When Does Co-Managed IT Make More Sense Than Fully Managed IT?

Choosing the right IT management strategy is critical for the success of any growing business. Some opt for fully managed IT, where all of their support is completely outsourced, while others benefit from a co-managed structure, where their in-house staff collaborates with a third-party team.

Knowing which model to choose for your business is crucial because your tech support structure can shape your company's growth, efficiency, and security. Today's post focuses on co-managed IT services and whether they're right for your business.

Fully Managed vs. Co-Managed IT Services: What's the Difference?

Let's start with some definitions:

Fully managed IT services involve outsourcing all aspects of your company's IT operations to a third-party provider. This includes everything from cybersecurity to system updates and help desk support. It's an all-inclusive solution for businesses that don't have an in-house IT team or want to completely offload IT responsibilities.

Co-managed IT services are designed to complement your existing in-house IT team. The provider works alongside your team to fill gaps in expertise, handle specific tasks, or manage time-consuming operations, like monitoring and updates. This approach offers flexibility and allows your internal team to focus on more strategic work.

When Should I Choose Fully Managed IT?

The following are scenarios where your business would benefit most from entrusting your tech to a fully managed IT provider:

• You have no internal IT staff, as well as limited time and resources for hiring and training one.

• Your current in-house team members have limited technical expertise.

• Your budget requires predictable, consistent monthly costs.

• You and your staff need to focus on core business functions without the distraction of IT hiccups or decisions.

When Should I Choose Co-Managed IT?

On the flip side, co-managed IT services might be a better fit if you find yourself in any of these situations:

• You have an in-house IT team, but they need additional support or bandwidth.

• Your team has knowledge gaps about specialized topics such as cybersecurity or cloud migrations.

• You need 24/7 monitoring, help desk support, and resolutions that your in-house staff can't logistically provide.

• You have seasonal or project-based tech needs that require extra time and resources that your staff can't handle alone.

• You want to leave your internal team in control but offload some of the repetitive tasks so they can focus on more strategic aspects of your tech.

What Are the Benefits of Co-Managed IT Services?

If you think your business fits into the description above, co-managed IT might be the perfect solution for you. Let's take a look at how these services can support your needs.

Enhanced Flexibility and Scalability

Co-managed IT services allow your business to scale support up or down based on seasonal demands or growth and adjust services as needed, ensuring your technology solutions evolve with your business.

Increased Productivity for Internal IT Staff

By offloading routine tasks to an external IT partner, your internal team can dedicate more time to strategic projects that spark innovation and are catered to your goals.

Access to Advanced Tools and Expertise

With co-managed IT services, you gain access to cutting-edge software and experienced IT professionals who can provide insights and solutions that may not be available in-house.

Strengthened Security Posture

Benefit from specialized security measures, proactive threat monitoring, and support for complicated compliance frameworks to safeguard your sensitive business data.

Collaborative Approach to Strategy and Problem-Solving

Having full access to the expertise, knowledge, tools, and experience of both your in-house team and your provider gives you a wide variety of resources and perspectives to help you reach business goals and tackle IT challenges effectively.

How Do I Know I'm Ready for Co-Managed IT? 5 Signs It's Time

If you've thought about investing in co-managed IT services but aren't sure if it's the right time or fit for your business, take a look at these 5 signs that you're ready for co-managed IT:

1. Your internal IT team is overwhelmed.

2. You’re planning a major tech upgrade or migration to a new service, hardware system, or platform.

3. You’re experiencing longer or more frequent downtime or security incidents.

4. You want more strategic IT planning but don't have sufficient time or resources.

5. Your business is growing, and your needs are outpacing your current setup.

How Do I Make the Switch?

Here are a few things you can do to smooth out your transition to co-managed IT services if you decide to make the switch.

Ask Questions

When choosing a co-managed IT partner, be sure to ask each potential provider questions that will help you gauge whether or not they're a good fit. Ask about response types, typical cybersecurity measures, onboarding processes, experience in your industry, integration techniques, etc.

Assess Your Current IT Infrastructure

Conduct a thorough review of your existing IT systems, identifying pain points, areas for improvement, and potential risks. This evaluation will help you understand what support your organization requires and how co-managed IT can fill those gaps. 

Set Clear Roles and Responsibilities 

Define the specific roles and responsibilities of your internal team and the co-managed IT provider. This clarity will improve collaboration and communication and help both teams avoid confusion and repeated tasks.

Support & Enhance Your IT Team with ICS

If you're in need of a little extra IT support, ICS is here to help. Whether you're looking for a boost during a seasonal peak, advanced cybersecurity measures, or just some additional assistance for your in-house staff, you can count on us for industry expertise, personalized solutions, and smooth integration with your current team.

Give us a call to learn more about our co-managed IT services and explore how you can enhance your team through ICS.