Many organizations today have internal IT departments tasked with handling day-to-day technology needs like connecting devices, addressing user issues, managing systems, and more. But for companies relying solely on in-house teams, it can be challenging to keep up with evolving demands, particularly as cybersecurity threats grow more advanced. This is where co-managed IT services come in.
Also known as Tier 3 managed technology services, co-managed IT involves partnering with an external managed service provider (MSP) to share responsibility for an organization’s IT operations and security. While the internal team continues to handle routine daily requests, the MSP provides an extra layer of expertise and support.
Benefits of a Co-Managed IT Services Model: Ideal for Organizations with Onsite IT Teams
Any organization with an existing onsite IT department can benefit from co-managed IT services to optimize technology operations, prevent cyber incidents, gain access to expertise, and enable their internal team to operate more efficiently. For companies with limited IT budgets or resources, the co-managed approach cost-effectively provides an enhanced layer of support and security.
Co-Managed IT Enhances Cybersecurity
As cyber threats become more frequent, complex, and damaging, partnering with an experienced MSP through a co-managed model is an advantageous way to strengthen IT and cybersecurity defenses. By leveraging the MSP’s full suite of cybersecurity tools like endpoint detection and response, patch management, and 24/7 threat monitoring, organizations benefit from proactive and ongoing protection.
The MSP’s security experts act as an extension of the internal team, implementing best practices and technologies to provide defense in depth against attacks. With constant vigilance and timely response capabilities, the MSP fortifies cybersecurity weaknesses that overburdened internal teams may miss. Neglected cybersecurity is no longer an issue with co-management.
Co-Managed IT Provides Help With Escalations
When major incidents or problems occur beyond the internal team’s capabilities, the MSP provides an escalation point for resolution. The MSP’s experience and breadth of knowledge ensures prompt remediation.
Having the MSP available for escalations enables the internal team to deliver better user experiences. When they encounter complex or unfamiliar issues exceeding their expertise, they can immediately escalate to the MSP’s seasoned professionals. This fast-tracks diagnosis and remediation to maximize uptime and productivity. The MSP has likely seen the issue before and can quickly execute proven resolution procedures. Their broad knowledge and ability to leverage vast internal resources gives them an advantage in tackling any problem.
The MSP can also run comprehensive root cause analysis to determine vulnerabilities or misconfigurations responsible for the incident. These capabilities ensure rapid escalation assistance for any critical issue too difficult or time consuming for the internal team alone. The MSP becomes an invaluable asset for the organization when unforeseen problems occur.
A Qualified Managed IT Provider Delivers Expert Guidance
A major advantage of partnering with an MSP is gaining access to the provider’s accumulated wisdom and technical acumen. Co-management creates an ongoing knowledge transfer, where the MSP’s experts can coach and train the internal team to close any gaps in their skills. Whether through formal training programs or informal mentoring, the MSP helps expand the client’s IT staff capabilities. This may involve deepening their cybersecurity knowledge to implement best practices or enhancing skills in managing multi-cloud environments.
With guidance from the MSP’s seasoned professionals, the internal team can mature their abilities to effectively handle a wider range of technical challenges. The MSP’s broad experience also provides an objective perspective to help align the organization’s IT strategy with business goals for greater success.
Working With an MSP Allows for a Flexible, Customized Approach
Co-managed arrangements can be tailored to each company’s needs, with the MSP handling higher level tasks while routine IT remains with in-house staff. Services scale up or down as necessary.
A major advantage of co-managed IT is the ability to structure the partnership in a way that best suits the organization. Rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach, the MSP works closely with the internal team to understand daily processes, pain points, and priorities. This enables designing a collaborative framework optimized for the client’s environment, staff, and objectives. The division of responsibilities can be adjusted over time to account for changes within the company. Whether the MSP manages larger infrastructure and security operations or provides fill-in staffing assistance, the agreement can evolve to meet needs. This level of flexibility and customization enables each business to realize the full benefits of the co-managed model.
Managed IT Enables Comprehensive Monitoring
Robust remote monitoring and management tools from the MSP give complete visibility over the health and performance of all IT infrastructure on premises and in the cloud. This means that they can keep track of all operational aspects of the enterprises’ IT infrastructure, whether it’s on-premises or cloud-based. These tools help monitor system health, detect failures, and respond quickly to any issues that might arise.
Comprehensive monitoring can also include robust performance tracking. Partnering with a managed IT service provider allows for the continual tracking of system performance. Measures such as uptime, load times, server response times and more can be monitored consistently to ensure systems are operating efficiently.
Co-Managed IT Eases Burden on Internal Staff
With a co-managed approach, in-house tech teams can offload some of the workload related to complex issues, systems management, and cybersecurity oversight to the MSP. This alleviates pressure on internal staff so they can better focus on strategic initiatives.
As an extension of the client’s team, the MSP can also provide coverage when internal staff take vacation or need to take leave, ensuring continuity. When internal staff members take planned vacation or need to take unplanned leave, a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can step in and provide the necessary support to ensure continuity for the client’s operations. This means that the MSP will have trained professionals who are familiar with the client’s systems and processes and can seamlessly fill in for the absent employees.
In the case of unplanned leave, such as sick leave or emergencies, the MSP can provide immediate support to ensure that there is no disruption to the client’s operations. They will have the necessary resources and expertise to fill in the gaps and keep everything running smoothly.
By providing support for both planned and unplanned leave, the MSP helps to mitigate any potential disruptions to the client’s business. This allows the internal employees to take time off without worrying about the impact on their workload or the overall functioning of the company. The MSP acts as a reliable and knowledgeable extension of the client’s team, ensuring that operations continue without any interruptions.
Realize the Benefits of Co-Managed IT Through Partnership With CDS Office Technologies
For organizations seeking to optimize IT operations, strengthen cybersecurity, alleviate internal team burnout, and enhance service quality, a co-managed model offers immense advantages. CDS Office Technologies has the proven expertise in managed IT to provide flexible, customized co-management arrangements that best fit each client’s needs. Our experienced team and robust set of managed services combine with your staff to provide comprehensive IT support.
If you are looking for an MSP you can trust to securely manage infrastructure, provide helpdesk assistance, monitor networks, implement cybersecurity solutions, and serve as an extension of your internal team, contact CDS Office Technologies today to learn more about our co-managed IT services.
