Over the years, IT has evolved from a mere support function to a strategic asset driving business growth and efficiency. From streamlining operations to unlocking new revenue streams, IT plays a pivotal role in determining a company's success.
However, managing IT can be complex and resource-intensive for many small and medium businesses (SMBs) due to limited budgets and a shortage of skilled IT professionals. To overcome such challenges, SMBs like yours can leverage co-managed IT services.
What is co-managed IT?
Co-managed IT is a strategic partnership between a business's internal IT team and an external IT services provider, combining the strengths of both parties to deliver comprehensive IT support tailored to the specific needs of the organization.
Unlike managed IT support where all IT responsibilities are handed by an external provider, co-managed IT maintains a balance of control and expertise. The internal IT team retains oversight of core IT functions and strategic initiatives, while the external provider offers specialized skills, resources, and capacity to handle specific IT tasks or projects.
What are the advantages of co-managed IT?
There are many benefits that come with subscribing to co-managed IT services:
Access to specialized expertise
Co-managed IT providers have teams of specialists with in-depth knowledge and experience in various IT areas, including:
- Network management – ensuring your network runs smoothly, automating patches, and providing robust tools to monitor, manage, and support your systems. Many co-managed service providers offer 24/7 network operations center (NOC) services to monitor critical systems and resolve issues, regardless of time of day.
- Cloud solutions – leveraging cloud technology for efficiency and scalability
- Data backup and recovery – protecting your data against loss and ensuring its quick retrieval in case of disasters.
- Cybersecurity – protecting your business from cyberthreats. Many co-managed service providers offer 24/7 security operations center (SOC) services to monitor and stop threats, day or night.
- Help desk services – optionally, some organizations outsource basic Help Desk service to a co-managed IT provider so that their internal IT team can focus on higher-value projects.
By partnering with an external IT company, you can bridge skill gaps within your IT team, tackle complex IT challenges, and implement cutting-edge technologies. Co-managed IT providers stay on top of the latest technology trends, allowing you to access innovative solutions and accelerate your company's digital transformation.
Improved focus on core business
When your internal IT team is bogged down with routine maintenance, it limits their ability to focus on strategic initiatives. Delegating these tasks to a co-managed IT provider empowers your team to concentrate on projects that drive growth such as:
- Innovation – developing new products and services, automating existing processes, and fully utilizing technology to improve efficiency of the organization.
- Customer service – enhancing customer experiences.
- Growth strategies – planning and executing business expansion.
Optimized IT costs
Maintaining a full in-house IT team can be costly, as the expenses related to their salaries, benefits, and ongoing training can quickly add up. Co-managed IT offers a cost-effective alternative. By sharing resources and responsibilities with an external IT provider, you can reduce overhead expenses while maintaining access to top-tier IT services.
Co-managed IT providers also often leverage economies of scale to offer competitive pricing. Moreover, their fixed monthly fee structure simplifies IT budgeting.
Scalability
As your business evolves, so too do your IT needs. Co-managed IT provides the flexibility to adapt to these changes. Whether experiencing rapid growth, seasonal fluctuations, or unexpected challenges, you can quickly scale your IT resources up or down. This ensures IT support aligns with business objectives while preventing overspending on unnecessary IT capacity.
Improved security posture
Cyberthreats are a constant concern for businesses of all sizes. A co-managed IT partner brings tools to help manage your systems, including automation for routine maintenance tasks, including automation and management of basic patching. A co-managed service provider can also offer advanced security technology, threat detection, and incident response capabilities to protect your systems and data. This includes implementing firewalls, endpoint detection & response, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption, as well as providing ongoing security monitoring and updates.
Enhanced business continuity and disaster recovery
Many organizations lack good documentation of their systems such as critical passwords, vendor contact details, or other important information. If an internal IT person is sick, injured, or otherwise unavailable, many organizations are "stuck" without any way of getting support. Partnering with a co-managed IT provider can help fill this gap by implementing secure tools to document critical details so that the provider could step in and provide support when needed.
Co-managed IT providers also can offer robust data backup and disaster recovery solutions, minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity in case of unforeseen disruptions. By having a well-defined disaster recovery strategy in place, you can protect your company's critical data and systems, reducing the impact of potential disruptions on operations.
Fidelis offers tailored co-managed IT solutions designed to meet your specific needs. Our team of IT experts is committed to delivering exceptional service and driving your business forward. Get in touch with us today.
