What is co managed IT?
When it comes to managing your business’s IT infrastructure, there are several options available to you. One is fully managed IT, where an IT service provider takes care of all aspects of your IT needs, from monitoring and maintenance to troubleshooting and problem resolution. One other option is co-managed IT.
Co-managed IT provides supplemental support to your internal IT department. Co-managed IT isn’t meant to replace your in-house IT staff, but rather increase their efforts and fill in the gaps. A co-managed IT service provider can help your internal IT team with monitoring, maintenance and troubleshooting so that they can focus on more important projects without worrying about missing a critical patch or incident alert.
Should my business consider co-managed IT?
There are a few signs might indicate that your business needs co-managed IT:
Overwhelmed in-house IT staff.
Your IT team is the backbone of your organization and plays a crucial role in the smooth running of your business. However, if you notice your IT staff is constantly overworked and needs help keeping up with the constant demands of your organization, then co-managed IT services may be just what you need. Co-managed IT will help alleviate the pressure on your internal IT team and enable them to focus on more critical tasks.
Extensive downtime and disruptions .
Downtime and disruptions can be costly for any business and can cause great stress for your internal IT team. If your organization experiences a lot of downtime and interruptions, then your internal IT team may need a helping hand to cope. An IT service provider can help by monitoring your systems and proactively identifying and addressing potential issues. This will help your IT team and save your business from the adverse effects of extended downtime and disruptions.
Missed project deadlines
Your internal IT team is vital to completing your organization’s projects. If your IT team consistently misses project deadlines, then it might be a sign that they need additional support. Partnering with an IT service provider can help your internal IT by providing the necessary resources and tools. This will help your IT team complete projects on time and help your organization to achieve its business objectives.
Examine Your Infrastructure
By conducting a technology assessment, you can gain a better understanding of your IT infrastructure and how to improve it in order to enhance security, streamline workflows, and reduce costs.
Strengths.
Examine your current IT’s capability to manage key functional areas, including data storage, cloud services, network infrastructure, disaster recovery, business continuity, cybersecurity, and risk assessment. This is the best method to gauge its genuine strength.
Weaknesses.
When you know your strengths, you can pinpoint weaknesses within your infrastructure and internal IT department. Your businesses weaknesses can be anything, for example outdated technology, subpar security, not enough internal support, or compliance failure.
Gaps.
By identifying the gaps within your IT infrastructure, you can better recognize the needs of your business, spot current vulnerabilities, and set crucial objectives.
Limitations.
To be able to recover from limitations in your current technology, you must recognize the core business issue, the technical constraints and your long-term objectives. Therefore, if security issues occur frequently and are persistent, then it’s time to get assistance from IT professionals.
Upcoming Projects.
Next, determine which technological requirements are most crucial to the success of your next project and whether your current IT staff can handle them.
Future Needs.
In addition to everything above, your technology must scale as your company grows, integrating more systems, accommodating more access points and storing more data. Is your current technology scalable enough to meet these needs?
Choosing an IT Provider
What services do they offer?
Understanding what kind of support and services a potential service provider offers is important before investing your time and money. Make sure that you check what platforms, data storage, and applications they offer and whether they are compatible with your business model and existing needs.
What is their experience in your industry?
A provider who is familiar with your industry is more likely to foresee demands and raise relevant concerns, which results in better solutions for your business.
Can they help you scale as needed?
The wonderful part of cloud technology and other IT solutions is that they can be tailored to fit your unique business needs. Look for an IT service provider who is willing to customize their services and solutions to optimize your technology most effectively.
Do they fit your budget?
It’s important to choose a provider that offers predictable pricing and solutions. Pick a partner that offers a package of services for a monthly fee you can count on to avoid any surprises that may compromise your budget.
Are they compatible with your current tech?
It can be more cost-effective to integrate with your existing systems, rather than replacing them with new ones. Make sure that you evaluate software compatibility before you onboard any IT partner.
Think co-managed IT services may be right for your business? Contact us today!
