Historically, companies either maintained an internal IT team or partnered with an outsourced IT company offering Break/Fix or Managed IT Services. With the evolution of IT models, businesses now find it beneficial to adopt a hybrid approach, combining internal and outsourced IT services, known as Co-Managed IT. This allows businesses to access senior network engineering expertise without the need for a full-time hire or to support existing high-level IT staff, alleviating their workload and reducing costs.
In this blog, we will cover:
- 10 Questions to Ask a Potential Co-Managed IT Provider
- The Co-Managed IT Worksheet
10 Questions to Ask a Potential Co-Managed IT Provider
These questions are designed to be challenging. Asking the right questions can help you identify if a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can effectively deliver Co-Managed services.
- Why should we partner with you as our IT firm?
- Why shouldn’t we partner with you as our IT firm?
- How do you stay current with the rapidly evolving IT landscape?
- What kind of reporting can you provide to our organization?
- How many clients do you support that have internal IT teams?
- What roles do you typically assume as the outsourced IT help?
- Are you willing to provide five customer references for us to contact?
- Do you have a customer portal? What features does it include?
- What does an ideal partnership with an in-house IT team look like to you?
- What makes a partnership/client relationship less ideal?
Just like a job interview, being prepared with questions is crucial. These are some of the best questions we’ve encountered as a Co-Managed IT provider and will serve as a great starting point when interviewing potential partners.
The Co-Managed IT Worksheet
Every MSP may claim to offer Co-Managed IT services, but few have substantial experience in this area. Often, they onboard clients and figure out the specifics as they go. We recommend using a worksheet to clearly define which team is responsible for which roles. Some roles can be shared, while others cannot. For example, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) should either be in-house or part of the Managed Service Provider.
Complete this worksheet to determine which roles you want in-house versus outsourced. Does the MSP have any recommendations based on this worksheet?
This simple tool can prevent finger-pointing and headaches down the line.
Additional Considerations When Evaluating Co-Managed IT Providers
There are other factors to consider when assessing potential providers. Here are a few, but feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want to learn more about Co-Managed IT.
Location
When a business relies entirely on a Managed Service Provider, proximity becomes crucial. In the event of an onsite issue, immediate MSP presence is necessary. However, with internal IT, this requirement becomes more flexible.
With Co-Managed IT, you can evaluate providers from a broader geographical area, not just your immediate vicinity.
Tools
The tools used by outsourced IT teams can be cost-prohibitive for smaller internal IT teams. However, in a Co-Managed setup, the MSP often provides access to these tools for your internal IT. This benefit alone can be significant. Ask about the tools, programs, and productivity software included in the Co-Managed IT relationship. You might be pleasantly surprised by the added value.
Conclusion
Choosing the right Co-Managed IT provider is challenging but crucial. The right team can significantly enhance your business in numerous measurable ways.
IT Specialists are experts in Co-Managed IT and are ready to answer any questions about these partnerships.
