As businesses grow, there is no doubt that managing IT infrastructure grows increasingly and this can be complicated and costly. Many companies find themselves in a predicament between wanting to control their own technology and needing expert help that they cannot afford to hire full-time. That is what makes co-managed IT services valuable, as you retain your internal IT team and augment the exact capabilities needed.
In this guide, you will learn how co-managed IT Services could revolutionize your technology operation. You will discover why 73% of mid-size businesses are selecting a flexible approach, and how it may enable lower IT costs. We will also give you useful tips to identify the right co-managed partner and ensure a seamless transition for your team.
What Is Co-Managed IT Services?
Co-managed IT services blend your internal IT team’s strengths with the specialized support of an external provider.
Instead of outsourcing everything, you keep control over your technology while gaining access to extra expertise, resources, and advanced tools. This flexible model is designed for businesses that want to boost their IT department’s capabilities without the cost of hiring more full-time staff.
North America leads the way, but companies worldwide are adopting co-managed solutions to meet growing technology needs. With Integricom, you can tailor a co-managed partnership to fit your unique business goals and infrastructure.
How the Co-Managed Model Works?
It works as a partnership. Your internal team and the external provider work together, dividing tasks based on your needs and strengths. For example, you might handle day-to-day support, while the co-managed partner manages network security, cloud services, or advanced cybersecurity. This arrangement is highly customizable, letting you choose which services to keep in-house and which to delegate to the external team.
Co-managed services can adapt as your company grows, ensuring your technology infrastructure always supports your business objectives.
Typical Service Areas
Common co-managed service areas include:
- Network management
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud solutions
- Help desk support
For instance, your internal workforce may manage user support and day-to-day operations of your organization while the co-managed workforce can take care of patch updates, advanced threat protection and compliance reporting.
Some organizations will only use co-managed IT for project-based needs such as cloud migration and disaster recovery planning. Yet again, this is another way to ensure that you have access to the best resources needed and professionals to better achieve your technology needs.
When to Consider Co-Managed IT Services?
Co-managed IT services are ideal when your business faces technology challenges that your current team can’t fully address, just like:
- Growing workload
- Skill gaps
- Compliance requirements
In fact, many organizations report 50-80% cost savings compared to maintaining a fully in-house IT department. This makes co-managed IT a smart choice for businesses that want to maximize efficiency and control costs while keeping their internal team engaged.
Small or Overloaded IT Team
If you are just starting out and your team is not very large, or if you already have too much to worry about, a co-managed partner takes on routine support, monitoring, and maintenance in order to reduce burnout and ensure critical systems stay up and running.
For example, if your staff is stretched thin during a major software rollout, the co-managed provider can handle help desk tickets and network monitoring, so nothing falls through the cracks.
Skills or Compliance Gap
Technology is constantly evolving, making it difficult for small teams to stay on top of continual cybersecurity threats or compliance standards. When you don’t have the in-house skill-set for HIPAA or PCI compliance or sophisticated cybersecurity, a co-managed IT partner can help fill those gaps.
With co-managed services, your business benefits by gaining access to specialists who can assist in your compliance strategy and protect your data.
Fast Growth, Limited Budget
When your company’s growth exceeds expectations, it’s easy to find that your technology needs are exceeding your resources as well.
Hiring and training new IT staff will always take time and money to ramp up, so Co-managed IT services save you these resources and allow you to grow your support on-demand without the cost of adding staff.
This is especially useful for startups or companies opening new locations who want the ability to add or remove services to meet changing needs and keep their technology aligned with their business vision.
Five Key Benefits of Co-Managed IT
Co-managed IT services offer a powerful mix of flexibility, expertise, and cost control. Here are 5 benefits you can expect from a co-managed approach:
Access to Specialized Expertise on Demand
With co-managed IT, you’re not limited to the skills of your internal team. Instead, you gain access to a wide range of experts in cybersecurity, cloud, and network management.
This means you can tackle complex projects or respond to new threats without hiring or training more staff.
For example, you need to implement a Zero Trust security framework, but your team does not know how to do it or does not have the time, so your co-managed partner brings the knowledge and tools to get it done right.
Scalability Without Extra Payroll
Flexibility is the best thing about this model. Need more? No problem. Now you need less? That’s possible too.
If your business experiences seasonal spikes or sudden growth, you can add resources quickly. There’s no need to worry about recruiting, onboarding, or training new employees. This flexibility helps you control costs and ensures your IT infrastructure can handle whatever comes next.
24 / 7 Security Monitoring & Faster Incident Response
Cybersecurity threats don’t wait until your team is available for response. With co-managed IT, your systems are monitored around the clock, ensuring your data is protected at all times and downtime is minimized.
Reduced Downtime and Ticket Backlog
Waiting time is lost money. A co-managed team can quickly resolve support tickets and technical issues, reducing downtime for your business.
By sharing the workload, your internal staff can focus on strategic projects while the co-managed partner handles routine troubleshooting and maintenance.
This leads to faster resolution times, higher productivity, and a better experience for your employees and customers.
Predictable, Transparent Cost Model
Co-managed IT services are usually billed at a fixed monthly rate, making it easy to budget for technology expenses. So, 0% surprises, 100% confidence.
This transparency helps you make smarter decisions about your IT strategy and ensures you get the most value from your technology solutions.
Potential Drawbacks of Co-Managed IT
While co-managed IT offers many advantages, challenges are still noticeable. When it comes to integrating your internal and external teams, it can be challenging.
In fact, 67% of organizations say this is the biggest obstacle when starting a co-managed partnership. What we recommend:
- Clear communication
- Defined roles
- Regular check-ins
These are essential to avoid confusion and ensure everyone is working toward the same goals.
Questions to Ask a Prospective Co-Managed Service Provider
Before choosing a co-managed IT partner, ask about their experience, service level agreements, and communication process.
Make the right questions: How do they handle onboarding, reporting, and escalation?
Make sure your provider can adapt to your business needs and has a proven track record of supporting companies like yours.
Ready to Supercharge Your IT Team? Book a Free Co-Managed Assessment
Co-managed IT services represent the perfect scenario for achieving the right balance of internal control and external expertise that helps your team do better job while managing costs.
If you would like to expand the capabilities of your IT department, RCOR can help. Our co-managed IT services are designed to integrate with your business, your team and your technology goals.
RCOR makes it easy for you to begin utilizing co-managed IT services that meet your needs. Reach out to us today for a free assessment and learn how working in a partnership with us can allow your business to thrive in an increasingly complex technology environment.