Tech talent is in high demand, and hiring skilled IT professionals can be both a challenge and a financial strain for small businesses.
But what if you could improve your IT department's capabilities without hiring additional staff? This is where co-managed IT support is ideal.
A collaborative solution that blends external expertise with your in-house control, giving businesses the best of both worlds for managing IT operations.
If you're a small business owner, IT manager, or decision-maker struggling with resource limitations or growing IT demands, this guide will show you how co-managed IT services can meet your needs while avoiding the costs and complexities of hiring full-time IT techs.
Before exploring the benefits, it’s key to understand co-managed IT services. Co-managed IT is a collaborative model in which your internal IT team works alongside an external managed service provider (MSP).
Think of it as a partnership where the MSP fills in the gaps, offering specialized expertise, tools, and support without infringing on your team’s autonomy.
Here are the key features that make co-managed IT support a valuable option:
Co-managed IT allows businesses to retain control over critical IT functions while gaining access to resources and expertise that would be costly to build internally.
Resource: In a hurry?
Find out quickly here why you need co managed it services vs. hiring IT techs
Many business owners default to hiring more internal techs when faced with increasing IT demands. While this might solve some problems, it can also introduce new challenges, from budget constraints to skill gaps. Co-managed IT services offer an appealing alternative.
Here are some of the top five benefits of co-managed IT services:
IT problems are rarely one-size-fits-all. A dedicated MSP can bring specialized skills and industry knowledge to your IT operations – whether it’s advanced cybersecurity measures, compliance expertise, or managing complex cloud infrastructures.
Instead of hiring one IT technician with a narrow skill set, co-managed IT gives you access to an entire team of specialists.
For example:
Hiring full-time IT techs involves significant costs – salaries, benefits, training, and turnover expenses.
For example:
According to Mordor Intelligence, the global managed services market is projected to grow from $303.16 billion in 2025 to $443.38 billion by 2030, reflecting a CAGR of 7.9%.
Businesses are increasingly adopting managed services to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs, with industry data showing that managed infrastructure services can reduce IT costs by 25 - 45% and boost operational efficiency by 45–65%.
MSPs leverage a full array of tools and monitoring software. This means they can proactively identify and resolve potential issues, like network slowdowns or hardware failures, before they disrupt your business operations.
Their infrastructure and technology allow for a level of continuous performance improvement that’s hard to replicate in-house.
Many co-managed IT services come with 24/7 monitoring and support, ensuring that issues are addressed night or day, boosting your network's reliability and reducing downtime.
Hiring IT techs locks you into a fixed set of skills that may not match your evolving business needs. Co-managed IT adapts as your organization grows or your requirements change. You can add new services, tap into advanced expertise, or even roll back services during reduced-demand periods.
For example:
By passing specific responsibilities to an MSP, your in-house team can focus on high-priority tasks, strategic initiatives, and innovation rather than getting bogged down in routine maintenance or troubleshooting.
If you want co-managed IT support to run smoothly, it all starts with building a strong foundation for teamwork and collaboration.
This means establishing clear communication channels, defining roles and responsibilities, and fostering trust between internal teams and external IT partners to ensure seamless operations and mutual success.
Here are five simple ways businesses can foster a successful partnership with their MSP:
Open and continuous communication is key. Establish expectations upfront, and define the scope of work each party is responsible for. Your MSP should complement your internal team, not compete with them.
Pro Tip: Regularly scheduled meetings between your team and the MSP ensure alignment and address any concerns proactively.
The MSP should act less like a vendor and more like an extension of your team. Clearly outline your business objectives – whether it’s improving uptime, reinforcing cybersecurity, or implementing new software—so the MSP can deliver results that matter to you.
A well-drafted SLA ensures accountability by outlining deliverables, response times, and metrics for success.
For example,
Your SLA might state that the MSP must respond to critical issues within one hour or restore services within four hours.
Your MSP will work closely with your internal team, so cultural alignment matters. Take the time to find an MSP whose values, work approach, and communication style align with your company culture.
Evaluate your MSP periodically to ensure they’re meeting expectations. This includes analyzing their impact on key performance indicators (KPIs), such as:
Businesses working closely with their MSP set the stage for a solid, productive partnership.
Co-managed IT services represent a significant industry shift in how businesses manage their IT operations. By combining your internal team’s familiarity with your business with an MSP’s expertise and resources, you can achieve a level of efficiency, security, and performance that’s difficult to replicate in-house.
Whether dealing with budget constraints, struggling to find qualified IT techs, or simply looking to step up your capabilities, co-managed IT support offers a strategic alternative to traditional hiring practices.
Empower your IT operations today with Omnis Technologies. Explore what co-managed IT services can do for your business and leave the stress of staffing and scalability behind. Contact us today to see how we can help.