Managing IT for a growing business often feels like a complex balancing act.
As organizations expand, they often face a critical decision: continue with their internal IT team, who may be stretched thin, or hand over operations to an external company.
However, there is a third option that offers the best of both worlds: co-managed IT services.
What Is Co-Managed IT Services?
Co-managed IT services provide a strategic enhancement to your existing IT capabilities. It’s a flexible partnership where your internal team maintains their essential role while receiving support from experienced external professionals when needed.
Instead of completely outsourcing your IT operations, you create a collaborative environment where internal expertise is complemented by specialized external resources.
This arrangement involves sharing responsibilities based on expertise, availability, and strategic priorities. Your internal team retains oversight of core operations while accessing specialized skills, advanced tools, and round-the-clock support from the managed services provider (MSP).
This hybrid approach offers maintained control with enhanced capabilities.
How Is Co-Managed IT Different from Traditional Managed IT Services?
While traditional managed IT services typically involve completely outsourcing IT operations, co-managed IT offers a more nuanced and flexible approach. Here’s what makes it distinct:
- Your internal team maintains control over critical systems while having the option to delegate specific tasks or projects to the MSP. Expertise is shared rather than transferred.
- Instead of replacing current staff, co-managed services complement existing capabilities, preserving institutional knowledge while filling resource gaps.
- The service model adapts to your specific needs, moving beyond the standardized all-or-nothing approach of traditional managed services.
- Your team develops new skills through ongoing collaboration with MSP experts, fostering professional growth and knowledge transfer.
The Benefits and Considerations of Co-Managed IT
It’s important to keep your business’s goals and IT expertise in mind when deciding if co-managed IT is right for you. A balanced view reveals both advantages and challenges.
Advantages
- Access to specialized expertise without additional full-time hires
- Improved cost efficiency in IT operations
- Comprehensive support coverage without internal team burnout
- Scalable resources for project-based needs
- Enterprise-grade tools and technologies
- Proactive maintenance and monitoring