The IT industry continually evolves, witnessing numerous new organizational structures and workforce models over the years. Instead of the traditional full-time, in-house IT team model, many businesses nowadays opt for co-managed and managed IT services to leverage their operations effectively. Co-managed services provide numerous advantages for businesses across various scales.
What Are Co-Managed IT Services?
Co-managed services entail a collaborative partnership between an internal IT team and an external expert IT provider. Many businesses opt to maintain a lean internal IT team focused on internal projects, while outsourcing diverse and intricate IT support tasks to external providers. This approach combines the advantages of internal management with the specialized expertise of external IT support, making co-managed services highly advantageous for SMBs, growing businesses, and organizations with less employees and resources.
- SMBs. Many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can significantly enhance their IT capabilities by partnering with a co-managed service provider. Due to their smaller scale, maintaining a complete in-house IT team is often financially impractical for SMBs. However, there are occasions when they require access to specialized expertise. Co-managed services are particularly advantageous in such situations, enabling SMBs to tap into a team with the necessary skill set, expertise, and specialization they need.
- Growing Businesses. Another scenario where organizations can benefit from co-managed services is during periods of rapid growth. As businesses expand, their existing technology, personnel, or expertise may struggle to meet escalating demands. In such situations, engaging a co-managed service provider promptly can alleviate the strain and facilitate sustained growth.
- Organizations With Less Resources & Employees. An organization can usually function adequately with a small in-house IT team that meets its daily operational needs. However, there are occasions when the business needs specialized technical support or expertise beyond what their internal team can offer, often due to its limited size or different skill sets. In such cases, partnering with a co-managed service provider can provide essential additional resources and expertise.
Co-Managed IT Services Vs. Managed IT Services
In managed IT services, a substantial portion of operations management is delegated to an external service provider. Conversely, in the co-managed model, the internal IT team retains primary responsibility for management and strategy, while receiving IT support from the external provider. Each model has its own advantages and drawbacks, so it’s important to evaluate your business model and operational needs carefully when determining the most suitable option.
The Benefits Of Co-Managed Services
Businesses can appreciate a range of benefits when using co-managed services, including:
- Innovative Solutions. A co-managed services provider typically maintains a broad network that includes numerous experts and specialists. Collaborating with such a partner grants you access to the latest and most effective solutions, which your in-house team may not be equipped to provide.
- Diverse Expertise. With the extensive knowledge, expertise, and networks of your co-managed services provider, you gain comprehensive IT support across all areas. They can quickly source skilled personnel for any project and provide guidance on all IT-related matters. For instance, a co-managed service provider brings specialized cybersecurity expertise to help mitigate the growing risks of cyberattacks.
- Flexible Support. Co-managed service providers offer flexible service options, ranging from long-term to short-term engagements. This flexibility ensures you only pay for the specific services you require and allows your provider to adjust their offerings as your needs evolve. Co-managed IT solutions can include comprehensive services like 24/7 help desk support and round-the-clock server monitoring. These capabilities help mitigate the risk of expensive server downtime.
- Agile & Scalable. Whether prompted by business expansion or other factors, your organization may require additional staff, expertise, technology, or resources from time to time. Co-managed services eliminate the need to hire full-time staff or make substantial investments in resources and technology. Instead, you can easily adjust the support provided by your co-managed service provider to scale up or down based on your current requirements.
- Reduce Costs. Partnering with a co-managed service provider allows you to obtain personnel with specialized skills and expertise at a fraction of the cost required to maintain a full-time staff. Co-managed IT not only helps in cutting down on staffing, training, and operational expenses but also provides access to extensive IT services and expertise.
Contact us today to learn how our Co-Managed IT Services can benefit your business.
