Over the years, a lot of buzz has been generated by co-managed IT services, and not all of it has been positive. Often, in-house teams perceive the decision to engage with a managed services provider for co-managed support as a threat. In reality, when executed with integrity and skill, co-managed IT services should serve as a safety net for tech staff, with a clear focus on turning that in-house team into heroes.
One of the issues around co-managed IT is a lack of understanding. We'll be talking about co-managed IT support for internal technical teams all month, so we thought starting with a detailed Q&A about this service offering would be a great place to start.
Key Takeaways
- Co-managed IT strengthens internal IT teams by adding expertise, scalability, and operational support without replacing existing staff.
- Businesses often use co-managed IT to improve cybersecurity, reduce burnout, and support strategic growth initiatives.
- The best co-managed IT partnerships align technology operations with long-term business goals through collaboration and flexibility.
Co-Managed IT Basics
What is co-managed IT support?
Co-managed IT is a collaborative support model that combines your internal IT team with the expertise and resources of a managed services provider (MSP). Instead of outsourcing your entire technology environment (fully managed services model), your organization keeps internal ownership and control while partnering with an MSP to fill skill gaps, provide additional bandwidth, deliver specialized expertise, or support after-hours operations.
How does co-managed IT support for internal teams work?
Co-managed IT works by dividing responsibilities between your internal IT support team and your MSP partner. Every organization structures the relationship differently based on internal strengths, business goals, and operational needs. Additionally, not all MSPs offer the same options for co-managed, so be certain to clarify your options for alignment when selecting a partner.
For example, at Exigent:
- Your internal team may manage day-to-day support while we oversee cybersecurity and infrastructure monitoring.
- Our service team may provide overflow helpdesk support while your internal team leads strategic projects.
- Your organization may rely on Exigent for after-hours coverage, compliance support, or cloud expertise while maintaining full internal operational control.
The flexibility of co-managed IT allows businesses to build a support model tailored to their environment rather than forcing them into a one-size-fits-all arrangement.
What is the difference between co-managed IT and managed IT services?
In a fully managed IT service model, the MSP manages the entire IT environment, including support, infrastructure, monitoring, and maintenance, while also informing and guiding detailed strategic planning.
With co-managed IT, your organization retains internal IT support staff while partnering with an MSP to supplement your capabilities. Internal IT and the MSP share responsibilities collaboratively, turning the MSP into an extension of your team.
Fully managed IT is typically ideal for organizations without internal IT resources. Co-managed IT is designed for businesses with in-house technical staff that need additional expertise, scalability, or operational support. Businesses that may start with fully managed IT may eventually mature into a co-managed arrangement that provides additional value because of the depth of shared knowledge of their existing technology environment.
Key Differences: Co-Managed vs. Fully Managed IT
Fully Managed IT |
Co-Managed IT |
| MSP owns and manages the full IT environment | Internal IT shares responsibilities with the MSP |
| Ideal for companies with no IT staff | Designed for businesses with in-house IT teams |
| MSP leads all projects and support | Collaboration on support, projects, and strategic planning |
| Consistent, predictable pricing | Flexible support and scalable coverage |
Is co-managed IT the same as IT staff augmentation?
Not exactly. Traditional IT staff augmentation usually focuses on temporarily adding engineering personnel to handle a particular workload need or fill a skills gap. Co-managed IT is broader and more strategic.
A co-managed partnership is typically a longer engagement that delivers not only technical expertise or extra hands but also includes monitoring and strategic guidance. A true co-managed partnership requires clear alignment and documentation that defines responsibilities, ownership, operational processes, and more. At Exigent, co-managed IT is designed as a long-term partnership—not simply additional labor.
Who are co-managed IT services designed for?
Co-managed IT is ideal for organizations that:
- Already have internal IT support staff
- Are experiencing rapid growth, perhaps due to expansion or busy seasonal needs
- Need specialized expertise such as compliance or cybersecurity
- Need additional operational support for helpdesk tickets or a major technology project
Co-managed works particularly well for small and midsize businesses that have outgrown a small internal IT team but are not ready to build a large enterprise-level department.
What size companies benefit most from co-managed IT?
Almost any company can benefit from co-managed IT if they have an existing IT resource. That "team" may be one person or several, but the key factor is the need for additional support. Working with a co-managed provider is in no way a signal of internal support staff failure, but rather an indication that service delivery and customer experience expectations are high and more hands (or expertise) are needed to meet needs.
Supporting Internal IT Teams
Does co-managed IT replace internal IT staff?
No. A true co-managed IT partnership is designed to support and strengthen internal IT teams—not replace them.
At Exigent, our Augment co-managed service is built around collaboration. Your internal team remains central to operations while we provide additional expertise, tools, monitoring, and support where needed most.
In fact, many organizations choose co-managed IT specifically because they value their internal team's institutional knowledge and want to help them operate more strategically and efficiently.
How does co-managed IT support internal IT teams?
Co-managed IT helps internal teams in several ways, with each engagement and business working with the MSP provider to create the correct fit for their needs. Options often include:
- Reducing ticket overload
- Providing after-hours support
- Adding specialized expertise
- Improving cybersecurity coverage
- Assisting with strategic projects
- Proactive monitoring and maintenance
Sometimes, taking just one area of responsibility off the internal team's plate can enable them to focus on higher-value initiatives instead of constantly operating in reactive mode.
Exigent's co-managed services are specifically designed to provide the "extra hands," safety net, and specialized support that internal teams often need during periods of growth or transition.
Can co-managed IT reduce IT burnout?
Many internal IT support teams are stretched thin, trying to manage support requests, cybersecurity concerns, infrastructure maintenance, onboarding, vendor management, and strategic initiatives simultaneously. Throw in strategic planning and budgets, and it can be too much.
Co-managed IT reduces pressure by sharing responsibilities across a larger support structure. With proactive monitoring, escalation support, and access to experienced engineers, internal teams gain breathing room while maintaining operational control.
What responsibilities stay with internal IT in a co-managed model?
This is a great question. The answer depends on the needs of the organization and its IT team. It's worth noting that the answer also depends on the MSP partner—some offer multiple options for collaboration, while others handle only help desk or project support.
At Exigent, we offer three broad areas of support opportunities:
- Infrastructure Management: Unlimited monitoring, alerting, patching, and break-fix support for servers and network equipment. Includes network performance oversight, system management, and access to the centralized ticketing system.
- End User Support: Unlimited remote, onsite, and after-hours software and application support for employees. Includes ticketing system access for transparency and tracking.
- Workstation Management: Structured onboarding/offboarding for employees, and unlimited monitoring, alerting, patching, and break-fix support for workstations and laptops.
Security, Scalability, and Strategy
What services are included in co-managed IT support?
That answer varies depending on the MSP partner—some offer multiple options for collaboration, while others handle only help desk or project support.
Examples of co-managed services offered include:
- Helpdesk and end-user support
- Infrastructure monitoring and management
- Cybersecurity services
- Compliance support
- Cloud services
- Workstation management
- Disaster recovery and backup
- Strategic IT planning
- Project support
At Exigent, we offer three broad areas of support opportunities:
- Infrastructure Management: Unlimited monitoring, alerting, patching, and break-fix support for servers and network equipment. Includes network performance oversight, system management, and access to the centralized ticketing system.
- End User Support: Unlimited remote, onsite, and after-hours software and application support for employees. Includes ticketing system access for transparency and tracking.
- Workstation Management: Structured onboarding/offboarding for employees, and unlimited monitoring, alerting, patching,
Can co-managed IT help with cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is one of the most common reasons businesses pursue co-managed IT support. As cybersecurity—both threats and solutions—continue to grow in complexity, many internal IT teams find it overwhelming to maintain the necessary expertise and knowledge levels to protect growing businesses.
Many organizations lack the internal resources needed for:
- 24/7 monitoring
- Threat detection
- Compliance management
- Vulnerability remediation
- Incident response
- Vendor management
- Solution optimization
- Security awareness training
Co-managed IT provides access to specialized cybersecurity expertise without requiring organizations to hire additional full-time security personnel. Organizations with co-managed partners also benefit from the broader viewpoint of a business technology partner working with numerous and varied businesses.
Does co-managed IT include 24/7 monitoring?
It can. In the case of Exigent Augment co-managed IT, it is actually a requirement that our monitoring tool is in place, enabling us to better support in-house IT colleagues.
Many co-managed partnerships include proactive monitoring, alerting, escalation support, and after-hours IT support coverage to reduce operational risk and minimize downtime. Exigent's Augment services are specifically designed to support organizations that need additional experts on call or off-hours coverage.
Costs and Business Value
Is co-managed IT more affordable than hiring additional IT staff?
For many organizations, yes. Not only can hiring specialized engineers or cybersecurity experts be expensive, but it can also be time-consuming and frustrating to sift through candidates. Co-managed IT gives businesses access to experienced technical resources without the overhead costs of recruiting, onboarding, training, and retaining additional full-time staff.
It also provides predictable monthly costs that make budgeting and long-term planning easier.
Download our guide to help select the right co-managed fit
How is co-managed IT priced?
Co-managed IT pricing varies based on:
- The number of users
- Support scope
- Service responsibilities
- Infrastructure complexity
- Additional cybersecurity or compliance needs
At Exigent, co-managed services are tailored to each organization's goals and operational requirements, ensuring businesses receive the right level of support without paying for unnecessary services.
Choosing the Right Co-Managed IT Partner
How do I know if my business needs co-managed IT?
Your organization may benefit from co-managed IT if:
- Your internal IT team is overwhelmed
- Strategic projects keep getting delayed
- Cybersecurity demands are increasing
- Your business is growing quickly
- Your team lacks specialized expertise in key areas
Many businesses turn to co-managed support when technology complexity begins outpacing internal bandwidth.
What are the signs that my internal IT support team needs support?
The indicators that your IT team may be struggling to keep up with growing demands include:
- Ticket resolution time is ticking up
- IT project timelines are stretching out
- Cybersecurity concerns are rising
- Tech training programs are falling behind
- Team frustration is growing
- Work-life balance is off kilter for your IT team
Even the most skilled internal IT teams have their limits, and with cybersecurity and compliance pressure, plus the growing need for a long-term strategic approach to business technology investments, it doesn't take much for in-house staff to start to fall behind.
If co-managed IT support can help take even one of those responsibilities off your team's list, the impact can be exponential for both them and your business.
What industries benefit most from co-managed IT?
Co-managed IT is especially valuable for industries with:
- Compliance requirements
- Complex infrastructure
- High uptime demands
- Lean internal IT teams
This often includes:
- Healthcare
- Legal
- Financial services
- Manufacturing
- Nonprofits
- Education
- Real estate
- Construction organizations
What should I look for in a co-managed IT provider?
The right co-managed IT provider should:
- Support your internal team rather than compete with it
- Provide flexible service options clearly defined in a detailed agreement
- Offer strong cybersecurity expertise
- Communicate clearly
- Align technology with business goals
- Demonstrate a proven track record of long-term partnerships
At Exigent, our co-managed approach is rooted in collaboration, transparency, responsiveness, and strategic alignment through The Exigent Method.
How do I choose the right co-managed IT partner?
Choosing the right co-managed IT partner starts with finding a provider that works as an extension of your internal IT team—not a replacement for it. The best co-managed IT relationships are collaborative, flexible, and aligned with your long-term business goals.
When evaluating a co-managed IT provider, look for:
- Experience supporting businesses in your industry
- Flexibility in support and service packages
- Clear communication and collaborative planning
- Expertise in cybersecurity, compliance, and infrastructure
- A proven track record of long-term partnerships
It's also important to ask practical operational questions, such as:
- Who manages daily operations?
- How will communication work between teams?
- Can the provider scale as our business grows?
- What service level agreements (SLAs) are included?
- Can the provider offer strategic guidance and project support?
A strong co-managed IT provider should complement your internal team's strengths, provide additional expertise when needed, and support your organization with a consultative, long-term approach.
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