By Travis Richards, Director of Service Delivery
When most people hear “Managed Services Provider” (MSP), they think of a partner that comes in, takes over, and manages everything IT-related. While this traditional model works well for some organizations, it’s not the only way forward—and it’s not always the right fit.
Many internal IT teams aren’t looking to hand over control—they’re looking for a partner who can support their efforts, fill in gaps, and provide expert insight when it’s needed most. They want collaboration, transparency, and the ability to stay actively involved in managing their environment. That’s exactly what co-managed IT is designed to deliver.
What Is Co-Managed IT?
Co-managed IT is a flexible partnership model where your Managed Service Provider (MSP) works side-by-side with your internal IT team to support, maintain, and optimize your technology environment. You stay in control of your systems, while the MSP provides additional expertise, capacity, and strategic insight.
It’s the best of both worlds—a collaborative approach that strengthens your internal team by expanding resources, reducing strain, and bringing in broader industry perspective.
“Co-management fosters a partnership mindset rather than a vendor-client relationship.”
Co-Managed IT: A Partnership That Elevates Performance
Your internal IT team already knows your systems, your people, and your business goals. But that doesn’t mean they should shoulder the entire load—especially in a fast-paced tech environment where change is constant.
Co-managed services help you:
- Run leaner and smarter: Whether covering staff absences or taking on routine tasks like patching and monitoring, co-management enables your team to stay focused on high-impact initiatives.
- Gain specialized expertise: From cybersecurity and cloud to infrastructure and compliance, co-managed models give you access to experts across disciplines—without the overhead of full-time hires.
- Improve visibility and collaboration: Unlike traditional outsourcing, co-managed IT keeps your team engaged. You retain system access and insight while collaborating closely with external support.
- Enhance security and compliance: Exposure to diverse environments and evolving best practices enables co-managed partners to provide informed guidance that strengthens posture and aligns with industry standards.
- Scale at your pace: Whether expanding locations, modernizing infrastructure, or managing rapid growth, co-managed services offer flexibility and strategic support without overextending your internal resources.
Supporting Smart Growth with Co-Managed IT Services
A great example of co-managed IT in action comes from a fast-growing healthcare organization facing a familiar challenge: their small internal IT team was stretched thin. Between day-to-day troubleshooting, software updates, and navigating strict compliance requirements, they were constantly reacting instead of planning ahead.
Full outsourcing wasn’t the right fit—they wanted to stay in control of their environment while getting the support needed to reduce pressure and improve performance.
By adopting a co-managed IT model, they were able to offload tasks like endpoint patching, backup monitoring, and Tier 1 support. This freed their internal team to focus on higher-value initiatives, like strengthening cybersecurity, rolling out new technologies, and enhancing patient-facing systems.
The outcome? Faster resolution times, improved uptime, greater job satisfaction among IT staff—and a strategic roadmap to support the organization’s continued growth.
A Strategic Partner—Not Just a Service
Stories like these underscore what co-managed IT is really about: enabling internal teams to thrive by adding the right support, exactly where and when it’s needed. It’s not about replacing your team—it’s about strengthening it.
Every organization has unique needs. Some benefit from full-service IT management, while others are best served by a collaborative model that shares responsibility and maintains visibility. For teams looking to scale efficiently, stay secure, and focus on what matters most, co-managed IT delivers the flexibility and partnership to make that happen.
MicroAge is here to serve as an extension of your team—bringing expertise, bandwidth, and strategic insight to help you achieve long-term success. No matter your size, structure, or location, co-managed IT gives you the tools to move forward with confidence.
Let’s co-manage your success.
Let’s talk
Ready to explore a co-managed model for your IT team?
Contact your MicroAge Account Executive at (800) 544-8877 today.
Let’s build something better, together.
“As the Director of Service Delivery, Travis is responsible for managing the delivery team for all services sold and overseeing the success of all 3rd party service engagements. Travis works closely with the client and sales teams to ensure technical services are delivered in an outstanding fashion to achieve the results clients desire and are accustomed to.”
Travis RichardsDirector of Service Delivery
