Running a small or mid-sized business involves juggling multiple responsibilities, from client demands to employee management, and sometimes, IT just doesn’t get the attention it deserves—until things go wrong. When that happens, business operations can grind to a halt. That’s why the right IT support is crucial for keeping everything running smoothly, whether you have an in-house team or rely on external help.
But here’s the thing: there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to IT support. Some businesses thrive with co-managed IT, where an external team collaborates with in-house IT staff, while others prefer fully managed services, where IT is completely outsourced. Which model works best for you? Let’s break it down.
Understanding Your IT Needs: A Tailored Approach
Every business has different IT needs. Some have an internal IT team that just needs a little extra help, while others don’t have the resources to hire a full-time IT staff. Your decision will depend on factors like the size of your company, your budget, and your long-term goals.
Ultimately, you want to ensure that your business gets the support it needs to stay secure, efficient, and ready to grow. The key question is: should you co-manage IT with an external provider, or should you hand it all over to them?
Co-Managed IT: A Collaborative Approach
With a co-managed IT model, your in-house IT team works side by side with an MSP (Managed Service Provider). This collaborative approach is ideal if your team is strong but needs help with specific areas, like cybersecurity or cloud management.
Benefits of Co-Managed IT:
- Fill Skill Gaps: Augment your in-house team with specialists when needed.
- Focus on Strategic Goals: Free your internal team to work on growth-focused initiatives.
- Flexible Support: Scale support up or down as your business evolves.
Fully Managed IT: Handing Over the Reins
In a fully managed IT model, your MSP takes on full responsibility for your IT infrastructure. From monitoring and maintenance to cybersecurity and system upgrades, the MSP handles it all. If you don’t have an internal IT team or want to offload all IT duties, this model is a great fit.
Benefits of Fully Managed IT:
- Comprehensive IT Management: The MSP oversees your entire IT ecosystem.
- 24/7 Monitoring and Support: Problems are addressed before they impact operations.
- Ideal for Businesses Without an In-House IT Team: Gain expertise without the overhead.
A WingSwept Option: Build Your Internal IT Capacity
For organizations that prefer having someone in-house but don’t yet have a reliable IT resource, WingSwept offers a unique hybrid approach. We help you recruit and onboard a full-time internal IT team member who becomes your employee—trained, mentored, and supported by us. They handle daily end-user requests, while our seasoned engineers manage escalations, strategic planning, and complex projects. This option gives you the best of both worlds: on-site familiarity with enterprise-grade support in the background.
Co-Managed vs. Fully Managed IT Comparison
| Feature | Co-Managed IT | Fully Managed IT |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Shared between in-house team and MSP | Complete control by the MSP |
| Support Type | Collaborative | 100% outsourced |
| Responsibility | Internal team with MSP filling gaps | MSP handles everything |
| 24/7 Support | Available with coordination | Fully managed and proactive |
| Skill Set | Best with internal team support | Best for businesses without IT staff |
| Flexibility | High flexibility | Fixed structure |
| Cost | More cost-effective with internal team | Higher flat-rate, all-inclusive |
| Ideal For | Companies with internal IT needing help | Companies with no IT team |
| Innovation Focus | In-house team focuses on innovation | MSP handles IT, you focus on growth |
What’s Best for Your Business?
Now that you know the differences between co-managed and fully managed IT services, how do you decide which is the right fit for your business? Consider these questions:
- Do you have a strong internal IT team? If yes, co-managed might be your best choice.
- What’s your budget? Co-managed may be more cost-effective; fully managed offers predictable pricing.
- What are your long-term goals? Do you want to scale your internal team or fully offload IT management?
The Final Word: Tailoring IT to Your Needs
There’s no “one-size-fits-all” solution when it comes to IT support. Whether you choose co-managed or fully managed IT services depends on your unique business needs, goals, and resources. The important thing is that whichever option you choose, you have a reliable partner to help you stay ahead of potential IT challenges and focus on what matters most: growing your business.
Still unsure which path to take? Let’s talk. We can help you assess your IT needs and find the perfect support model that fits your company’s vision and budget.