Why We Need Co-Managed IT
Information technology touches almost every aspect of businesses today. We have been empowered by the growth of Software as a Service (SaaS), mobility, and other decentralized IT solutions. Gone are the days of internal IT departments being the decision makers and controlling the systems and applications used by the organization.
While this is a relatively recent shift, it has clearly been a disruptive one for not only internal IT resources, but also for IT partners like us.
Our roles, value and focus need to evolve. There is no longer an insourced or outsourced model for IT. Internal IT departments need to rely on IT partners to automate and manage key aspects of their back office IT systems. This may include:
- Managing and maintaining server infrastructure on-premise or in the cloud
- Providing security solutions and monitoring services
- Managing cloud solutions like Office 365
- Providing Level 1 helpdesk support
- Project delivery and management services
This is by no means a comprehensive list of services that can be delegated to a IT partner.
Because an IT partner has close relationships with technology providers (i.e. Microsoft), they have the ability to scale and to optimize critical processes. This allow organizations to receive these services at a significantly lower cost than most internal IT departments can realize.
The flip side is that internal IT resources need to shift their efforts from simply maintaining servers and networks to evaluating and deploying technologies. By freeing your IT team from day-to-day routines, they can now address the unique needs of their organization.
When an organization makes the switch to a co-managed model, they need to be aware that only they have the unique perspective on their business, end user. As well as what makes them special in the markets they serve.
While we are undoubtedly a key business partner for our clients, we typically do not work on-site every day with our clients. By missing this closeness, a business partner can have a hard time gaining insight into that unique perspective.
Sure there can and will be challenges working in a co-managed model, but working through those will ultimately drive down cost and increase value to organizations moving forward.