What’s the Difference Between IT Management and Co-Managed IT?
The difference between IT management and co-managed IT is the difference between having professionals manage your information technology (IT) for you, and allowing another business to manage it with an outside company. Does that sound like splitting hairs? Nope! This difference has serious implications for your business, especially if you’re thinking about outsourcing or hiring an in-house team.
What is Co-Managed IT?
When a firm decides on co-managed information technology, they have decided that they want a third party working with their existing employees to take care of the company’s computer network. A staff member from this outside agency also will attend regular meetings with those who work within the business so as to ensure that everyone understands what they are doing. The difference between this and information technology management is that the co-managed IT company does not have a staff member assigned to your company. Instead, they will be a liaison for you who provides assistance with the day-to-day tasks of managing your network while also attending meetings with those who work in the business.
What is IT Management?
When it comes to the difference between information technology management and co-managed IT, one difference is who actually gets paid. Those who opt for information technology management will pay their own employees per hour or by the project to take care of their computer network. A third party isn’t involved, which is why hiring professionals internally makes more sense for some businesses than others depending on what is needed by the business versus what it can afford.
Another difference between information technology management and co-managed IT is who ultimately manages the network. If you’ve hired an outside agency to do information technology management, you are responsible for picking tasks that require attention through your company’s management team, but they will manage the day-to-day work. On the other hand, when you allow another business to take on co-managed IT, then there is an increased risk that your data could be lost if someone in the outside company makes a mistake or does not follow protocol. While you expect them to follow basic rules about being accurate, safe and secure in their duties, having complete control over this may not be something you are comfortable with doing.
Finally, the difference between information technology management and co-managed IT includes which service is more affordable for your company. You should always compare prices before making a final decision, but this difference between information technology management and co-managed IT means that the latter option often costs more than the former because you’ll also be paying for increased convenience.
The difference between these two concepts can become extremely important when it comes to the safety of your business’ data and anything else that is stored electronically. If you’re not sure which approach would work best for your business, then take time to learn about both options so that you can make an informed decision. Choose carefully!
