Co-managed IT means your internal IT staff partner with an external managed service provider. The MSP fills the gaps your team cannot cover economically: 24/7 monitoring, after-hours helpdesk, specialised security tooling, or project capacity. A full MSP replaces internal IT entirely. Both models work, the right choice depends on whether you already have IT staff and what they can realistically handle.
In a co-managed arrangement, your internal IT person or team retains ownership of the systems they know well and the strategic relationships they have built, while the MSP provides the platforms, tooling, after-hours coverage, and specialist skills your team lacks.
Typical co-managed split:
This is not a fixed split, it is negotiated based on your team's strengths and the MSP's capabilities.
In most cases, yes. Here is why:
A single internal IT person can typically handle 50 - 100 user helpdesk at a small business, if all they have to do is helpdesk. The moment you add security monitoring, patch management, backup administration, endpoint management, and project work, one person is almost always overloaded.
Co-managed IT gives your IT person the professional tools, RMM, EDR, backup platform, ticketing system, that would cost far more to build independently. It also gives them backup on evenings and weekends without needing to be on-call around the clock.
Most internal IT staff appreciate co-managed support. The rare ones who feel threatened by it usually come around when they realise it means fewer 2 a.m. calls.
Co-managed IT is typically priced per user per month, usually at a lower rate than full MSP because your team is handling some of the workload. Expect:
Projects, hardware, and licensing are usually billed separately, as with full MSP.
That is the most common reason businesses move to co-managed. The internal IT person is handling helpdesk, server maintenance, security, compliance requests, and project work simultaneously, and none of it is getting done well.
Co-managed offloads the repeatable, automatable work (monitoring, patching, backup verification, after-hours tickets) so your IT person can focus on the work that requires business context: application support, user relationships, and strategic projects.
What is co-managed IT? Co-managed IT is a partnership between your internal IT staff and an external MSP. The two teams divide responsibilities based on your team's capabilities and the MSP's platform.
Does co-managed IT work if my IT person is not very senior? Yes. The MSP provides the senior expertise. Your IT person handles local relationships and day-to-day, and escalates to the MSP for anything complex.
Can we start co-managed and transition to full MSP later? Yes. Many businesses start co-managed when they have one IT person, then transition to full MSP if that person leaves or if the business outgrows the hybrid model.
Will the MSP work with my existing tools and vendors? North Star prefers to standardise on tested tools, but we work within existing vendor relationships where they make sense.
Can North Star IT do co-managed? Yes. North Star runs co-managed IT engagements with internal IT teams across BC, Alberta, and Yukon, from one-person IT departments to five-person teams.
Have an internal IT team and wondering how we can complement them? Call 672-983-1174 or book a free co-managed consultation at northstarit.ca.
Quick answers.
What is co-managed IT?
Co-managed IT means your internal IT person or team partners with an MSP. The MSP handles the parts your team is short on: 24/7 monitoring, after hours support, security tools, or specialized expertise.
Should I keep my IT person and add an MSP?
Yes, in most cases. Co-managed gives your IT person the tools and coverage they cannot economically build alone. Most internal IT staff appreciate the support, not resent it.
How is co-managed priced?
Co-managed is usually priced per user per month, similar to full MSP but at a slightly lower rate since your team is handling the day to day. Tooling and after hours coverage are the main paid components.
What if my IT person is overworked?
That is the classic co-managed scenario. The MSP takes on the routine work so your IT person can focus on projects and strategic work for the business.
Can Northstar IT do co-managed?
Yes. North Star runs co-managed IT engagements with internal IT teams across BC, Alberta, and Yukon.
Have a specific situation in mind?
Book a free 30-minute scoping call with a Northstar IT engineer. We will walk through your environment, your questions, and what good looks like for your team.
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