Supplement Your Existing IT
Do you feel like a clown trying to juggle your business’s IT needs while trying to stay ahead? Feeling overwhelmed by the constant demand for more stringent cybersecurity measures and advanced technologies? If you can feel yourself nodding along, you’re in the right place. Co-managed IT might be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Let’s paint a picture—you’ve got an internal IT team that does their absolute best at keeping your systems running smoothly, but there’s really too much work to handle on their own. That’s where co-managed IT can swoop in and help save the day. Co-managed IT offers the best of both worlds. Think of it as a customized partnership that lets you retain control over your IT systems while tapping into the experience of an external managed service provider (MSP)—it’s a collaborative approach that ensures your business’s unique needs are met while benefiting from the resources and know-how of seasoned IT professionals.
Best of all, co-managed IT is a versatile option that’s suitable for businesses of all shapes and sizes spanning various industries. In this blog, we’ll break down everything you need to know about co-managed IT, including what it is, how it works, who it’s suitable for, and how to begin calculating costs.
Co-Managed IT Explained
Co-managed IT is a collaborative approach to managed services that helps bridge the gap between your internal IT team and an external managed service provider (MSP) like High Touch. By investing in co-managed IT services, your business can leverage the expertise of professional IT staff without the need to hire additional full-time employees.
Co-managed IT allows your business to retain control over how much help you require from an MSP, ensuring a tailored solution that meets your specific requirements and scales up or down with your business needs.
Co-Managed IT Vs. Full-Scale Managed Services
When it comes to choosing between investing in co-managed IT and full-scale managed services, the choice boils down to the level of control and collaboration you desire over your business’s technology. While full-scale managed services function as your complete in-house team, co-managed IT offers a more cooperative approach that allows you to retain a level of control over your IT systems while benefiting from the expertise and resources of an external service provider.
8 Benefits of Co-Managed IT
1. Expand Your IT Expertise
When you partner with an MSP for co-managed IT services, you gain access to a wealth of experience and specialized skills that might otherwise be out of reach for many small and medium-sized businesses. Staying ahead of your competitors requires a deep understanding of advanced technologies, cybersecurity measures, and strategic IT planning—areas that can strain the resources of businesses with limited IT budgets.
By teaming up with an MSP for co-managed IT services, you can tap into a vast reservoir of talent that encompasses a diverse range of skills and experiences. With co-managed IT services, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that your IT infrastructure is in capable hands, allowing you to focus on what you do best—running and growing your business.
2. Improve Your Security Posture
Protecting your business against security breaches is a tough job, and it’s only getting more involved and more complex. However, managing the intricacies of cybersecurity—from endpoint detection and response (EDR) to threat alert monitoring and incident response—can be overwhelming, especially for businesses without dedicated in-house cybersecurity professionals.
Co-managed IT services offer a solution by providing businesses with access to leading-edge cybersecurity tools, processes, training, and guidance. With the expertise and support of an MSP, you and your internal IT team can rest assured that your business is well-protected against ever-evolving cyberthreats.
3. Scalability
As your business evolves, so do its IT needs. Co-managed services are flexibly designed to scale alongside your business, ensuring you have the support and resources you need when you need them. Whether you’re ramping up operations, streamlining processes, or venturing into new markets, co-managed IT ensures you have a partner in your corner every step of the way.
4. Overall Cost and Efficiency
One of the key advantages of co-managed IT is its cost-effectiveness.
Hiring full-time employees can be expensive and time-consuming. On the other hand, partnering with an MSP allows you to access expert IT support without breaking your budget. Outsourcing certain tasks can also help optimize your existing budget and allocate resources more efficiently, ultimately driving cost advantages for your business.
5. Long-Term Goals and Strategy
Having an effective IT solution requires strategy, expertise, and attention to detail. Co-managed IT gives you access to a trusted team of technology advisors who can help you align your IT strategy with your long-term business objectives. Whether you’re looking to streamline your internal processes, improve productivity, or enhance your customer experience, an MSP can help you achieve your business goals using technology.
6. Support
When it comes to IT, there’s no doubt about it—timely support is essential. Co-managed IT services offer a strategic solution to ensure your business receives timely assistance whenever it’s needed most. By partnering with an MSP for co-managed IT services, you can alleviate the burden on your existing IT team, allowing them to focus on day-to-day operations while your MSP handles the more complex or time-consuming tasks.
Whether you’re facing technical challenges, planning a special project, or simply need advice, a co-managed IT solution can help you through every step of the way.
7. Reposition In-House Employees
By offloading tasks to an MSP with a co-managed IT solution, you can free up your internal IT team to focus on what they do best. Not only does this enhance your overall productivity, but it also allows your team to add more value to the business by focusing on the projects that help more efficiently drive innovation and growth.
8. Create an Escalation Point
It can be challenging to know precisely when to call in an expert—having a co-managed IT solution gives you a clear escalation path for dealing with complex IT issues. Whether it’s troubleshooting a network outage or resolving a security incident, an MSP can help you navigate tricky IT challenges with confidence.
Who Is Co-Managed IT Good For?
The beauty of co-managed IT is its versatility—it can be a game-changer for businesses of all shapes and sizes, spanning across various industries. Here are some key identifiers that indicate co-managed IT is likely a good fit:
- One-Person IT Teams. Flying solo in your IT department? Co-managed IT helps broaden your expertise and lends extra hands to do more work.
- Overloaded Teams. A team drowning in tasks is a recipe for burnout and inefficiency—co-managed IT steps in to alleviate the pressure and lighten the workload for your hardworking team.
- No Cybersecurity Strategy. Things have changed. Having a cybersecurity strategy and solution isn’t an option, it’s vital. If your business lacks a solid cybersecurity plan or in-house expertise, co-managed IT offers a lifeline to bolster your defenses and protect your assets.
- Tight Hiring Budget. Is your hiring budget at its cap? As a collaborative solution, co-managed IT expands your team’s capabilities without having to do any actual hiring.
- Extensive Infrastructure Projects. Planning on upgrading your IT ecosystem? Co-managed IT can make sure all your bases are covered if your internal IT needs to shift focus elsewhere.
- Remote Workforce. In today’s remote-centric world, supporting a distributed workforce requires advanced resources and expertise. Co-managed IT empowers your team to handle in-house projects while MSPs take the lead in providing top-notch support for remote setups.
- Growing Company. As your business scales, so do its technology needs. Co-managed IT offers a smart solution to support your company’s growth trajectory, allowing you to stay focused on driving your business forward.
- Lacking Big Picture Strategy. Do you have a solid in-house IT team but need help with long-term strategic planning? Co-managed IT steps in to provide CIO-level guidance and support, ensuring that your technology roadmap aligns seamlessly with your business objectives.
How Much Does Co-Managed IT Cost?
When it comes to budgeting for co-managed IT services, it’s essential to look beyond the surface level. Much like assessing the cost of a full-scale managed services agreement, selecting the right technology partner is about more than just the numbers.
The cost of managed services is determined by a multitude of factors, including the size and complexity of your organization, the intricacies of your IT infrastructure, the breadth of services required, and the degree of customization needed to meet your specific needs. Therefore, viewing your partnership with an MSP solely as a transaction overlooks its true value—it’s a strategic investment in the future success of your organization.
We Make Things Easier.
Are you considering co-managed IT services for your business? As a comprehensive technology partner, High Touch provides co-managed IT services to companies in any industry.
Whether you’re in rent-to-own, health care, construction, or any other industry, our co-managed IT services are tailored to meet your unique needs and challenges. From providing expert-level support to offering strategic guidance and everything in between, we’re committed to delivering the personalized attention and human touch that sets us apart.
Contact us today to learn more about our co-managed IT services and how we can help make things easier for your business.