Your small to mid-sized business faces many challenges – from unfulfilled security initiatives to balancing technology priorities in uncertain economies. If you are an IT leader who wants to outsource IT (and don’t need fully managed IT services), you can reduce costs and bolster your technology initiatives with co-managed IT services.
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Benefits of Co-managed IT Support
Not only will co-managed IT reduce costs (more on that later) but there are several other ways it can boost your IT strategy:
- Overworked Staff: Technology managers are often juggling a myriad of tasks. The right outsourced IT services provider can help you focus on core strategies during seasonal peaks, digital transformation, or through fast business growth.
- Robust Security: Every organization needs cybersecurity tools and strategies. The downside, of course, is that most SMBs don’t have the resources to invest in advanced protection. Partnering with an IT services provider to mitigate those risks not only takes it off your plate, but is cost-efficient.
- New Projects: A co-managed IT solution can help you tackle large projects with the resources necessary through the lifecycle.
- Expertise gaps: From compliance to strategic business alignment, a co-managed service provider can provide the expert consulting you need to fill gaps in your team.
A Co-managed IT Misconception
A common misconception is that managed services providers (MSPs) who offer co-managed support replace the internal IT staff and/or take over the IT process. A reputable provider will complement your IT staff – not replace them.
Providers, like Teal Co-managed, foster a collaborative environment so they can help technology managers (such as IT managers, CIOs, CISOs, IT Directors, etc.) carry out day-to-day business tasks.
Many find that the right IT service provider will augment their team in ways that quickly allow them to focus their attention on core business initiatives.
The right MSP partner will help your organization...
- Increase efficiency
- Fill important security gaps
- Reduce IT costs
- Enhance internal training
- Manage help desk responsibilities
5 Ways Co-managed IT Support Reduces Costs
Deploying managed services will help reduce IT cost by 25-45% and increase operational efficiency by 45-65%. Additionally, Intelligent Technical Solutions reports 25% of organizations experienced downtime costs of approximately $301k-$400k per hour.
That makes employing co-managed services the perfect solution for technology managers who are overworked and on a limited budget. Sharing the responsibility of the organization’s infrastructure helps you:
1. Reduce Overhead
Scaling up can be a big issue in IT. Many SMBs face staff challenges, such as:
- Minimal time to recruit, hire, and train
- High IT salaries
- Low retention rates
By working with a co-managed provider, you can supplement your IT team with experts for a fraction of the in-house cost to hire new IT staff. Co-managed services allow you to keep the resources you have and leverage additional services to fill gaps and relieve stress from your team.
2. Gain Enhanced Tools & Resources
Additionally, you can enhance your IT with enterprise-level tools for a fraction of the cost. Providers can offer you reduced pricing because the cost is shared among clients.
Teal Co-managed experts recommend you work with a provider who are responsive, provider security, automation engineering and more.
3. Increase IT Value
You can partner with an MSP that offers 24/7 support – ensuring you have the maximum system uptime, faster ticket resolution, and strengthened cybersecurity.
Co-managed IT providers also keep pace with the latest technology trends. This allows your business to stay competitive by leveraging their expert insights to enhance your market position.
4. Maintain Proactive Maintenance
Technology managers need to focus their energy on core business strategies; however, downtime prevention is equally important.
A co-managed solution can take care of day-to-day IT operations such as:
- Implementing timely upgrades
- Security updates and patches
- System monitoring to ensure that equipment performs optimally
Proactive and preventative maintenance from your co-managed provider prevents downtime and revenue loss. This allows internal staff to focus on critical business initiatives and reduces their workload – increasing productivity and boosting morale.
5. Fixed Fees
Reputable outsourced IT service providers will provide you with a contract detailing fixed monthly fees – so you’ll always know what to expect.
How to Choose the Right Co-managed IT Service Provider
Choosing the right co-managed IT service provider is crucial for the business’s success.
A poor partnership can lead to inefficiencies, misalignment with your strategic goals, and even increased risks. That’s why conducting thorough research and due diligence before hiring an MSP is essential.
Not all service providers are created equal. Even if a provider offers an extensive range of services, it doesn’t guarantee they’ll align with your company’s vision or meet your strategic needs. In fact, cutting costs by opting for lower-priced services can often backfire, leaving critical gaps in support.
Investing in premium services may involve a higher upfront cost, but it guarantees that your specific needs are thoroughly met – positioning your business for long-term success. Plus, by preventing costly issues and inefficiencies down the line often results in significant savings over time.
Use this checklist to make choosing the right co-managed IT service provider for your team easy and stress-free.
Before Researching MSPs
It’s crucial that you assess your internal resources and responsibilities before looking for a complementary MSP to provide co-managed IT support. This will inform you of the tasks and responsibilities you want to outsource and help your organization reach its goals.
When Researching MSPs
As you begin your research, look for these key deciding factors:
- Great Service: Pay attention to how they interact with you and your team. Ensure they are interested in your company, your goals, and offer clear solutions. Excellent customer service is the hallmark of a great IT MSP.
- References/Reviews: Ask for references and/or client reviews. Find out what other business leaders liked and didn’t like about the company.
- Experience: Choose an MSP that has experience working with your industry, size, and scope. They need to understand how to streamline processes, meet compliance requirements, and manage operations.
- Services Offered: Ensure they offer the services and solutions you need to meet your goals.
- Outcome Driven: Ensure the MSP is outcome driven to help you grow your business. Each company has nuanced requirements that need to be met. Invest in a company that will give you the personalized approach you deserve.
- Scalability: IT needs can change – as your business grows or due to seasonality. Choose a company that can scale up or down when necessary to prevent paying for services you don’t need.
- Pricing: Get quotes from several companies. Compare the pricing structures and what services are offered.
Teal Co-managed provides co-managed IT to small businesses and we tell our clients, “We measure our success by yours.”
A good partner is genuinely interested in your goals and helps to provide solutions to reach them. They also are transparent and communicate when they know they are not a good fit for your company.
Co-managed IT Provider Red Flag Checklist
If you’re considering outsourcing to a co-managed IT services provider, check out our red flags checklist to avoid common pitfalls.
Use this checklist to make choosing the right co-managed IT service provider for your team easy and stress-free.
Get the Most from Your Outsourced IT Service Partner
CIOs, IT directors, and other professionals can maximize their IT resources by fostering a collaborative co-managed IT partnership. By effectively leveraging the expertise of IT service providers, organizations can drive operational efficiency, strengthen cybersecurity, and achieve key strategic goals.
