Co-Managed IT - What Does It Look Like for an Internal Team to Work Alongside an MSP?

Although the last couple of years has intensified the trend, the managed service model of IT provision has been growing in popularity for some time now. The pandemic certainly did its part to bring into sharp focus how inflexible some organizations were and the benefits of working with managed service providers (MSPs). Companies have had to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, scaling up and down to meet constantly fluctuating market conditions.

With more companies adapting to large-scale work-from-home environments and hybrid ways of working than ever before, the need for external expertise and the ability to scale rapidly has never been greater. 

This need has made co-managed IT services one of the most important and useful ways of delivering organizational IT. Co-managed services are where MSPs work alongside an existing internal IT department, supporting and providing a certain proportion of IT services but not taking over completely. 

The post-COVID era is going to see continuing changes in the world of work. Hybrid working - a blend of in-office and remote - is likely to be the way forward for many, if not most, enterprises. This will result in a far more complex and challenging IT environment in many cases and make co-managed IT services an increasingly attractive prospect.

But what does a co-managed model actually look like? How does working alongside an MSP work, and what benefits will it offer? Read on to find out everything you need to know about co-managed IT service provision.

More support for end-users

Working alongside an MSP means more support for end-users than with a traditional in-house IT department or with a fully outsourced IT service. Your MSP will monitor, maintain, patch, and break/fix your server and network, which frees up your internal IT experts to focus on supporting your end users. 

Essentially the MSP takes over the nuts and bolts of your infrastructure, dealing with the day-to-day management and problem-solving aspects of your IT. This means that your IT department can apply their more organization-specific knowledge in service to your staff. This is using the best tools for the best jobs and will create a far more effective IT environment.

Access to IT management tools

Working with an MSP gives you access to IT management tools that your organization might not otherwise have the resources to get hold of. Thanks to economies of scale, an MSP can provide industry-leading IT management tools that let your internal IT staff work more efficiently.

This level of access to software can be vital for managing a modern IT infrastructure, particularly when it comes to creating an effective working environment that can cope with a mixture of in-office and remote staff.

Simpler, more effective procurement

IT procurement can be one of the trickiest aspects of an IT department’s tasks, taking up valuable time and requiring lengthy, complicated processes. An MSP like VC3 will have a dedicated procurement team who can handle all your day-to-day purchases and procurement issues, as well as ensure full compliance with regulations. This further releases your in-house IT team to focus on the issues and tasks that matter more and need a more bespoke, expert touch.

Best-in-class security

Cybersecurity should be at the top of any organization’s priority list these days. With more and more business conducted online and more data stored digitally than ever before, solid security is vital. And with bad actors and cybercriminals employing increasingly subtle, nuanced, and advanced techniques and technology to breach defences, having industry-leading security measures and bleeding-edge software to protect your business is a must. 

Working with an MSP like CompuVision gives you access to best-in-class security and backup solutions, ensuring that your cybersecurity is proactive, not reactive, and that you have access to the latest security technologies. Preventing attacks from taking place in the first place is the best form of defence, and by fixing vulnerabilities and using things like AI and machine learning, you can stay one step ahead of the hackers. 

Strategic planning support

Of course, IT management is not just about fixing problems and stopping cyberattacks. Successful enterprises make IT a central part of their strategic planning, ensuring that they are not only at the cutting edge of IT but also that digital transformation is a foundational part of every part of an organization. 

Working alongside an MSP ensures that strategic planning is available to continue to improve your infrastructure and look ahead to the future, keeping IT at the heart of your company’s growth. This, in turn, allows employees to work more efficiently and once again lessens the load on internal IT.

If you are interested in finding out more about how co-managed IT can positively impact your organization, get in touch with VC3! We’ll be delighted to talk you through the options and find the best solutions for your business.