You’re likely familiar with fully managed IT services, but co-managed IT is a growing trend that could enhance your business more than you expect. Unfortunately, several misconceptions might be holding you back from exploring this collaborative approach. In this blog, we’ll dispel common co-managed IT myths and show how partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) can boost your internal IT team, improve efficiency, and support your business goals.
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Common Co-managed IT Services Myths
1. The MSP will replace the internal IT team.
“Co-managed IT services is simply when a company has an internal IT team and, for whatever reason, they want to outsource some of their functions and tasks to an external IT team,” said Gar Whaley, Teal Cofounder and CRO.
“We’re not there to replace the internal IT team. It’s a partnership where both parties benefit by working together.”
Outsourcing reshapes the role of your in-house team – shifting their focus to oversight, strategic planning, and aligning outsourced services with the organization’s broader strategy.
This increases your internal team’s job satisfaction and strengthens employee retention. It allows your team to leverage their skills for strategic activities that drive business growth while benefiting from improved morale and a more focused workload.
2. The MSP will only work on an as-needed basis.
MSPs offer continuous, proactive support to prevent issues, optimize performance, and ensure seamless IT operations—all while aligning with your team’s long-term strategy and growth. However, they can also provide services on an as-needed basis when specific challenges arise.
There are generally three reasons why a company would consider a co-managed partnership.
1. Their IT Team is Overwhelmed
“The first reason an organization considers a co-managed relationship is workload,” explained Gar. “The client has too much work and not enough people. So, they outsource that to a third party to help remediate the workload issue.”
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2. They Need Specific Expertise
“The second reason businesses seek out co-managed IT services is they have an expertise gap,” said Gar. “In this case, the outsourced IT provider has specialized knowledge in a certain area that the internal IT team doesn’t have and they use the services to fill that gap.”
Examples of this knowledge gap can be compliance, cybersecurity, or strategy.
3. The IT Professional Wants Increased Focus
“We have some co-managed clients that want to focus on a specific area and that’s where they want their internal resources and spend to be,” said Gar. “So, they outsource the other areas to a managed service provider.”
The MSP will work closely with your team to identify what tasks they will take on. For instance, if you were to delegate routine tasks, like help desk management, to a managed service provider, your internal staff could dedicate more energy to high-impact initiatives.
Establishing strong working relationships and respect between the provider and the internal team is vital to the success of this partnership.
3. Co-managed IT is only for companies with a large budget.
In truth, co-managed IT services can be a very cost-effective solution for small- to medium-sized businesses. Co-managed IT services offer a strategic way to manage IT talent costs, helping buffer salary increases and reduce overhead.
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By partnering with an MSP, you can reallocate internal resources to strategic initiatives, while the MSP handles day-to-day IT management—giving you specialized expertise without the cost of expanding your in-house team.
Moreover, outsourcing refines the focus of your in-house team – shifting their efforts toward oversight, strategic planning, or service integration. This strategy reduces overhead expenses and grants access to specialized expertise without the long-term commitment or expense associated with a large in-house workforce.
“Co-managed IT services are highly flexible,” said Gar. “We can tailor our approach to fit businesses of any size or industry. It’s all about understanding the client’s specific needs and deploying the right level of support to complement their internal team.”
4. The MSP will have complete control.
Co-managed IT is a partnership where your internal IT team and the MSP share responsibility and decision-making power. However, the final say remains with your organization. So, your business always retains control over your IT strategy.
“If you want us to have complete control in a certain area like cybersecurity that may make sense,” said Gar. “If you want a shared responsibility matrix, that could also make sense. Teal is very flexible in the way we deploy something like that.”
5. The MSP will not be invested in my business goals.
A reliable MSP views your relationship as a partnership, working closely with your internal IT team to align strategies with your business goals. Through regular strategic meetings and business reviews, the MSP ensures your IT infrastructure supports long-term growth.
“We don’t just support your IT, we support your vision,” said Gar. “Our goal is to simplify your life and help you reach your goals.”
While the degree of control varies, transparency and clear service definitions ensure both parties are aligned and working towards shared outcomes.
Unlock the Power of Co-managed IT
After dispelling the common myths, it’s clear that co-managed IT services allows you to maintain control while benefiting from the expertise and resources of an MSP. Whether you need continuous support or help on a project-by-project basis, co-managed IT can ensure your business stays secure and ahead of the curve.
Choosing the right co-managed IT partner is crucial to the success and security of your business. Don’t let common red flags go unnoticed!
Teal Co-managed IT Services Success Story
Since 2020, Teal has successfully provided co-managed IT services to a construction company facing poor service delivery from a previous MSP. Seeking a partner aligned with their business goals, they turned to Teal, who swiftly resolved over 15 critical issues—previously unknown to the company’s IT Manager—within hours or just a few days.
This partnership improved their IT infrastructure and restored confidence in their IT operations, proving the value of a strategic, aligned approach to co-managed services.
Contact Teal today to discover if we’re the right co-managed IT partner for you.
