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As you grow from a small startup to a mid-sized business, your IT department needs to grow along with you. However, many mid-sized businesses don’t have the resources to expand their IT department.
That’s where co-managed IT services come in. Your in-house team works with an external managed services provider, joining forces to handle your IT needs and keep your systems safe.
Here’s why co-managed IT services are so effective for mid-sized businesses.
Key Takeaways
- A managed service provider is a company that handles your ongoing IT and cybersecurity needs, such as tech support and system monitoring.
- MSPs are a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to expanding your in-house IT team.
- When choosing an MSP, look for a team whose skill set and expertise complements yours.
What Are Co-Managed IT Services?
Co-managed IT services are a partnership between your in-house IT team and a managed IT services provider, or MSP. An MSP is a company that provides IT services on a third-party basis.
In this partnership, you’ll work together to handle IT and cybersecurity tasks and keep your digital systems running smoothly. Each team focuses on their own skill sets or areas of expertise, taking a balanced approach to system management.
Your MSP provides extra support, helping you complete time-intensive tasks that you wouldn’t be able to complete on your own. They also can help with advanced cybersecurity services and provide other expertise that you might not get from your internal IT team.
What Are The Limitations of In-House IT Services?
Small- and medium-sized businesses are often limited to just a few full-time professionals in their IT departments due to budget constraints. Many businesses have just one IT professional for their entire team.
These small IT teams are often stuck answering technical questions and putting out fires, which gives them little time left over to focus on cybersecurity strategy or system upgrades
With such a small team, it’s difficult to be flexible when challenges arise. If an experienced team member takes time off or leaves the company, your remaining team members might struggle to keep up with your IT needs. This also makes it difficult to scale your IT operations as your company grows.
Additionally, in-house IT professionals often require ongoing training to stay up-to-date with the latest IT infrastructure and cybersecurity threats. This process can be expensive and time-consuming. Limitations in your IT team’s expertise can also cause roadblocks in your operations.
How Co-Managed IT Services Work
Co-managed services help your mid-sized business implement advanced IT strategies without the hefty price tag. Collaborating with your existing IT team ensures that these strategies align with your business goals and operations. Here’s how co-managed IT solutions work with your existing IT staff.
Configuration
Your managed service provider will start by helping you configure your systems and put cybersecurity measures in place if you don’t already have them.
This could include firewalls, endpoint detection, antivirus tools, and automated network monitoring programs. They’ll also help you set up secure data storage, which can include cloud solutions.
Preparedness
Once your systems have been properly configured, your MSP can help you create a disaster recovery plan to ensure you’re prepared for potential data breaches.
They can also train your teams on cybersecurity best practices, helping them avoid phishing and malware attacks. If you have a hybrid or remote work model, they will also help you secure your employees’ devices, so they can work safely from many different networks.
Ongoing Support
Once your team is set up with the MSP service model, you’ll continue with a collaborative approach. Your MSP will be just a phone call or email away if you encounter problems or need help desk support.
They can also provide ongoing system monitoring, helping you identify and neutralize threats in real-time. On top of that, your MSP will work with you to conduct regular system assessments and upgrade your security capabilities as necessary.
Even if your in-house IT department needs to take time off, your MSP will keep your systems up and running safely. Your internal IT department will also have more flexibility to focus on complex challenges and provide tech support for the rest of the company.
Benefits of Co-Managed IT Services
A co-managed IT services model offers many benefits for growing mid-sized businesses. Here’s why taking a co-managed approach can be so effective.
Increased Productivity
Working with an MSP means more hands on deck when tackling IT challenges. By collaborating, your entire team will be able to work more productively and avoid frustrating technical roadblocks. Having extra support also prevents your in-house staff from feeling overworked during busy periods.
Flexibility
Partnering with an MSP will also give your in-house team some much-needed flexibility. Your MSP can take system monitoring and other repetitive tasks off your plate, which means you’ll have more resources available for complex strategic work.
Fast Response Times
Your MSP will help you respond quickly to potential security threats, which helps prevent downtime and costly damage to your systems. When a cyber threat is identified, your MSP will double down on security to help keep hackers out and protect sensitive information.
They’ll also work with you to conduct regular data backups, which can help keep your systems up and running even in the event of an emergency.
Cybersecurity Expertise
MSPs often have access to advanced cybersecurity expertise that you don’t have in-house. This can help you refine your strategy and protect against complex cyber attacks. Some MSPs also have experience with industry compliance standards. With access to this expertise, you won’t need to spend money on costly employee training.
Scalability
An MSP can scale with your business as you grow. Instead of hiring more full-time IT staff, which can be a time-consuming and expensive process, you can work with your MSP to increase your service levels.
Cost-Effectiveness
Working with an MSP is usually more affordable than hiring a large team for full-time IT support.
In the US, the median salary in the computer and IT field is $104,420 per year. Although salaries can vary widely, there’s a significant price tag that comes with hiring even one new IT professional.
Many small- to mid-sized businesses are on a tight budget. Co-managed IT services give you more bang for your buck, so you can get the cybersecurity protection you need without compromising on other aspects of your business.
A healthcare organization struggled with outdated systems impacting HIPAA compliance and patient data management. By leveraging co-managed IT, we upgraded their infrastructure to a secure cloud-based solution, reducing data retrieval times from hours to minutes.
Proactive network management also cut IT-related downtime by 60%, allowing them to focus more on patient care rather than troubleshooting technical issues.
Steve Payerle, President, Next Level Technologies
How to Choose The Right Co-Managed IT Services Provider
Your MSP will be working very closely with your team and providing essential services. Because of this, it’s very important to select your provider carefully. Here’s how to select a co-managed IT services provider that meets your businesses’ needs.
Assess Your In-House Capabilities
Start by looking at your in-house IT team and their skill sets. Identify areas where you’re already successful, as well as areas where you could improve. Then, look for IT service providers that excel in the areas where you need additional support.
Look For Industry Expertise
Every industry has its own technological demands. Some industries, such as healthcare, finance, and defense, are subject to very strict data protection laws. Because of this, it can be helpful to look for an MSP who has experience in your industry.
Read Reviews
As you narrow down your options for potential IT service providers, read reviews or testimonials from their previous customers. This will give you an idea of what to expect when working with them.
Have a Consultation
Before you start working with a managed services provider, have a consultation with them to make sure you’re aligned on your IT needs and business goals. In addition to strong technical capabilities, look for an MSP that communicates well and fits with your company culture.
Since you’ll be working together so frequently, the ability to communicate proactively is a must.
How Tech Advisors Can Help Your Company
Tech Advisors is an MSP providing IT and cybersecurity services to growing organizations. Our team will help you develop a robust IT strategy, taking repetitive or challenging tasks off your plate for more efficient operations.
Our knowledgeable staff provides expert guidance while collaborating with your in-house team for a successful co-managed approach.
To learn more about how our teams can work together to guarantee strong cybersecurity solutions, contact Tech Advisors today.
