Adelaide owned and operated, IT & Digital + Web since 2001→

Managed IT services in Adelaide

Hand your IT over to a local Adelaide team that actually picks up the phone. We monitor your systems, keep things patched and secure, and sort problems before they cost you a day's work, all for a flat monthly fee with no surprises. You get on with running your business; we get on with keeping it running.

Last updated

Most small businesses pay $80 to $200 per user per month. See all our prices

The short answer

Managed IT means an outside team looks after your technology day to day for a flat monthly fee. WaTo Consulting does this for Adelaide businesses, with round the clock monitoring and alerts, patching, security, tested backups, vendor management and a local help desk that answers the phone. Pricing is per user per month, quoted once we have seen your setup.

What are managed IT services?

Managed IT services means handing the day-to-day care of your technology to an outside team. It's like having your own IT department, without the overhead of hiring one. Our monitoring keeps an eye on your network, servers and devices around the clock, and we apply updates and patches, manage your security, and fix issues as they pop up. Instead of paying by the hour and hoping nothing breaks, you pay a predictable monthly fee and we take responsibility for keeping everything healthy.

What we cover

Round the clock monitoring

Monitoring watches your network, servers and key devices around the clock and raises alerts. The team works through overnight alerts every morning, so problems get followed up before your staff notice them.

Patching & updates

Operating systems, firmware and business apps kept up to date on a schedule that doesn't interrupt the workday.

Security & threat protection

Endpoint protection, email filtering and firewall management. Layered security that we keep maintaining after it's installed.

Backup & disaster recovery

Automated backups tested regularly, with a clear recovery plan so you know exactly what happens if something goes wrong.

Vendor management

We deal with your internet provider, phone system, printer company and software vendors so you don't have to sit on hold.

Reporting & planning

Regular check-ins on how your systems are tracking, what needs replacing and where your budget is best spent next.

Who it's for

  • Small and medium businesses in Adelaide that don't have an in-house IT person.
  • Growing teams that have outgrown the owner doing IT on the side.
  • Businesses with compliance requirements that need documented security and backup.
  • Offices, trades and professional services that just want their tech to work without thinking about it.

How it works

  1. We audit what you've got. A proper look at your network, devices, software and security: the IT health check, from $990, with no obligation to go further.
  2. You get a clear plan. What needs fixing now, what can wait, and a flat monthly price with no hidden extras.
  3. We onboard your systems. Monitoring, security tools and backup installed, usually outside business hours so nothing is disrupted.
  4. Ongoing care. Patching, monitoring and support running quietly in the background while you work.
  5. Regular check-ins. We sit down with you quarterly to review performance, plan ahead and make sure the setup still fits.

Why WaTo for managed IT

  • A real person answers, not a ticket queue or an offshore call centre.
  • Adelaide owned and operated since 2001, and we're not going anywhere.
  • One team for IT, web, hosting and cloud, with one number to call for everything.
  • Flat monthly pricing so you can budget properly, with no surprise invoices.
  • We explain things in plain English and only recommend what your business actually needs.

Why you can rely on us

A small Adelaide team that answers its own phone, backed by trusted partners around Australia. Here's what that means for your business.

Who you'll deal with

A small, experienced team at WaTo in Adelaide, so the people who know your setup are the ones who pick up. When a job needs hands on site interstate, we bring in trusted partners around Australia and stay your one point of contact.

Response times

Every agreement is built around the business, so your contract sets the exact times. As a starting point we work to common industry targets: critical outages within 1 hour, high priority within 4 business hours, normal requests by the next business day, and planned work as booked. See our service level agreement.

After hours

After-hours cover depends on your plan. Contract clients can usually reach someone, and planned after-hours work is booked in and done outside your trading hours. Voicemail and email are checked regularly out of hours too: if something comes in, we look, even when we're away. See after-hours IT cover.

Certificates and paperwork

Operating since 2001, with our ABN and company details at the foot of every page. We'd rather show you the work than a wall of badges, but if your board, insurer or a tender needs certificates, policies or evidence, talk to us and we'll sort out what you need.

Managed IT questions

How much do managed IT services cost in Adelaide?

It depends on the number of users and how complex your setup is. Most of our small business clients sit between $80 and $200 per user per month. We'll give you a clear quote once we have seen your setup, without vague ranges or pressure.

Can you take over from our current IT provider?

Yes. We handle the transition carefully, getting credentials, documentation and access sorted before we switch anything over, so there's no gap in support.

What if we already have some IT staff?

That's fine. We can fill the gaps (overnight monitoring, security management, backup) so your in-house person can focus on the day-to-day instead of firefighting.

Do you support remote and hybrid workers?

Absolutely. Cloud tools, VPN, remote device management: we set it up so your team can work from the office, home or a job site without worrying about security or access.

Who provides managed IT support in Adelaide?

WaTo Consulting has provided managed IT for Adelaide businesses since 2001: monitoring, patching, security, backups and a local help desk that answers the phone, for a flat monthly fee.

Do I need managed IT or just someone to call when it breaks?

If downtime costs you money, managed IT is usually better value, because problems get caught and fixed before they stop work. If you have few devices and can wait for repairs, paying per job may be enough. We will tell you honestly which suits you.

Related services

Guides on this topic

Ready to hand your IT over?

Tell us what's keeping you up at night and we'll show you what a proper managed setup looks like. There's no obligation.

Mon to Fri, 8:30am to 5pm

No two businesses are the same, so nothing we do is off-the-shelf. Every solution is built around yours, and kept simple.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How do your plans and pricing work?

Whatever suits you: a fixed contract, a monthly retainer, prepaid blocks of hours, or simple hourly rates. You pick the model that fits your business, and we keep it transparent with no surprise bills.

How quickly do you respond?

Fast. You talk to a real person, not a call queue. For urgent issues we're often on-site within the hour across Adelaide, with remote support Australia-wide.

Do you only do IT support?

No. IT & Digital, cyber security, websites & hosting, business solutions and currency equipment, all from one local team. One number to call.

What does it cost?

Managed IT is typically $80 to $200 per user per month. One-off help is $115 an hour remote or $180 an hour on site. Prices are ex GST. See our rates.

Do you support businesses outside Adelaide?

Yes. We're Adelaide-based with on-site visits across South Australia, remote support Australia-wide, and we fly in to clients in Darwin, Brisbane and elsewhere for planned work.

Will you work with our existing IT person?

Absolutely. We often co-manage, taking on monitoring, security and after-hours cover alongside your in-house team.

Why we're different

Not your typical IT company

We keep it simple, and fix things so they stay fixed, instead of patching them today.

A typical IT company
WaTo Consulting
You wait in a call queue
A real person on the WaTo team answers
One rigid plan, take it or leave it
Contract, retainer, blocks or hourly: your choice
Patch it today, deal with it again later
Fix the root cause, and what it could cause next
Jargon and over-engineering
Kept simple and explained in plain English
IT only, you juggle other vendors
IT, cyber, web, business & currency under one roof
Hosting resold from someone else
Our own Australian hosting, run by us
WaTo character, happy to help

Still not sure what you need?

Tell us what's slowing you down and we'll point you to the right fix. You're a partner, not a client.

Call (08) 7123 0805 Email info@wato.com.au
Why clients choose us

Trusted by Adelaide business since 2001

The WaTo team
Real people in Adelaide, not a call queue
  1. SA Construct · client from day one
    Our whole IT structure is with WaTo Consulting for the simple reason that there's no sales spiel, no waiting in line on the phone, and always an effective, quick result when needed.
  2. Wato

    From day one and still going 🤝

  3. Enzo's at Home · client since 2001
    WaTo has been assisting our company since 2001. Always punctual, trustworthy, honest, and can be relied on to get the job done.
  4. Wato

    Time flies when you're having fun 🙌

  5. Real estate business · client from 2010
    WaTo looked after IT for our property management business from 2010. We grew dramatically in that time and WaTo was instrumental in keeping all our IT in order, with smooth upgrades.
  6. Alyx

    Loved being part of the growth 📈

  7. Hospitality venue
    In a busy, large hospitality venue with constant IT issues, WaTo is an incredible asset. If WaTo's called with an issue, they're often here within the hour.
  8. Lee

    On my way 🚗

  9. Accounting practice
    WaTo has been invaluable in moving us from Outlook to Gmail and teaching us the other Google products. Friendly, approachable and easily understood. We've even brought WaTo in to help one of our own clients migrate.
  10. Lee

    Happy to help your clients too 🤝

  11. CRS · client since 2011
    Our data is the backbone of our company, and we sleep easy at night knowing it's safe and secure. Whenever we have an IT problem, WaTo understands how crippling downtime is and is quick to act.
  12. Alyx

    Backups checked. Sleep easy 😴

  13. Lasers in Medicine
    WaTo's IT expertise streamlined our medical practice, reduced operating costs and simplified our backups. 100% quality customer service to small business.
  14. Wato

    Small business is our thing 💪

  15. Engineering company
    Wato, or "DJ WaTo" as he's known to us, has become like family. He always goes above and beyond, with a few good solutions to our ever-demanding needs.
  16. Wato

    🎧 DJ WaTo, at your service

  17. City cafe, multiple locations
    WaTo set up our point of sale and internet. They always answered my calls and could even troubleshoot problems over the phone. Very professional. Thank you, WaTo!
  18. Lee

    Always happy to pick up 📞

  19. Printing industry · client since 2013
    Our business relies on discipline and attention to detail, which is exactly why we've relied on WaTo since 2013. Their knowledge and personal attention give us peace of mind in every area of our operation.
  20. Alyx

    Detail is our thing too 🔍

  21. Genmed 480
    We feel extremely lucky to have WaTo look after our computers. Easy to talk with, explains things in plain terms instead of jargon, and never pushes us to upgrade to the latest and greatest.
  22. Lee

    No jargon, promise 🙂

  23. Alex, 30 Acres · client since 2021
    If you're anything like us, IT is very daunting! WaTo took away the hassle and stress of setting up our brand new restaurant and installed our point of sale. Timely, efficient and a reasonable price. Highly recommended!
  24. Wato

    30 Acres, still the freshest food ever! 🍽️

  25. AV industry
    WaTo delivers for our standard office admin and as a consultant for integrating audio, visual and lighting products into the IT world. Problems are dealt with swiftly to avoid downtime.
  26. Lee

    Lights, camera, uptime 🎬

  27. Cummins Allison (CPI) · client since 2014
    Their ability to grasp and apply product-specific technical process has allowed us to meet all customer KPIs and offer value-added services.
  28. Alyx

    KPIs met. Keep counting 💵

  29. Allied health practice
    When the medical diary crashes, that's an all-out emergency. It happened three times in one year, and each time WaTo fixed it in under 10 minutes. Personal, reliable and fast.
  30. Alyx

    Diary's back up ✅

  31. Sports industry · client since 2015
    We've used WaTo since 2015. Before that, other providers made things difficult. WaTo is prompt, upfront and very reliable, and has saved us heaps!
  32. Lee

    Glad we could save you heaps 💸

  33. Sole owner-operator
    WaTo moved my site to a new server and set up secure, reliable email and hosting, so I could get on with what I do best. I'd send anyone to WaTo for all their wizardry needs.
  34. Wato

    Wizardry on tap 🪄

  35. Recreation industry
    WaTo did an amazing job setting up the audio and visual in our new business, and fantastic work migrating email accounts and managing our domains. Service is A+.
  36. Lee

    A+ right back at you ⭐

  37. Small home business
    Doesn't matter how small your business is, we all need help with IT and digital. WaTo makes me feel like BIG business.
  38. Alyx

    Small business, big support 🚀

  39. Mike Roberts
    As a non-geek, I appreciate that WaTo's always got my back and never makes me feel I'm imposing when I ring out of hours. Looking for someone local and reliable? WaTo's who you call!
  40. Wato

    Anytime, Mike 👍

Who we work with

Our story

Built in Adelaide, since 2001

WaTo Consulting was founded by John Watson in Adelaide in 2001. Over two decades it's earned a name for tailored work across a wide range of industries, helping businesses of every size run more smoothly, work more efficiently and grow steadily, without blowing the budget or disrupting the day-to-day. Rumour has it the story starts much earlier, with a young Wato on his grandfather's knee in front of a Commodore 64, learning to code in BASIC.

Emma Watson (née Dickenson) was part of the story for a stage along the way. She brought real estate and property management expertise, and a clear view of where the business could go: growing it, bringing in new systems and fresh thinking, and lifting the standard of how things are done. WaTo has been through plenty of shapes and stages since, but one thing she helped sharpen has never changed: being consistent for the client is a must.

Today it's all tailored, never off-the-shelf: IT & Digital, Business & Web Hosting, built around what each client actually needs. Over the years those areas have come together under one roof: our IT & Digital, Currency, Business and Web Hosting work now all sit within WaTo Consulting. One team, one standard, looking after the lot.

When you work with us, you're a partner, not just a client.

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