What Is Co-Managed IT Services?

Co-managed IT has become very important because of the growing complexity of modern systems. This means that organizations now require multiple experts from various disciplines to ensure their systems operate efficiently and effectively.

What is Co-Managed IT?

Co-managed IT allows small businesses to outsource some of their IT needs. In a nutshell, it means that your MSP partner works alongside your internal IT department to provide solutions for your IT needs. Your MSP partner handles everything from basic server maintenance to network security to application management. This frees your internal IT staff to focus on bigger projects like data center upgrades, software development, etc.

Why Should I Use Co-Managed IT Services?

There are many reasons why you should consider using co-managed IT services. First, if you have an in-house IT team but no one who can handle certain tasks, you’re probably not getting the most out of your technology investment. If you don’t have someone with experience managing servers or networking equipment

What are the Services You Can Get From Co-Managed IT?

Co-managed IT involves the collaborative effort between your current IT department and your managed service provider (MSP). This means that each co-managed IT agreement will look different for each client. However, the best way to pinpoint the services you need is to identify where your current IT is failing.

Is your staff having trouble maintaining your network’s security? Are they unable to keep up with the latest technology to help increase productivity? Or do they struggle to support an ever-growing number of remote workers? If so, consider implementing co-managed IT services.

Some standard services provided by co-managed IT service providers are:

• Support in daily tasks, including troubleshooting, helping out employees, updating software, and protecting your company’s important resources.
• Supplementary or total cybersecurity protection for small business
• Server maintenance
• Business applications must be updated regularly.
• Help with IT regulatory compliance.
• Helps IT teams become more efficient by providing them with tools for managing their projects.

How Does Co-Managed IT Work?

Many businesses need help from external IT management services. Outsourcing IT operations entirely doesn’t make sense for their business because they can’t afford the cost of hiring an internal team. That’s why the co-management model works so well. When you establish a collaborative relationship between your company and an outside service provider, you share responsibility for managing the technology infrastructure. You both work together to ensure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

• Before starting any project, you must first analyze your current IT team’s skills, abilities, needs, and requirements.
• Work with a third party to provide some of the necessary services for your business.
• Identify which services and resources you require to achieve organizational or business goals.

Who Uses Co-Managed IT Services?

Co-Management is an ideal IT solution if you can meet any of these requirements:

Your IT Staff Is Too Small Or Overworked

IT departments can become overburdened if they manage an ever-increasing number of projects and tasks. Businesses often find themselves hiring additional resources to handle the workload. However, this may prove to be expensive and time-consuming. To avoid extra staff, supplement your current team with a third-party manager who can handle any urgent issues. These co-managers will provide the expertise needed to ensure your business runs smoothly.

You’re Taking on A New Project

Get critical IT projects completed without compromising already strained business resources. Co-Managed IT is what you need working alongside your staff to create smooth transitions or maintain operations while you adjust.

There’s A Knowledge Gap

Even the most skilled or experienced IT department may encounter issues they need help to solve. When faced with such challenges, an outside party with specialized expertise can provide valuable assistance. Such experts can fill gaps in knowledge or skill sets, allowing your team to focus on what matters most.

Pros And Cons Of Co-Managed IT Services

Pros Of Co-Managed IT Services

• Retain control over operations: Your IT team retains full control of all administrative access – including access to tools and services provided by outside vendors. You can choose which areas of operations you want to streamline through third-party input and direct the rest toward your internal staff.

• Less Responsibility To Manage: Hiring an outside company to provide services can save you money and time. When you outsource your IT needs, you no longer have to worry about managing employees, training them, or providing benefits. Managed Outsourcing  services also allows you to focus on what you do best &; running your business. By outsourcing your IT needs, you can scale quickly if needed.
• Keep Up With Trends: Keep up with IT trends, including security, technology, and the latest developments in business applications. Train your employees to understand these new technologies without additional time and resources.
• Offer Around-The-Clock Support: One of the most significant benefits of using a co-managed IT model is that you get 24/7 support, including after-hours support. A business without any backup plan might not survive if it had downtime, especially during peak times. With a co-managed IT system, you can provide support whenever needed, whether day or night. You can also help cover sick days and vacations so your employees can take time off and feel confident that the network and systems will continue to run smoothly.
• Get Instant Implementation: No more spending time searching for, hiring, and training new employees for a short-term or one-time project & co-management allows instant implementation of new strategies or projects without any commitment to hiring a full-time employee.
• Save And Reallocate Hiring Costs: Supplementing your current IT staff with an outside expert allows your department to accomplish more with fewer people and on-site resources. External experts can also help identify which products or technologies best suit your needs, resulting in more significant long-term savings and value.

Cons Of Co-Managed IT Services

• Choosing The Right Partner Is Essential: Choosing the right technology partner is critical to finding successful outcomes with the co-management solution. They must have the skills, experience, and flexibility to match your requirements. Depending on the partnering organization, you may undergo lengthy onboarding or transitory periods.
• You Could Encounter Compatibility Issues: Always check software requirements, compatibility needs, and ongoing maintenance with your IT partner to ensure that operations run smoothly throughout the partnership.
• There Are Upfront Fees: You can save money by partnering with an experienced provider who offers maintenance, monitoring, and support services. These providers may charge a monthly fee for their services but also offer discounts if you sign up for multiple months. In addition, you can get help from a partner who provides training and mentoring so you can learn about managing your infrastructure.

How To Choose The Right IT Co-Management Partner

It’s important before you start looking for an external partner to assess whether you already have the right people and skills in place. If not, consider what you can offer them and what they might be able to provide you. Then, think about what you want from a partnership and what you can expect from one.

Service Model

There are several options available when it comes to outsourcing IT services. Consider which one works best for your budget, technology, team, and company needs.

Contract details: Consider the details of the contract. Include the duration, the services included, and the division of responsibilities. Co-management allows you to find the help you need &; whether it’s short-term assistance for a one-off project or ongoing supplemental support and ensures your team stays flexible, so you can adapt quickly to changing needs.

Services include: In addition to the services provided by the third-party co-manager, consider the scope of those services and what tools, technologies, and equipment they utilize to perform tasks effectively. What is their plan for an error, power failure, or natural disaster? What sort of backup and security measures does the provider use?

Communication method: Frequently, open communication between an organization’s IT department and a third-party vendor is vital to success. Before partnering with a company, both parties should agree upon how they will communicate, including the method (phone, email, video conference), frequency, and emergency protocols.

Mission alignment: Review the organization’s mission statement. Does it align with your personal goals and values? Do they share similar passions or dedication? Some organizations can benefit from having a shared passion or dedication.

Experince

Choosing a good co-manage company requires someone with previous IT management experience and expertise. Here are some things to look for when selecting a co-manager.

• Referrals: If your company is new to co-managing a team, seek out experienced managers who can help guide you through the process.
• Reviews: Request samples of previous projects they’ve worked on, including co-managed and managed projects. Check out their skills, technical expertise, professionalism, and communication skills.
• Expertise: Experience is always an essential hiring criterion. Consider the technology they’re familiar with, past strategies they’ve implemented, and the scope of previous projects. Look for experts who have IT experience in your field or industry for an easier transition and better insights and recommendations.
• Tools: Ask for an inventory of the tools your partners have access to and what they can do for you.

Flexibility

Flexibility is a key part of any successful IT collaboration. You should ask prospective partners what processes they use to manage changes and updates and whether they use any project management software. They should be able to explain how they escalate issues or assign work and how often they update tickets and close them out. Also, consider their communication methods for status updates and closing tickets. Finally, think about how they handle post-escalation, such as notification procedures and marking tickets as completed.

Cost

Your chosen third parties should operate within your budget and keep these costs in mind:

• Know your financial status: Before you begin outsourcing any part of your IT workload, make sure you know exactly how much money you have to spend. You should also be aware of where there are opportunities to reduce costs and where you can find new partners who may offer better value for money.
• Be upfront about your budgets: Be upfront with your managers. Let them know your budget so they know which resources they can utilize and what frequency they should expect to contribute to your operations.
• Monitor ongoing expenses: Track all IT costs. Compute how much extra you’ll pay if you hire an additional on-site IT staff. Adjust your budget accordingly.

In conclusion, with co-managed IT, you can access a dedicated team of professionals to help keep your business safe and protected. Finally, there are plenty of benefits associated with outsourcing your IT needs.