service Fully Managed IT Outsourced to Preactive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Companies with a full IT department and the budget for tools, coverage and specialists | Companies with an IT manager or small team who need more depth, coverage or tools | Companies with no internal IT staff, one person stretched too thin, or a provider that isn't working |
| Day-to-day support | Your staff, during their working hours | Your team, with Preactive taking overflow tickets and after-hours coverage | Preactive help desk with targets of under 30 minutes to respond and under 90 minutes to resolve, on average |
| Security & monitoring | Tools and expertise you buy, configure and maintain yourself | Preactive's security stack and monitoring, working alongside your team | Preactive's full layered security stack and monitoring |
| Strategy & roadmap | Depends on how much time your IT leader has | Shared: regular strategy reviews with your IT manager | The Preactive cycle: audit, align, prioritize, plan, execute, reviewed weekly |
| Cost structure | Salaries, benefits, training, tools and turnover | A monthly fee for the pieces you hand off | One predictable monthly fee |
| What Preactive handles | N/A | The pieces your team hands off: overflow tickets, after-hours coverage, security stack and projects | Everything: help desk, infrastructure, security, vendors, strategy and reporting |
| Next step | N/A | See how co-managed IT works | Book a consultation |
Wondering about budget? Read how managed IT services are priced.
From Ticket to Resolved: How Our Houston IT Help Desk Works
Response Targets on Every Ticket, Reviewed by Our Team Every Week
"Fast, friendly support" is on every MSP's website. Here's what actually happens when one of your people needs help, and the targets we hold ourselves to at each step.
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0:00
Ask for Help
Call the help desk at (832) 944-6240 or open a ticket through the support center.
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< 30 min
A Technician Responds
A real technician picks up your ticket. Our target is under 30 minutes; in Q3 2026 we averaged 9 minutes.
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Working
We Work the Problem
Remote first for speed, and on-site from our Houston office when the fix needs hands on hardware.
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< 90 min
Resolved
Our target is an average resolution under 90 minutes. In Q3 2026 we averaged 1 hour 8 minutes. Bigger issues take longer, and we tell you what to expect.
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Weekly
Reviewed Every Week
Help desk performance and satisfaction ratings are reviewed weekly on EOS, with a goal of zero negative feedback.
Problems that keep coming back go into the next audit, so they get fixed for good instead of closed again.
See our Houston IT help desk2024 MSP Titan of the Industry: Construction & Engineering
Managed IT for Houston Construction, Engineering, Manufacturing & Energy Firms
Industry IT Support for Procore, Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Revit and SOLIDWORKS
Houston's economy runs on building, designing, making and moving energy, and those businesses run on software most MSPs have never supported. We've specialized in these industries since 2003, which is why Preactive was named an MSP Titan of the Industry for Construction & Engineering in 2024.
Construction
IT support for Houston general contractors, subs and specialty trades
- Field-to-office connectivity
- Job-site networks and rugged mobile devices
- Cloud project tools, always available
- Procore
- Bluebeam
Engineering
Managed IT for Houston engineering and AEC firms
- AutoCAD and Revit support
- Large-file storage and replication
- Protection for project data and intellectual property
- AutoCAD
- Revit
Manufacturing
Manufacturing IT services for Houston plants and shops
- Plant-floor uptime
- IT/OT network segmentation
- Compliance support
- SOLIDWORKS PDM
Oil & Gas
Managed IT for Houston energy and oil & gas operations
- Secure remote access for field operations
- Multi-site networks
- Security for critical systems
Your Local Houston IT Team, With Offices Across Texas
On-Site Managed IT Support Across Greater Houston Since 2003
Preactive IT Solutions is headquartered in Houston, and our largest team works from our office on Blalock Road. Being local matters when a server fails at 7 a.m. or a new job-site trailer needs to be online by Monday.
On-Site When Remote Won't Do
Technicians visit offices and job sites across the metro from our Houston headquarters.
Ready for Hurricane Season
Backup and recovery plans built and tested before June to November storms and grid outages, not after.
Built for Field Work
Job-site trailers, field crews and multi-office networks connected and supported like headquarters.
Serving Businesses Throughout the Houston Area
- Katy
- Cinco Ranch
- Fulshear
- Sugar Land
- Stafford
- Missouri City
- Richmond
- Bellaire
- West University Place
- Westchase
- Pearland
- Pasadena
- Deer Park
- Baytown
- League City
- Humble
- The Woodlands
- Tomball
- Conroe
Recognized for How We Run IT
Award-Winning Managed IT Services in Houston
Process shows up in results: for our clients, in industry rankings, and in the people who choose to work here.
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2024
MSP Titan of the Industry
Construction & Engineering
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2024
Best Places to Work
Houston Business Journal finalist, small companies
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2022
NextGen 101
Channel Futures
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2018 · 2021
MSP 501
Channel Futures
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2017 · 2021
Houston Fast 100
Houston Business Journal fastest-growing companies
Preactive has GREAT Service! The support line is answered by a real person who can usually resolve the issue without transferring, calling back, or setting up a ticket. Jess is the support tech who helped me, but all of our employees report the same great service, no matter who answers their call. Preactive is the 4th IT Services Consultant we have used, and by far the best! Please keep up the great work!
Hiring Preactive has freed me to focus on the core of my business.
Handling the day-to-day issues and having industry experts at my fingertips allows me to plan for future needs with better clarity. Technicians are technically savvy and tenacious when the bigger issues arise.
100+
five-star Google reviews from the Houston-area businesses we support
Goal every week: zero negative feedback
Led by Founder and CEO Charles Swihart
Charles has worked in IT since 1990 and founded Preactive in 2003. He's the author of the Amazon best-selling cybersecurity book On Thin Ice (2020), was featured in Amazon Prime's CYBER CRIME (2019), and speaks at industry conferences on managed IT and cybersecurity.
Managed IT Services FAQs
Managed IT Costs, Response Times and Switching MSPs in Houston
Straight answers to the questions Houston business owners ask us most before they make a change.
Don't see your question?
Talk it through with our Houston team. No pressure, no sales script.
Book a consultation or call (832) 944-6250What are managed IT services?
Managed IT services means handing day-to-day IT operations and long-term planning to an outside provider for a predictable monthly fee. A managed service provider (MSP) like Preactive monitors and maintains your systems, supports your users, manages security and backups, and plans upgrades, instead of waiting for something to break.
How much do managed IT services cost in Houston?
Most Houston businesses pay a monthly fee based on the number of users or devices and the level of service. Cost depends on how many people and locations you have, your security and compliance needs, and the condition of your current systems.
Read how managed IT services are priced, or book a consultation for an accurate quote.
What size businesses do you work with?
We're built for organizations with roughly 40 to 250 users: big enough to need real process and security, but usually without a large internal IT department.
Which industries do you specialize in?
Most of our clients are construction, engineering, manufacturing and oil and gas companies, and we support the software they run on, including Procore, Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Revit and SOLIDWORKS. In 2024 Preactive was named an MSP Titan of the Industry for Construction and Engineering.
How quickly do you respond to support requests?
Our targets are a response in under 30 minutes and an average resolution time under 90 minutes. In Q3 2026 we averaged a 9-minute response and 1 hour 8 minutes to resolve. Larger issues can take longer, and we review performance against these targets every week.
Do you provide on-site IT support in Houston?
Yes. Our technicians work from our Houston headquarters and visit client offices and job sites across the metro when work can't be handled remotely.
What's the difference between managed IT and co-managed IT?
With fully managed IT, Preactive is your IT department. With co-managed IT, we work alongside your internal IT staff and take on the pieces they hand off, such as overflow tickets, after-hours coverage, security tools or projects.
Compare all three models in the service model table, or read about co-managed IT.
How does switching to a new MSP work?
We start with an audit of your systems, accounts and vendors, then manage the transition from your current provider, including documentation, credentials and monitoring tools, so nothing is lost in the handoff.
The audit is step one of the Preactive process.
Do you only support Houston businesses?
Houston is our headquarters and largest team, and we also serve clients from our Austin and Beaumont offices. Many clients have multiple locations across Texas.
See our Texas offices.
More questions? See the full managed IT services FAQ
Ready for Managed IT That Runs on a Process?
Free 30-Minute Consultation With Our Houston IT Team
Talk through your current setup with a Houston team that's been doing this since 2003. You'll leave the call knowing where your risks are and what a managed IT plan would look like for your business, whether or not you work with us.
MSP Titan of the Industry 2024100+ five-star Google reviewsServing Houston since 2003
What happens on the call
- 1
You tell us what's not working
Users, locations, software, and the issues that keep coming back.
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We point out the risks
Security, backups and support gaps worth fixing first, in plain English.
- 3
You see the next step
How an audit works and what a managed IT plan could cover. No pressure.
