Why Growing Businesses Are Choosing Co-Managed IT Services

As businesses grow, their IT needs evolve rapidly. Managing these expanding systems can be overwhelming for in-house IT teams, often leading to overworked staff and overlooked IT issues. Enter co-managed IT services, a hybrid approach where your internal IT department collaborates with an external Managed Service Provider (MSP), like Verity IT, to handle the increased demand. This partnership helps alleviate the strain on your IT team while providing the necessary expertise, tools, and resources to support your business’s growth.

In this blog, we will explore the numerous benefits of co-managed IT services for growing businesses, including increased flexibility, enhanced security, and scalable support. We’ll also highlight some key statistics that demonstrate why more companies are choosing this approach.

What Are Co-Managed IT Services?

Co-managed IT services allow businesses to maintain their in-house IT staff while outsourcing specific IT responsibilities to a third-party service provider. This hybrid model offers the best of both worlds, enabling companies to retain control over their IT while accessing external expertise to fill gaps, manage workloads, and implement advanced solutions.

Instead of fully relying on a Managed Service Provider (MSP), co-managed IT services focus on collaboration. Your in-house team and the external provider work together, each handling the aspects they specialize in. For example, your internal IT team might handle day-to-day operations, while the MSP focuses on strategic initiatives, cybersecurity, or disaster recovery.

The Growing Popularity of Co-Managed IT Services

Co-managed IT services have seen a surge in popularity, particularly among businesses that are experiencing rapid growth. According to a recent CompTIA study, 60% of businesses are turning to co-managed IT services to supplement their internal teams and handle the increasing complexity of modern IT environments. Gartner predicts that by 2025, 80% of companies will have some form of co-managed IT in place, particularly in industries that rely heavily on infrastructure .

Theses highlight the growing demand for flexible, scalable IT solutions that co-managed services provide. For businesses expanding their IT systems, this model offers an ideal way to bridge gaps and ensure that their infrastructure remains secure, efficient, and ready for future growth.

Key Benefits of Co-Managed IT Services

1. Scalability Without Overloading Your IT Team

One of the biggest challenges growing businesses face is scalability. As your company expands, so do your IT requirements. From managing new software to supporting remote teams, the workload can quickly become unmanageable. Co-managed IT services provide a scalable solution that allows you to expand your IT capabilities without overburdening your internal team.

By partnering with an MSP, you can offload routine tasks or larger projects like system upgrades, allowing your in-house IT team to focus on strategic initiatives. This ensures that your IT infrastructure keeps pace with your business growth while maintaining efficiency.

2. Access to Specialized Expertise

In many cases, your in-house IT team may lack the specialized knowledge required to implement or manage certain technologies. Whether it’s advanced cybersecurity measures, cloud migrations, or network monitoring, co-managed IT services give you access to a broader skill set that you might not have internally.

For example, if you’re expanding your business into new regions or adopting new technology, an MSP with a track record of success in these areas can step in to guide your team. This collaboration allows you to benefit from advanced expertise while keeping your internal team focused on day-to-day tasks.

3. Enhanced Security and Compliance

Cybersecurity is a growing concern for all businesses, particularly those experiencing rapid growth. A single cyberattack can compromise sensitive data, disrupt operations, and damage your company’s reputation. Co-managed IT services improve your security by combining your internal team’s knowledge with the latest tools, techniques, and monitoring services provided by an MSP.

MSPs specializing in cybersecurity stay up to date with the latest threats and compliance requirements, ensuring your company is protected. Additionally, many MSPs offer 24/7 monitoring, giving you peace of mind knowing that your systems are always being watched for potential threats.

4. Cost Efficiency

Managing an entire IT department in-house can be costly. Between hiring specialized staff, investing in infrastructure, and staying current with new technologies, the expenses can quickly add up. With co-managed IT services, you only pay for the services you need, making it a cost-effective solution for growing businesses.

According to Forbes, companies can save up to 30% on IT costs by adopting co-managed services . Instead of hiring staff to cover increasing demands, co-managed IT services allow you to tap into external expertise on an as-needed basis, ensuring that you’re getting the most value for your investment.

5. Increased Flexibility

Every business’s IT needs are unique, and co-managed IT services offer a level of flexibility that is difficult to achieve with an in-house team alone. Whether you need help with cloud services, network security, or disaster recovery, a co-managed approach allows you to customize the level of support you receive.

This flexibility is especially useful for growing businesses that might not yet have the resources to fully staff their IT departments. Instead of scrambling to hire new employees, you can rely on a co-managed service to provide additional support when and where it’s needed most.

6. Focus on Core Business Objectives

When your in-house IT team is bogged down with daily troubleshooting and maintenance tasks, they have less time to focus on strategic initiatives that drive business growth. Co-managed IT services allow your internal team to offload routine tasks to the MSP, freeing them up to focus on core objectives.

This shift in focus can have a significant impact on the overall productivity of your IT department and, by extension, your entire business. By letting your IT team concentrate on what they do best, you can ensure that your technology aligns with your business goals and helps propel your company forward.

When Is Co-Managed IT Right for Your Business?

Co-managed IT services are ideal for businesses that:

• Are growing rapidly and need scalable IT solutions
• Have a small or mid-sized in-house IT team that’s overburdened
• Require specialized expertise in areas like cybersecurity, cloud services, or disaster recovery
• Want to reduce costs while maintaining control over their IT infrastructure
• Need a flexible IT solution that can adapt to their changing needs

If your business is facing any of these challenges, co-managed IT services could be the perfect solution to bridge the gap and ensure your IT systems are ready for continued growth.

How to Choose the Right Co-Managed IT Provider

Selecting the right co-managed IT provider is crucial to the success of your IT operations. Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing an MSP:

1. Expertise and Experience: Look for a provider with a proven track record in your industry and expertise in the areas where you need support.
2. Security Capabilities: Ensure the MSP offers advanced security solutions, including cybersecurity monitoring, incident response, and disaster recovery.
3. Customizable Services: Choose a provider that offers flexible, customizable service packages that align with your business needs and budget.
4. Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication is key to a successful co-managed IT partnership. Ensure the MSP is willing to collaborate closely with your in-house team.

Co-managed IT services offer growing businesses a powerful solution to scale their IT infrastructure, enhance security, and access specialized expertise without the burden of managing everything in-house. By partnering with an MSP, you can maintain control over your IT operations while benefiting from the support and knowledge needed to tackle complex IT challenges.

Whether you’re looking to improve your cybersecurity defenses, streamline operations, or reduce IT costs, co-managed IT services provide the flexibility and scalability that modern businesses need to grow.