As your business continues to grow, so do the responsibilities of the IT department to keep it safe and secure. However, taking on additional tasks internally can become overwhelming without access to resources that would support the scale. Co-managed IT services provide a strategic partnership between an organization’s internal IT department and an external IT service provider.
Traditional IT service methods give the external team complete control over IT functions. However, co-managed services prioritize collaborations between both teams. The internal IT team still has full control and supervision of operations while leveraging the benefits of the external IT service provider.
Continue reading to learn how co-managed services can solve small IT department challenges.
Common IT problems for small IT departments
Unfortunately, small IT teams often face obstacles that can deter them from operating efficiently, affecting their performance. With issues out of their control, like limited resources or heavy workloads, these teams are forced to prioritize urgent tasks quickly rather than create long-term strategies to prevent cyber threats or scale IT workflows. These issues can lead to burnout and increase the organization’s vulnerability to cyber threats.
Below are a few of the most common challenges small IT departments face and how they affect their ability to provide effective support.
Limited budget and resources
Limited budget is a common pain point for many small IT teams. This affects the IT department’s daily operations and the ability to provide quick turnaround, in-depth analysis, and proactive protection measures. A limited budget may make it more difficult to hire new team members or pay for proper training. Furthermore, it will impact the team’s access to updated tools and software, leaving the team and their organization vulnerable to performance issues or security risks.
While the team works with the resources it has, new threats often emerge that require advanced systems, experience, and resources to quickly find a solution.
Lack of expertise in certain areas
The small size of the team limits the diversity of information and experience they have available. With fewer individuals contributing ideas for solutions, processes may take longer as more research is required. Additionally, many small teams frequently manage multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously, restricting their ability to specialize in specific areas.
Since small teams already lack resources, they are often playing catch-up to issues that are taking longer than expected. The strain of the projects they are already working on won’t allow them to learn about new threats, trends, or technologies that they can apply to find solutions. Small IT departments can only offer as much as they can before falling behind with the amount of work they have to take on themselves.
Unclear roles and responsibilities
Small IT teams often juggle multiple roles, leading to blurred responsibilities regarding task assignments. Team members may handle various duties, including network administration, cybersecurity operations, and helpdesk support. This lack of clearly defined roles can create confusion within the team, potentially resulting in duplicated efforts or important tasks being overlooked.
When the team has to figure out who is taking on a task, it slows down the process of quickly finding a solution.
Heavy workloads
Small IT departments suffer from heavy workloads due to the lack of resources to hire employees when needed or train them when they finally do get new team members. They have no other option than to continue working on the projects as quickly as possible.
When teams are weighed down by the amount of work on their to-do lists, they will not only get burnt out but also suffer from a poor quality of work. Trying to find solutions quickly for multiple projects would take a toll on anyone, and when it comes to IT and cybersecurity, there is little room for mistakes.
Heavy workloads and continuous lack of resources will lead to low employee morale.
5 Benefits of co-managed IT support
Co-managed IT support offers small departments a collaborative solution, combining internal knowledge of the organization with external resources and skills. This partnership allows small IT departments to overcome common limitations, adapt to changing needs, and create strategic initiatives.
Below, we will discuss the five key benefits of co-managed IT services, including how they can help solve common IT challenges and improve productivity.
Flexibility
Co-managed services provide small IT departments with flexibility by allowing them to scale the services up or down depending on the department’s changing needs. It is common for small IT department’s priorities to fluctuate depending on the time of year, technological changes, or the hours a particular project requires. This flexibility reduces the chance of the IT department and its infrastructure becoming overburdened.
Access to larger skill sets
Bringing more people together to find a solution will open the small IT department to a broader range of backgrounds and experiences. Co-managed services provide experienced IT professionals with diverse experiences and skill sets across various domains. From cybersecurity to data analysis, collaborating with a larger team will help the organization identify complex IT issues and quickly find solutions.
Proactive maintenance
Co-managed services often use proactive approaches to prevent downtime or productivity loss. Consistent monitoring and upkeep of IT applications, systems, and processes helps organizations detect potential threats before they intensify and create more serious problems. With this approach, small IT departments can avoid disruptions to their workflows and continue finding solutions to current issues.
Stronger security measures
It’s essential for organizations to implement and prioritize strong security measures. With the increase in cybersecurity threats, you can never be too safe. Co-managed services typically provide comprehensive security solutions that cover risk assessment, threat detection, incident response, and more. This will not only protect the organization’s reputation but also mitigate risk and strengthen its security posture.
Cost-effective structure
Co-managed services offer a cost-effective solution for small departmental challenges. Organizations can utilize an external provider as needed rather than allocating budget funds to hire and manage new employees. This approach enhances resource allocation, reduces overhead costs, and maximizes IT budgets’ return on investment (ROI).
Work with Applied Tech as your co-managed IT provider
Allow your team to prioritize strategic initiatives that move your business forward. Applied Tech’s co-managed IT services offer a team of experts, extensive resources, and enhanced flexibility to help your team overcome their challenges.
Partnering with Applied Tech gives your team access to specialized support, advanced technology, and proactive maintenance while remaining in control of the department. Whether your organization needs help tackling urgent issues or strategizing for future growth, Applied Tech will support your team with anything they need. Reach out today to learn more about our co-managed IT services.
About Applied Tech
Applied Tech is a leading IT and cybersecurity services provider dedicated to helping businesses protect their digital assets. Our proactive and strategic services include cloud management, security, productivity, and IT growth strategy. With a team of experienced professionals, we provide unique solutions tailored to your IT needs.
Protect your business with Applied Tech’s fully managed IT services, co-managed support, and security assistance. With IT services focused on your business goals, keep your team productive and your data secure.
