AWS support models
AWS Consultant vs AWS Managed Services: Which Model Fits Your Business?
Quick answer
At a glance
Choose an AWS consultant if
- ›You have a specific AWS problem to solve
- ›You need an architecture or Well-Architected style review
- ›You're delivering a defined project
- ›You need short-term senior expertise
- ›You have an internal team that needs guidance
Choose AWS managed services if
- ›You need ongoing monitoring and alerting
- ›You need incident response cover
- ›You want operational ownership
- ›Your internal team is overloaded
- ›You want continuous governance and improvement
Choose IG CloudOps if
- ›You need AWS help without a rigid MSP contract
- ›You want senior AWS expertise available flexibly
- ›You want project work and operational support from one team
- ›You want PAYG or credit-based engagement
Side by side
Comparison table
| AWS consultant | AWS managed services | IG CloudOps flexible AWS support | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Reviews, projects, advisory | Production operations | Both, sized to need |
| Cost model | Day rate / fixed scope | Monthly retainer | PAYG, credits or light retainer |
| Speed to start | Days to weeks | Weeks to months | Days |
| Support hours | Project-based | Defined SLA | Flexible — including 24/7 if needed |
| Operational responsibility | No | Yes | Optional, agreed per workload |
| Governance | Advisory only | Continuous | Lightweight or full |
| Monitoring | Out of scope | Included | Optional — via CloudOps platform |
| Project delivery | Yes | Sometimes (extra) | Yes |
| Long-term improvement | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Internal team fit | Augments | Replaces / co-manages | Augments and co-manages |
Consultancy
When an AWS consultant is the right choice
Use a consultant when the problem is bounded and the value is in senior expertise applied to a specific issue or initiative.
- ✓Architecture review or Well-Architected style assessment
- ✓Migration planning and landing zones
- ✓Cost optimisation deep dive
- ✓Security and IAM review
- ✓DevOps and CI/CD improvement
- ✓Performance troubleshooting
Managed services
When AWS managed services are the right choice
Use AWS managed services when you have production workloads that need ongoing operational care and you want to avoid building everything internally.
- ✓Production workloads with uptime expectations
- ✓Monitoring and alerting
- ✓Incident response and on-call cover
- ✓Backup, DR and resilience
- ✓Patch and update management
- ✓Continuous CloudOps maturity
The blend
Many businesses actually need both
Treating consultancy and managed services as completely separate is a common trap. Most AWS environments benefit from an initial assessment, a remediation plan, project fixes, ongoing monitoring, optional escalation cover and periodic improvement — delivered together rather than handed between providers.
Commercial fit
Pricing and commercial models
Day-rate consultancy, fixed-scope projects, monthly MSP retainers and flexible cloud support credits all have a place. IG CloudOps scopes the lightest model that works and can blend project and operational support under one engagement.
Use cases
Where this fits in practice
SaaS company with growing AWS costs
A targeted cost optimisation review followed by lightweight ongoing monitoring.
CTO preparing for scale
Architecture review and landing zone work before a growth event or funding round.
Internal DevOps team needing AWS depth
Senior AWS consultancy alongside the existing team, with no replacement of ownership.
Production AWS workloads with no monitoring
Managed monitoring, alerting and incident response with an agreed escalation path.
Migration from legacy hosting to AWS
Planning, landing zone, migration delivery and post-migration operational care.
Compliance-driven business
Governance review, control mapping and continuous evidence collection.
Need AWS help but not sure whether you need consultancy or managed services?
Talk to IG CloudOps. We'll recommend the lightest, most flexible model that fits your AWS environment and team.
Frequently asked questions
Is an AWS consultant the same as an AWS managed services provider?+
No. A consultant typically advises and delivers projects. An MSP takes on ongoing operational responsibility. The skills overlap, but the commercial models and outcomes are different.
When should we use an AWS consultant?+
When you have a bounded problem — an architecture review, a migration, a cost issue or a security concern — where senior expertise will move things forward fast.
When do we need AWS managed services?+
When you have production workloads that need ongoing monitoring, incident response, patching and continuous improvement, and you don't want to build that capability internally.
Can IG CloudOps provide both?+
Yes. We deliver consultancy, project work and managed services under one engagement, with flexible commercials.
Is AWS managed services always a monthly contract?+
Traditionally yes, but IG CloudOps offers credit-based and PAYG options for teams that don't want a heavy retainer.
Can we keep our internal AWS team?+
Absolutely. We work as an extension of internal teams and won't try to take over ownership you'd rather keep.
What if we only need help with one AWS issue?+
That's fine. Many engagements start as a single review or piece of project work and grow from there only if you choose.
Can IG CloudOps help with AWS cost, security and architecture?+
Yes — all three. We routinely combine these areas because they're closely linked in well-run AWS environments.
Related comparison guides
Azure Consultant vs Azure MSP
Landing zones and governance vs day-to-day Azure operations.
Compare options →Cloud Consultant vs Freelancer
Lower cost and flexibility vs continuity, breadth and accountability.
Compare options →Cloud Managed Services vs Internal Team
Hire, outsource, or run a co-managed cloud operating model.
Compare options →