Imagine running a company that has no trouble getting your brand in front of the right audience. Your team is motivated, and you also have realistic ambitions to work toward. However, you have a lackluster IT strategy.
This shortcoming could have a substantial impact on your overall performance, which is why many businesses choose to leverage on-demand services. It’s also imperative to understand fully managed IT and co-managed IT so you can make the best decision for your IT management. Let’s explore the key details you need to keep in mind.
On-Demand Services
As the name implies, this model provides resources based on the user’s needs. On-demand services provide a large amount of flexibility, as you can tap into services as issues arise. This involves contacting an IT team whenever you encounter a problem and having them resolve it for you.
A common example is when a company’s phone system malfunctions. Their on-demand provider will step in and get things back up and running. On-demand services could involve either remote or in-person work.
Some problems with on-demand services will require your provider to send a professional to your workplace to resolve them. Many issues, though, can be quickly resolved remotely.
Pros
With on-demand services, you’ll only need to pay for what you use, which is great for companies that have tight budgets. With on-demand services you can also streamline your internal operations since the work you outsource will be minimal.
Many companies forego keeping internal IT teams when they hire on-demand services, especially if they don’t have much office space to work with. Reputable on-demand providers are also easy to communicate with. You can reduce a large amount of potential stress when you hire someone easy to get in touch with.
Convenience is another major benefit to consider with on-demand services. In most cases, you’ll simply need to make a phone call or submit a ticket online to get the assistance you need. There aren’t many issues that on-demand IT services can’t handle quickly.
Cons
In some cases, there won’t be on-demand services available for your needs. Issues like these often arise if you have a large number of IT requirements. In this case, you’re likely better off choosing a co-managed or fully managed provider rather than on-demand services.
Reactivity is also a major drawback to on-demand services. Even the most responsive on-demand services are slower than providers that actively monitor networks for issues. This can lead to a large variety of problems, especially if your company experiences a data breach caused by on-demand services.
In 2023, the average data breach cost companies a record $4.5 million. Even a single incident can be impossible to recover from for certain businesses. There’s also something to be said about the damage you’ll experience to your company’s reputation.
A common scenario is a business failing to properly secure customer information, allowing hackers to compromise it. Many consumers will distrust that company in the future and work with a competitor instead.
Co-Managed IT
This form of IT management allows you to retain control of certain processes while outsourcing others. This is a customizable IT service model that companies use when they don’t need everything a fully managed provider offers.
Services come in many forms, such as outsourcing your helpdesk obligations. The best way to leverage co-managed IT is to decide what work is worth doing in-house.
You can then outsource to a service provider to pick up the slack. In general, it’s best to look into co-managed IT if your internal department doesn’t have the skills or time to handle certain obligations. Companies that choose co-managed IT generally have too many obligations to outsource to an on-demand provider.
Pros
The flexibility that co-managed services provide is their main selling point. Many companies don’t need fully managed IT services. They may also have too many obligations to warrant using on-demand services.
Co-managed services are a great middle-ground that can meet your needs without stretching your budget. Companies of any size can benefit from this scenario, as they will experience boosts in efficiency regardless.
Active monitoring is also a notable benefit to keep in mind. This allows your service provider to recognize and eliminate issues before they evolve into something worse. In many cases, they can resolve problems before you even learn about them.
Cons
You’ll need to have a robust IT infrastructure when using co-managed IT services. By design, these only handle the obligations that your internal team doesn’t. If your team isn’t properly trained, you could encounter issues that your in-house workers can’t resolve.
You also wouldn’t be able to leverage your co-managed provider since it’s not their responsibility. Small businesses sometimes struggle to succeed with co-managed providers since they don’t always have experienced IT employees.
It can sometimes be difficult to determine which obligations your co-managed provider should handle, as these are subject to change.
For instance, let’s assume your co-managed provider handles helpdesk requests and compliance issues. Your company then scaled faster than expected over the next few months, substantially increasing your risk of a cyberattack. Since your co-managed provider doesn’t handle cybersecurity concerns, you might struggle to accommodate them.
It’s essential to understand these potential shortcomings so you can prevent problems before they arise. With enough planning, you can avoid the drawbacks of co-managed services.
Fully Managed IT
This is one of the most common types of IT solutions that companies take advantage of. In contrast to co-managed IT, fully managed IT services allow your managed service provider to handle all aspects of your IT infrastructure.
Fully managed providers offer comprehensive services compared to co-managed or on-demand providers. This means you’ll need to find someone who has a strong understanding of your company so they can provide the best results.
Pros
Peace of mind is one of the most notable benefits that fully managed services offer. You won’t have to worry about the nuances or complications of handling IT responsibilities.
Depending on the industry you work in, this can save a substantial amount of stress. To clarify, companies in certain spaces (such as tech or finance) have greater IT needs than others. A fully managed service provider can help them streamline their IT obligations.
When you outsource to a fully managed provider, you won’t need to hire an in-house team. Many companies operate entirely online, and it’s both impractical and impossible for most of them to have dedicated IT employees. Without fully managed IT, businesses like these would fail to meet their target performance levels.
Cons
As you might assume, greater levels of service come at a greater cost. You’ll need a larger budget when allocating money toward this type of provider. You also have less flexibility regarding what you pay.
To elaborate, you’ll be locked into a monthly payment that might be fairly rigid depending on the terms of your agreement. Some providers also require clients to sign extensive agreements, as well. Business owners could find themselves having to choose between providers that only offer multi-year contracts.
Since your provider will have full control over your IT infrastructure, it’s imperative to find the right company. This can sometimes take weeks or months to handle, which can distract you from other concerns.
Finding a Provider
Your provider plays a large role in the results you’ll get. One of the most important attributes to consider is their reputation. See what other people have to say about the experiences they have.
A brief online search will provide valuable insight into the key details you need to know about, such as their communicativeness, professionalism, and efficacy. Pricing is also something to keep in mind before making your decision, as not all providers are created equal.
It’s not recommended to choose the cheapest options you find, as this likely indicates they won’t be able to meet your needs. Assess their level of enthusiasm during your search. If they don’t seem interested in helping you, this is a sign you should look for alternative options.
You can gauge how enthusiastic they are by paying attention to how many questions they ask about your goals. A provider who doesn’t want to learn more about opportunities to help you is one you should avoid. Responsiveness is something you can’t overlook.
No matter the level of service your provider offers, it won’t mean much if they don’t respond promptly. The last thing you want is to struggle to resolve contingencies on your own.
Many businesses don’t have the time or resources to deal with situations like these. However, as long as you do your due diligence when searching, you’ll be sure to find the ideal choice for your situation.
Get Started ASAP
The info in this guide will help you quickly determine whether you should pursue co-managed, fully managed, or on-demand services. From here, you’ll have no trouble taking your performance to new heights and avoiding issues you may have otherwise encountered.
Vertical IT Solutions aims to make our clients’ lives as easy as possible through the services we provide. We guarantee 100% uptime and have friendly, US-based staff to handle concerns that may arise. You’ll learn more about how we can help when you schedule a consultation today.