How Co-Managed IT Support Empowers Internal IT Teams 

Introduction 

As technology evolves and businesses become increasingly reliant on IT services, internal teams are overburdened, under-resourced, and unable to deliver on what is expected of them. To address these challenges, many businesses are adopting a co-managed IT support model.  

Co-managed IT support is not about outsourcing the job to another team but rather forming a partnership with IT professionals to strengthen the capacity of your in-house employees. This type of solution is a great alternative to fully managed IT for companies that want to keep an internal IT presence.  

In this post, we’ll share the benefits of co-managed IT support and how it supplements the work of internal teams.  

What is Co-Managed IT Support? 

Co-managed IT support is a collaborative approach where an external provider works alongside your internal IT team. Providers can assist your organization by filling skill gaps, providing after-hours support, and handling routine tasks to allow your internal team to focus on strategic initiatives.   

Unlike fully outsourced IT services, businesses with co-managed support still employ an in-house IT team. Outsourced IT support is an addition to, not a replacement for, the work of an internal team. With co-managed IT, you don’t have to worry about an issue being outside the scope of your company’s expertise—professionals handle more complex IT challenges to keep your business running smoothly.  

Partnering with an IT provider ensures your business proactively monitors against attacks, minimizing the impact of cyber threats. This differs from the traditional break-fix model, where technicians only resolve incidents once they have already occurred. Taking a proactive approach to IT with co-managed support reduces downtime throughout your organization, improving employee productivity and goal achievement.  

How Co-Managed IT Empowers Internal Teams 

IT providers offer professional services and insights to assist and supplement your internal team. Some benefits of these partnerships include:  

Scalable Expertise: Outsourced teams are highly flexible, allowing your businesses to scale resources up or down based on needs. They allow you to access IT specialists without permanent headcount costs.  

Extensive Knowledge: Fill knowledge gaps for your internal team without having to retrain staff. Experts share knowledge from a range of IT topics, such as cloud, security, and network support.  

Reduced Stress on Internal Teams: Let your internal team focus on innovation and high-impact projects while your provider handles routine tasks.  

24/7 Coverage: Your team can extend coverage without taking on night shifts or burnout. Managed providers offer around-the-clock support to secure your environment from threat actors and minimize risk.  

Shared Monitoring & Alerts: With an effective monitoring system, your team stays ahead of issues without being on-call 24/7. Set up alerts to learn about incidents as they occur and respond to attacks promptly.   

Use Cases: When Co-Managed IT Makes Sense 

Every business has different needs, so how do you know if co-managed IT support is right for you? These are common use cases for implementing a co-managed model to address your needs.  

1. Your company is growing fast, and your IT team can’t keep up. 

2. Your internal team is stretched thin across multiple roles. 

3. You are working on specialized projects and need expertise, such as cloud migration or cybersecurity audits.  

4. You worry about employee burnout or turnover on your internal IT team. 

Co-Managed IT vs. Fully Managed IT: A Quick Comparison 

If you’re still wondering about the benefits of a co-managed IT team, here are some key differences between a fully managed and co-managed support model.  

Conclusion 

Co-managed IT support is an effective way for businesses to maintain control of their IT services while receiving the benefits of a managed provider. Easily scale IT solutions that address your needs and protect your business data with proactive support.  

As a managed IT provider, Plow Networks can support your team with a host of IT solutions, from Microsoft 365 tools to network management. Our team aligns with your goals and culture to deliver IT solutions tailored to your needs.  

Want to explore how co-managed IT could support your team? Contact Plow Networks to get started.