What is Co-Managed IT?
Co-managed IT is a hybrid IT management model that combines the expertise and resources of a managed service provider (MSP) with the in-house IT team of an organization.
In this model, the MSP and the internal IT team work together to manage the organization’s IT infrastructure and services.
Co-managed IT services can be a good option for organizations of all sizes, but it is particularly well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) who have their own IT person or small IT team, but still need additional resources or technology.
SMBs often lack the resources and expertise to manage their IT infrastructure and services in-house. Co-managed IT solutions can help SMBs to overcome these challenges by providing them with access to the expertise and resources of an MSP.
Full-service vs. Co-Managed:
A managed IT service is a fully managed IT solution where you outsource everything IT-related.
On the other hand, co-managed IT services only involve outsourcing the resources that your business needs. Co-managed IT usually fills the roles your in-house IT team can’t handle, maybe because of inadequate resources, overwhelmed staff, or a lack of necessary skills.
Benefits of Co-Managed IT Services
There are many benefits to co-managed IT services, including:
-
- Reduced costs: Co-managed IT services can be a more cost-effective option than hiring and managing full-time IT staff. MSPs have the expertise and resources to manage IT infrastructure more efficiently and effectively than most in-house IT teams.
- Improved IT performance: Co-managed services can help organizations improve the performance and reliability of their IT systems. MSPs have access to the latest tools and technologies, and they can provide 24/7 monitoring and support.
- Fill skill gaps: Businesses can use co-managed IT services to fill skill gaps in their internal IT team. For example, a business may have a strong team of desktop support engineers, but may lack the expertise to manage their network or cloud infrastructure. In this case, the business could partner with an MSP to provide these services.
- Increased security: Co-managed can help organizations reduce their risk of data breaches and other IT security threats. MSPs have the expertise and resources to implement and maintain robust security solutions.
- Improved IT compliance: Co-managed services can help organizations to improve their IT security and regulatory compliance by providing them with access to the expertise and resources of an MSP.
- Increased flexibility: Co-managed services can help organizations to increase their IT flexibility by allowing them to scale their IT resources up or down as needed.
- Increased focus on strategic initiatives: Co-managed IT services can free up the internal IT team to focus on strategic initiatives and projects. This can help organizations to grow and succeed in the marketplace.
Co-managed IT services can provide organizations with a wide range of IT support, services, and consulting services. Some of the most common co-managed IT services include:
- Network management
- Systems administration
- Cloud computing services
- Cybersecurity services
- Data backup and recovery services
- Disaster recovery services
- IT consulting
Statistics
Types of Co-Managed IT Services
-
- Network management: Network management services can help organizations to manage their networks more effectively. This includes tasks such as network monitoring, network troubleshooting, and network performance optimization.
- Systems administration: Systems administration services can help organizations to manage their servers and other IT systems, which includes tasks such as system installation, system configuration, and system updates.
- Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity services can help organizations to protect their IT systems and data from cyber threats. This can include tasks such as firewall management, intrusion detection, and virus protection.
- Cloud computing: Cloud computing services can help organizations to move their IT infrastructure and services to the cloud. This can help organizations to reduce their costs, improve their IT agility, and scale their IT resources up or down as needed.
- IT support: IT support services can help organizations to provide IT support to their employees. This can include tasks such as troubleshooting technical problems, providing training on new software, and helping employees to use their IT devices.
How to Choose a Co-Managed IT Services Provider
When choosing a co-managed IT services provider, it is important to consider the following factors:
-
- Experience: The MSP should have experience in providing co-managed IT services to organizations in your industry.
- Expertise: The MSP should have the expertise to manage your IT infrastructure and services effectively.
- Resources: The MSP should have the resources to support your co-managed IT services needs.
- Reputation: The MSP should have a good reputation in the industry.
- References: Ask the MSP for references from other customers. Contact the references and ask about their experience with the MSP.
- Service level agreement (SLA): Make sure the MSP has a service level agreement (SLA) in place. The SLA should define the services that will be provided, the level of service that will be provided, and the cost of the services.
When to Consider Co-Managed IT Services
Co-managed IT services can be a good option for businesses of all sizes, but they are particularly well-suited for businesses that:
-
- Have limited IT resources
- Are growing rapidly
- Have complex IT needs
- Need to improve their IT security posture
- Need to comply with industry regulations
Here are some additional tips for implementing co-managed IT services:
-
- Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the MSP and the internal IT team. This will help to avoid confusion and conflict.
- Establish a regular communication plan between the MSP and the internal IT team, which will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that any issues are resolved quickly.
- Invest in training for the internal IT team on the MSP’s tools and processes. This will help the internal IT team to work more effectively with the MSP.
- Regularly review the co-managed IT services contract to ensure that it meets the needs of the organization.
Conclusion
As businesses move more of their IT operations to the cloud, they will need the expertise of MSPs to help them manage their cloud infrastructure and services. Co-managed IT services can help businesses to get the most out of their cloud investments and to ensure that their cloud infrastructure and services are secure and reliable.
In addition to cloud computing, co-managed IT services can also help businesses to manage other emerging technologies, such as big data and analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. As these technologies become more widely adopted, businesses will need the expertise of MSPs to help them implement and manage them effectively.
Need help?
Do you need help with securing your data, employee training, or more? Contact us to learn how PCA Technology Solutions can partner with you to help secure your business.