How to Choose the Best Co-managed IT Partner for your Business

Cyber threats are real and growing. And there is no sign of a decline in the near future. Are your organization's tools and technologies capable of protecting you from these threats?

Suppose you are unsure how to protect your company while managing the technology required for daily operations. In that case, it may be worthwhile to consider outsourcing some or all of your technology needs to an IT service provider.

What is Co-managed IT?

Co-managed IT is a collaborative approach to technology management where an external IT service provider works with your internal IT team to provide additional support and expertise for your company's technology infrastructure.

As a business owner, you may have an internal IT team, but they may not have the necessary expertise or resources to handle your company's technology needs. This is where a co-managed IT service provider comes in - they work alongside your internal team to provide additional support and expertise in cybersecurity, cloud computing, data backup and recovery, network management, and software management.

In a co-managed IT model, your internal IT team and the external IT service provider work together to identify and address technical issues and implement proactive solutions to prevent future problems. This collaboration allows for more efficient use of resources and expertise, resulting in improved productivity, reduced downtime, and better overall technology performance for your business.

Examine your Current Technology Infrastructure

Using a technology assessment, you can better understand your IT infrastructure and how it can be improved to provide greater security, streamline workflows and reduce costs.

STRENGTHS

To understand how well your current IT infrastructure is equipped to handle the technology needs of your business, it's important to evaluate its capabilities in key functional areas such as data storage, cloud services, network infrastructure, disaster recovery, business continuity, cybersecurity, and risk assessment.

WEAKNESSES

Weaknesses can be anything that impedes the efficiency or security of your technology infrastructure, such as outdated technology, inadequate security measures, insufficient internal support, or failure to comply with industry regulations.

LIMITATIONS

In order to overcome limitations in your current technology infrastructure, it's important to identify the core business issue, technical constraints, and long-term objectives.

UPCOMING PROJECTS

To ensure the success of your next project, it's important to identify which technological requirements are critical and determine whether your current IT staff has the necessary expertise and resources to handle them. This can help you assess whether you need to invest in additional technology resources or consider outsourcing some of your technology needs to an IT service provider to ensure that your project is completed successfully and on time.

FUTURE NEEDS

As your company grows and expands, your technology infrastructure needs to scale with it, accommodating more systems, access points, and data storage requirements. Therefore, it's essential to evaluate whether your current technology infrastructure is scalable enough to meet these growing needs and make any necessary upgrades.

Key Factors to Consider when Choosing an IT Partner

What Services do they offer?

Before investing your time and money in an IT service provider, first understand the type of support and services they offer, including the platforms, data storage, and applications they use, to ensure that they are a match to your existing needs.

What is their experience?

Choose a provider with sound knowledge of the industry and a proven track record. An IT partner who is familiar with your industry is better equipped to anticipate and address your specific technology needs and can offer relevant solutions to meet those needs effectively.

Can they help you scale as needed?

Choose a provider who is willing to tailor their services and solutions to meet your specific technology needs and optimize your technology infrastructure effectively. This can help ensure that your technology resources are aligned with your business goals and can support your long-term growth and success.

Can they meet your budget?

Choose a provider that offers predictable pricing and solutions. This means selecting a partner that offers a custom package of services for a monthly fee you can count on, with no unexpected costs that may compromise your budget. This can help you plan your technology expenses effectively, and ensure that your IT provider is accountable for delivering the services and solutions you need within your budget constraints.

Is their software compatible with your existing infrastructure?

Integrating new technology solutions with your existing systems can be more cost-effective than replacing them with new ones. Therefore, before selecting an IT partner, it's important to evaluate software compatibility to ensure that any new solutions or services can be seamlessly integrated with your existing technology infrastructure. This can help you avoid costly downtime, data loss, or compatibility issues that may arise from incompatible software or systems, and ensure that your business operations can continue to run smoothly without disruption.

What do clients have to say about them?

Before signing any contracts with an IT service provider, it's important to ask for references from their past or current clients. This will give you a good idea of what you can expect when partnering with the provider and can help you assess their level of expertise, quality of service, and customer satisfaction. By speaking with references, you can gain valuable insights into the provider's performance, responsiveness, and ability to meet the needs of their clients. This information can help you make an informed decision and select a provider who can deliver the level of service and support your business requires.

Contact us today to find out why we're the right partner to meet your needs!