As your business scales and technology becomes more advanced, managing IT infrastructure isn't just a challenge; it's a mission-critical priority.

That’s where managed IT services step in, offering expert solutions that help you stay secure, efficient, and future-ready.

But when deciding between managed IT services and co-managed IT services, how do you know which is right for your business?

What Are Managed IT Services?

With managed IT services, an external provider takes full ownership of your organization’s IT operations. That means everything from day-to-day support to cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, backups, and network management is handled by a third-party expert.

Think of it as outsourcing your entire IT department. Managed IT services give you peace of mind and predictable monthly costs.

What Are Co-Managed IT Services?

Co-managed IT services, on the other hand, are a more collaborative approach. They blend the strengths of your internal IT team with the resources and expertise of a managed service provider (MSP). Alleviating your IT team of specific IT tasks gives them more time to focus on the fundamental tasks to keep your operations functioning. 

Your team retains control over core operations, while the MSP augments your internal team with distinct services, whether that’s managing backups, patch management, or monitoring cybersecurity threats.

The Key Difference Between Managed IT Services And Co-Managed IT Services

Understanding the nuances between managed and co-managed IT services is essential to choosing the right approach for your business. 

Here’s a closer look at the core areas where these two models differ.

Outsourced Peace of Mind

Managed IT Services

In a fully managed IT model, your MSP is responsible for all aspects of your IT operations. They become your outsourced IT department, managing everything from hardware procurement and software updates to cybersecurity, backups, and user support. 

By getting support for your technology environment, you can focus fully on your business.

Co-Managed IT Services

With co-managed IT, your internal IT team stays in the driver’s seat. The external provider acts as a strategic partner, helping your team by handling specific tasks or filling skill gaps. 

Your business retains full control over decision-making and daily operations, while the MSP provides extra capacity or specialized expertise.

Scope of Services

Managed IT Services

This model typically includes a comprehensive package of services such as: 

• 24/7 monitoring
• Helpdesk support
• Cybersecurity
• Cloud management
• Disaster recovery
• Software updates 
• Hardware maintenance

Managed IT services is a one-stop shop, designed to cover all your IT needs with minimal internal involvement.

Co-Managed IT Services

The scope is modular and customizable. You choose which services the provider handles. 

Your co-managed IT partner steps in to handle the IT tasks your internal team may not have time to focus on or those outside their areas of expertise. It’s all about working together in a way that enhances your internal capabilities.

Flexibility

Managed IT Services

While there are options to tailor your package, most services are delivered in a fixed, all-inclusive format to maintain efficiency and reliability. Fully managed IT services partners will scale their services to meet your needs as your firm's size changes.

Co-Managed IT Services

Co-managed services are more adaptive for a company that already has an internal IT team. They allow your business to scale IT services up or down as needed, shift responsibilities over time, and adjust the relationship based on changes in team structure, workload, or technology goals. 

You decide who handles what and when based on your needs and capabilities. 

Customization

Managed IT Services

While managed IT services are customizable, you’ll often use most of their services as you do not have an internal team handling your IT. 

Co-Managed IT Services

Co-managed services are built to enhance your team’s existing capabilities. You can choose what services you need and align them with your internal team’s skills and priorities, such as:

• Patch management
• Monitoring and maintenance
• Backup and business continuity
• Managed detection and response

This model is perfect for businesses that want strategic control with selective outsourcing.

How To Decide Which Is Right For Your Business

Don’t know which one is right for your business? Ask yourself:

• Do we have an internal IT team?
• Are we struggling to keep up with security, upgrades, or business continuity?
• Do we want to fully offload IT or just need supplemental help?
• Are we planning to scale quickly and need a technology partner?

If you don’t have an internal IT team or want to focus entirely on growing your business, managed IT may be your best bet. If you do have IT staff but are hitting roadblocks such as capacity, expertise, or burnout, co-managed IT can fill the gaps without replacing your team.

In our 2025 Survey on Law Firm Technology, we found that larger firms are more likely to use co-managed IT services, while smaller firms are more likely to fully outsource with managed IT services. This is because smaller firms do not have the resources to support an extensive in-house team.

Get A Managed IT Service Partner to Support You

Whether you opt for managed IT services or a co-managed IT approach, the goal is the same: to ensure your business runs smoothly, securely, and efficiently. As technology continues to play a central role in operations, customer experience, and growth, having the right IT support isn’t just helpful; it’s essential.

At Tabush Group, we offer both managed and co-managed IT services tailored to your business needs. Whether you want to offload your entire IT operation or empower your internal team with expert support, we’re here to help.

Let’s find the right solution together. Contact us today to schedule a meeting.