Co-managed IT services is where internal IT staff hire an outsourced IT services provider to collaboratively share responsibilities, fill skill gaps, and strengthen their strategy.
Let’s take a closer look at what it is and how it helps IT professionals do more with less.
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Who Co-managed IT Support is For
Internal IT teams turn to a co-managed IT services provider when they become overloaded with daily tasks or they require additional expertise.
Another reason IT pros choose co-managed IT is that it allows the staff to focus their attention on specific tasks (like help desk support, cybersecurity, etc.). This can be helpful if you’re trying to grow your expertise in an area or prefer to give your undivided attention to it.
Additionally, these services are a great way to optimize your budget (more on this later).
Co-managed IT may not be the right solution for all IT leaders looking to outsource, though. More on that in the next section.
Benefits of Co-managed IT
Co-managed IT services give IT pros the flexibility to offload routine tasks while maintaining control over strategy.
By partnering with a managed service provider (MSP), you gain access to specialized expertise, advanced security tools, and scalable support without the overhead of hiring full-time staff.
The co-managed model aligns with how high-performing teams already work: agile, cross-functional, and outcomes-driven. This boosts your capabilities while keeping costs predictable.
It also strengthens resilience against rising cyber risk by pairing internal context with external specialists who track evolving threats and maintain secure operations.
Additionally, it helps reduce your team’s burnout, improves efficiency, and keeps your team focused on high-value projects. Essentially, it’s an effective way to strengthen your IT capabilities and to deliver more value to the business.
Next, we’ll take a look at how co-managed IT differs from fully managed IT services, and why that distinction matters for your strategy.
The Difference Between Co-managed IT and Managed IT Services
Co-managed IT services are an arrangement where IT pros work collaboratively (and share responsibility) with an outsourced IT services provider; whereas fully managed IT services are a comprehensive solution.
Managed IT Explained
Managed IT services are similar to co-managed services in that you’re outsourcing IT to an external services provider.
However, in this solution, you outsource all your IT functions, and the MSP takes complete responsibility.
What many IT pros don’t realize is that this option may be ideal for them under specific circumstances.
Gar Whaley, Teal cofounder and former leader in the enterprise IT space, shared his experience on when this might occur.
“Either you’re alone and want to handle strategy while leaving all the tactics to someone else, or you have a team and want them focused on line‑of‑business applications or revenue-generating processes and products instead of help desk tickets,” explained Gar
Explore co-managed IT vs managed IT services in greater detail in this article.
How Co-managed IT Services Works
Co-managed IT services are a flexible, strategic engagement of shared responsibility. Because of that, you decide the scope of the arrangement with an IT provider – whether it’s bolted-on hours for escalations or full management of specific areas like security or cloud.
This shared responsibility format maintains a clear division of duties and lets you offload tasks in a way that works best for you.
Example Co-managed IT Services Arrangement in a 200 User Environment
| Internal IT Team | Co-managed IT Provider |
|---|---|
|
Level 1 help desk |
Cybersecurity |
|
User training |
Cloud management |
|
Hardware management |
Escalations |
|
Line-of-business applications |
Compliance |
The goal is not to replace your team, but to complement it. This partnership improves efficiency, boosts morale, and allows you and your team to focus on high-value projects.
Optimizing Your Budget without Cutting Control
As an IT pro, you know the pressure of balancing performance with budget constraints. Co-managed IT services give you the best of both worlds – control and optimized spend.
Instead of hiring additional full-time staff or stretching your team thin, a partnership with an MSP will help you fill skill gaps and handle specialized tasks at a fraction of the investment.
Empower Your IT Team for What’s Next
Co-managed IT services are a strategic advantage. By partnering with the right provider, you give yourself and your internal team the freedom to focus on innovation while ensuring vital IT functions are expertly managed.
Download this checklist to identify common co-managed IT red flags so you don’t overlook them.
Whether you need extra hands for daily support or specialized expertise for complex projects, co-managed IT creates a balance that drives efficiency, resilience, and growth for the business.
