Tag Archives: managed IT solutions

What Are Co-Managed IT Solutions and Why Do You Need Them?

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Co-managed IT solutions

Are you overwhelmed by IT issues that take time away from your core business? Do you worry about the efficiency of your internal IT team? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then maybe it’s time you considered co-managed IT solutions. Hundreds of businesses around the world have already made the shift, and many of them are now thriving because of it. But what are co-managed IT solutions anyway, and why does everybody seem to be getting in on it?

What Are Co-Managed IT Solutions?

To handle their current technology, most businesses either maintain an in-house IT team or outsource all IT work to a third-party managed service provider. Both options have advantages, and usually, you would have to choose one or the other. These days, you can get the best of both worlds through co-managed IT solutions.

Co-managed IT solutions are a collaboration between your in-house IT professionals and an MSP of your choosing. With this kind of setup, you can enjoy the comfort and familiarity of having your people on board. You can always rely on the expertise of an IT provider, no matter the issue.

Reasons to Avail Co-Managed IT Solutions

Many small and medium enterprises are now using co-managed IT solutions, but this doesn’t mean it is the best route for everyone. Certain operations thrive better with an in-house IT division, while others are better at delegating all their IT needs to an MSP. So, how do you know if co-managed IT solutions are right for you? Here are some telltale signs.

You Need Both Your Internal Team and External IT Specialists

In-house experts are very familiar with your IT infrastructure and can provide insights that a third-party expert is not privy to. External IT professionals, on the other hand, might have far-reaching expertise that your staff does not. Working together, both groups can give you the best IT infrastructure possible.

Your Business is Expanding Fast

Growth is good, but it also means more tech issues to handle. You might be confident enough in the skills of your IT staff, but the work will probably pile up faster than they can keep up. A co-managed setup can keep your business expansion on track without burdening your staff.

Your Tech Requirements are Highly Specialized

Some businesses have specialized technology needs beyond the scope of regular IT professionals. Instead of spending company resources hiring costly specialists or making your staff undergo training, you can simply find a co-managed IT provider to do the job.

Final Thoughts

Co-managed IT is a popular course of action for many small and medium businesses today. Choosing it can bring about a significant boost in work efficiency, employee satisfaction, sales, and overall business performance. To find out whether co-managed IT solutions are the right choice for your business, you can refer to our Essential Guide to Co-Managed IT, which you can download for free right here. You can also call us anytime, and we’ll be right over for a consultation.

Why Choose a Managed Service Provider Over a One-Man Organization for IT Support?

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solutionsIT support is one of those things that you don’t appreciate until something goes badly wrong. There are two options for IT support.

You have Dave the computer guy. This is the one-man firm that supports you. You normally have to conform to their schedule to get support. Managed IT services, on the other hand, involve multiple professionals running the operation. These tend to be available 24/7.

So why should you choose a managed service provider instead?

Better Service

According to Small Business Computing, 9 out of 10 small business owners said that they had received better service by working with a managed service provider. And it’s not hard to see why

A one-man organization relies entirely on a single person. If the person running it isn’t particularly customer friendly, or they’ve simply had a bad day, you won’t get the service you deserve.

This isn’t the same as an organization run by multiple people at the same time. You’re far more likely to always get someone who treats you in the right way.

Time Constraints

A one-man organization can only remain open for so long. They have to sleep sooner or later. This always puts them at a severe disadvantage when comparing them with managed providers.

Managed service providers can set their staff to work through the day and through the night. For a business, this is crucial because it gives them access to support 24 hours every day.

Another important point to remember is you’re going to get a far quicker resolution to your problem. They can also work on the problem around the clock. Remember, it’s not just about initial response times. It’s about how quickly they can solve the issue you’re contacting them about.

Evolution of Services

A large company specializing in IT support can evolve and change all the time. They can send their staff members away on courses without having to shut everything down and disappoint their customers.

One-man organizations can’t learn and provide their services at the same time. There are simply not enough hours in the day. The technology industry constantly changes, and you need your service provider to keep up with you.

Let’s look at the evolution of cloud computing as an example. Today, over half of all businesses in North America use cloud computing in some form. Go back two or three years and you have less than a quarter of businesses actively using cloud computing.

It requires a quick evolution to keep up with what’s going on in the world of technology and business. Managed IT support is setup in such a way as to make it easy to keep up with what’s going on.

Overall, it’s clear that one-man IT support is completely inferior. It hamstrings your business and makes it much harder to acquire a speedy resolution to your IT problem.