Understanding the Differences Between Co-Managed and Fully Managed IT

Did you know the average cost of a data breach in the U.S. last year was $9.44 million?

If that wasn’t scary enough, ransomware attacks increased by 41% last year, and phishing attacks climbed by 48% in the first six months of 2022. In addition, the internet of things is starting to attract more attention from cybercriminals. The ever-evolving threat landscape businesses face can be challenging, which is why many companies outsource some or all of their IT programs.

But what’s the right IT service model for your business? The correct answer depends on whether you have a dedicated IT department with sufficient staffing. However, even companies with IT workers tasked with managing the IT department might want external expertise to supplement the contributions of their in-house staff.

If you’re considering outsourcing options, the two models are co-managed IT services and fully managed IT services. What follows is a comparison of the two. You’ll see who does what under each model and the motivations for choosing one or the other.

Image of a business person walking through a data center with their laptop.

Fully Managed IT vs. Co-Managed IT: Who Does What?

Hiring a fully managed IT services company means the service provider shoulders the responsibility for your company’s entire IT strategy. The service provider is responsible for your company’s IT infrastructure, network security, system performance, maintenance needs, disaster recovery, and more.

Your company won’t have to appoint in-house workers to take on IT responsibilities they may not have the skill set to manage, and you won’t have to take on the process of hiring full-time IT staff. While the third party will handle things on the IT end, that doesn’t mean you have to sit on the sidelines. You should still stay engaged by asking questions, periodically speaking to decision makers at the service provider, and voicing any concerns you may have.

Working with a co-managed IT services provider is a collaborative effort. You can offload as few or as many IT duties as you want. Do you have a skilled IT department but need more workers to manage your company’s IT operations properly? If so, get input from your in-house IT team to see which responsibilities can be assigned to a co-managed IT services provider. This will free up your IT staff to focus on other strategic initiatives.

If you’re a startup with a shoestring budget and a handful of staff members wearing multiple hats, consider finding a service provider to facilitate scalability. Do more in-house as your company grows and adds more workers. Working with a third party offering co-managed and fully managed options will help you scale.

Fully Managed IT vs. Co-Managed IT: When to Choose One or the Other

So, when should you choose the fully managed IT services model? It’s essential to go with this option if any of the following is true:

Your company has a hard time hiring and holding onto skilled IT workers.
Your company lacks a comprehensive IT strategy.
Your company wants to concentrate on core business objectives.

First, your business will find the fully managed option better than the co-managed solution if finding and retaining top IT talent is difficult. Were you adversely impacted by the Great Resignation phenomenon that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic? Record numbers of people quit their jobs and headed for greener pastures. Top IT talent was part of that exodus. Choose the fully managed IT services model if you need more skilled IT talent.

Second, your business should go the fully managed route if there’s no clear IT strategy in place. You’ve likely heard that not planning is the same as planning to fail. Without a clear IT strategy, you can’t afford to move forward in this digital era. If you don’t have one or don’t have one that’s worth more than the paper it’s written on, a fully managed IT services company can help you develop an IT strategy and provide the IT services you need.

Third, your company requires a fully managed IT services provider if failing to do so will see your workers stretch themselves too thin. That’s a surefire way to cause burnout. Hire a fully managed IT services company if you need your small group of skilled workers to focus on other strategic objectives. That’s especially true if your staff members lack specialized IT skills.

When Should You Opt for Co-managed IT Services?

Generally speaking, you should opt for co-managed IT if any of the following is true:

Your company has an IT department but can’t meet your company’s day-to-day demands on the IT front.
Your company has a relatively small budget and can’t afford to hire IT employees.
Your company doesn’t have the in-house skills to manage IT operations adequately.

First, do you have a small IT team that can’t handle daily IT demands? The co-managed IT services model is helpful since it can supplement your IT department and make your staff members’ lives easier. Cybersecurity is a 24/7 job, so a piecemeal approach won’t work. A service provider can help ensure your IT team isn’t overtaxed and spread too thin.

Second, finding the right IT staff can be challenging if you have a small budget. Finding people with the right mix of hard and soft skills will also take much time. You can get the help you need at a discount with a co-managed IT services provider.

Third, hiring a co-managed service provider makes sense if you don’t have the in-house skills to manage your business’s IT needs. You can leverage the skills and expertise of an experienced third party to make up for whatever skills deficit in your IT department.

We Can Help With Your Managed Services Needs

At Medlin Communications, we focus on offering our clients top-tier managed IT support. Whether you’re operating a startup or a large corporation, our award-winning services can help you maintain its operations. We offer desktop IT support to help manage your organization’s computers, server support that keeps your network infrastructure intact, and IT consulting that helps you realize your business’s objectives. Get in touch to learn more about how we can help your business with its IT needs.

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Understanding the Differences Between Co-Managed and Fully Managed IT

Fully Managed IT vs. Co-Managed IT: Who Does What?

Fully Managed IT vs. Co-Managed IT: When to Choose One or the Other

When Should You Opt for Co-managed IT Services?

We Can Help With Your Managed Services Needs

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