A Practical Guide To Co-Managed IT Services In Houston

Your Co-Managed IT Services Guides

Technology has improved the way we live in a multitude of ways – from the way we connect to the way we travel to the way we function. Technology has even changed the way we work – allowing us to keep track of information better, collaborate with others, and, ultimately, improve the customer experience. In today’s day and age, all businesses rely on technology to innovate – allowing them to:

• Embrace new ideas or opportunities
• Reach a wider audience
• Automate time-consuming tasks to improve efficiencies

Naturally, you’re here reading this because you’ve realized the power of technology, but you’re not quite experiencing it yourself. You’re looking for a better way to manage your technology to achieve all of the benefits you’ve heard so much about:

• Less operational costs
• Greater productivity amongst the workforce
• Higher staff morale
• Improved customer experiences
• And much, much more

Well, we applaud you for searching for answers. This is the first step towards utilizing technology to do more with less.

What Are Your Technology Management Options?

There are three options:

1. Outsource all of the functions and responsibilities of your information technology management.
2. Hire an internal person or team to maintain responsibility for your information technology management.
3. Opt for a co-managed approach wherein you have some internal staff handling some aspects with an outsourced team handling others.

The third option is the most commonly overlooked yet powerful option out there. If you thought you’re either all in or all-out when it comes to managed services, we’re here to tell you otherwise. A co-managed approach gives you the best of both worlds because they augment your internal person or team’s capabilities – offering additional assistance, expertise, and services at a flat-rate monthly fee.

How Do Co-Managed IT Services Work?

Co-managed IT services give you the benefits of traditional managed services, such as the reassurance of paying a flat-rate monthly fee for:

• Around-the-clock monitoring and regular maintenance to prevent issues
• Less downtime as a result of a proactive approach
• Greater security against threats with advanced cybersecurity tools and measures
• More availability with around-the-clock onsite or remote support
• Breadth of expertise as you have access to an entire team of experts

But instead of fully assuming the role of your outsourced technology department, an MSP shares the responsibility with your internal person or team. This means your internal person or team gets a helping hand, so they’re never overwhelmed with day-to-day tasks while freeing them up to focus on innovation.

Why Not Hire More People?

For many businesses, hiring more people simply isn’t an option. It’s a bandaid fix rather than a long-term solution. Why? Because hiring more people means you’re spending more on:

• Salaries
• Benefits
• Overtime
• Workstations
• Supplies
• Vacation time/sick days
• And more

More people doesn’t always solve the issues you’re experiencing because more often than not, you’re experiencing issues due to a lack of:

• Enterprise-grade tools designed for monitoring, cybersecurity, and maintenance automation
• Defined processes, technologies, and leadership that come from years of experience and create a framework for success
• Expertise in all the different forms of IT technology available today

An MSP, on the other hand, offers an entire team that has years of experience, as well as well-defined processes, technologies, and the ability to lead in terms of creating a plan, budgeting, and other important strategic initiatives.

What Are The Benefits Of Co-Managed IT Services?

The benefits of co-managed IT services are clear. An MSP can offer much more than an additional person or people can:

1. They have training and certifications to back them up: Most MSPs hold various certifications, as well as requiring their team members to attend regular training sessions that keep them up-to-date.
2. They have a predictable flat-rate monthly fee: Most MSPs will charge a flat-rate monthly fee for exactly what you need so you can rely on a predictable expense each month.
3. They employ a range of people with varying skills: Most MSPs have a very diverse, highly skilled team with various talents and areas of expertise, which means you’ll never run into a problem they can’t resolve.

An MSP will be able to provide a range of services to assist your internal person or department as needed. If you need a few basics, they can help with:

• Around-the-clock monitoring
• Regular maintenance
• Data backup and disaster recovery
• Cybersecurity
• Help desk support
• And much more

If you’d rather your internal person or department handle the basics but need assistance with projects, strategic planning, budgeting, or other areas, an MSP can assist you with that, too.

For more information on how an MSP can best serve your needs, click here to get in touch with a representative or call us at (281) 962-3058.

Jason Simons

ICS is a Texas-based 40-year-old technology company specializing in Managed IT, VoIP, Video Conferencing and Video Surveillance solutions for US and International businesses. ICS has over 4000 regional installations and specializes in multi-site businesses between 25 and 2500 employees. ICS’s customers enjoy the experience of ICS’s Total Care program which provides clients flat fee services with obsolescence and growth protection. Whether a customer elects to deploy their IT, Video Conferencing or VoIP in the cloud or on the customer’s premise, ICS can provide a full turn-key solution for our clients under one flat monthly fee.