Co-Managed IT: augment your internal team.
Some businesses in BC and AB have an internal IT coordinator or a small IT team, but they are stretched thin, lack specialist skills in cybersecurity or cloud, or need backup when someone is sick or on holiday. Co-managed IT is the answer: North Star layers on top of your existing team, filling gaps without replacing anyone. You keep your internal person and their institutional knowledge; you gain a full-service MSP as their back-up.
What is co-managed IT?
Co-managed IT is a shared service model where your internal IT staff and North Star divide responsibilities based on who does what best. Typically your in-house person handles day-to-day end user requests and physical on-site work, while North Star runs the RMM platform, security tooling, patch management, backup monitoring, and after-hours escalations. We can also provide specialist skills your team lacks - penetration testing, cloud architecture, compliance audits - on a project basis. The key difference from full outsourcing is that your internal staff keep ownership of the environment; North Star is the expert resource and safety net. We use the same professional-grade tools your team gets access to, creating a unified view of the environment.
What North Star delivers.
Your internal team gets access to enterprise-grade RMM and security tools.
Rather than your IT coordinator using ad-hoc tools, they get access to North Star's RMM platform, ticketing system, and endpoint detection software. Better tools, same person.
On-call escalation when your team is unavailable.
Your internal IT person should not be on call 24/7. North Star handles after-hours escalations so your team can disconnect and your business still has coverage.
Cybersecurity, cloud, and compliance expertise on demand.
Most internal IT generalists are not cybersecurity specialists. North Star adds that depth: vulnerability assessments, security awareness training, cloud architecture reviews, and compliance preparation.
Holiday and sick-day coverage without scrambling.
When your internal IT person is on vacation, nothing falls through the cracks. North Star maintains full visibility into your environment and handles requests during the gap.
Virtual CIO guidance for technology planning.
Your internal IT coordinator may not have the budget-planning and vendor-negotiation experience of a CIO. North Star's account managers provide that strategic layer without the executive salary.
What buyers ask before they sign.
How do you divide responsibilities between North Star and our internal IT staff?
We document a responsibility matrix at the start of the engagement. Typically internal staff handle tier-1 requests, physical hardware, and anything requiring hands-on access. North Star handles monitoring, security, patching, backup verification, after-hours escalations, and specialist projects. The split is flexible and adjusted as your needs change.
Will North Star try to replace our internal IT person?
No. The co-managed model is explicitly designed to support your internal staff, not displace them. Your internal person retains ownership and visibility into the environment through the same tools we use.
What tools does North Star use and will our IT person need training?
We use industry-standard RMM and PSA platforms. Most IT professionals pick up the basics within a few hours. North Star provides onboarding and documentation for your internal staff.
Is co-managed IT more or less expensive than full outsourcing?
Co-managed IT is typically less expensive per month than full outsourcing because your internal staff are handling a portion of the work. The total cost to your business (internal salary plus North Star retainer) may be comparable to full outsourcing, but you retain the in-house institutional knowledge.
What size of internal IT team does co-managed IT suit?
Co-managed IT works well for businesses with one to three internal IT staff. Larger internal teams sometimes use a similar model for specific disciplines like security or cloud, where they lack in-house expertise.
Want to strengthen your internal IT team?
Tell us about your environment and we will come back with a scoped proposal in two business days. No obligation, no pressure.
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