January 31, 2025 • 13 mins
In this episode, we explore the transformative power of Co-managed IT services for SMBs. From boosting efficiency and reducing costs to fortifying cybersecurity, we’ll dive into real-world success stories, including how Teal has elevated strategies for businesses like yours. Gain valuable insights for selecting the perfect partner to empower your internal IT team and discover why Co-managed IT is essential for scaling and thriving in today’s tech-driven world.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Welcome, everyone, to the first episodeof Visionary IT.
(00:03):
This podcast is where technology meetsstrategy, and we're going to explore how
businesses can leverage IT to drive theirsuccess-both securely and efficiently.And
hey, we won't just be tossing aroundbuzzwords here.
I think you'll find we're all aboutpractical, no-nonsense advice you can
(00:25):
actually use.
Because let's face it, IT is confusingenough without, you know,
overcomplicating things.Right, Reid.
So the goal for Visionary IT is to cutthrough the jargon to give you the
actionable insights.
Each episode, we'll tackle pressing ITchallenges, share best practices, and
(00:47):
discuss emerging trends-all geared towardhelping small and midsized businesses
thrive.And let's not forget, we wannamake this relatable, too.
I mean, IT should be an enabler, not asource of stress, right?
So besides diving into strategies, we'llchat about stuff that actually solves
(01:09):
problems.
Like-spoiler alert-how co-managed IT canhelp overwhelmed teams without replacing
them.
Pretty cool, huh?Exactly.
And to give our listeners an edge, we'llbe breaking down key concepts that are
critical for enhancing ITperformance-while staying secure and
(01:32):
cost-effective.
It's all about empowering them with theknowledge they need to succeed in today's
digital landscape.Oh, totally.
And not to brag, but between us, we'vegot decades of experience helping SMBs
find their footing in this tech-heavyworld.
(01:53):
So, we're gonna bring that expertise andhave some fun while we're at it.
Trust me, it won't be all firewalls andpatch updates.Well said.
So, if you're ready to optimize your ITstrategy and learn from real-world
examples, you're in the right place.Andhey, if nothing else, stick around just
(02:16):
to find out how Gar puts up with me.
It's gonna be a great ride!Well, speakingof me putting up with Reid-let's jump
into today's topic (02:22):
co-managed IT services.
At its core, it's really aboutpartnership.
Think of it as bringing in reinforcementsfor your in-house IT team, working
hand-in-hand, not, you know, replacinganyone.Yeah, it's more like hiring some
extra hands during crunch time, but onlywhen and where you need them.
(02:43):
Makes sense, right?Exactly, Reid.
The idea is to optimize resources andaddress challenges without the huge
overhead of expanding your IT department.
And the benefits can be pretty incredible.
For example, cost reductions can rangefrom 25% to even 45%.Which is huge,
(03:06):
especially for SMBs.
I mean, for most of them, hiring just onefull-time IT pro can be a serious budget
hit, right?That's a great point.
And it's not just about costs.
Operational efficiency can improve by upto 65%, which can be a game changer for
organizations trying to stay competitivein a fast-paced digital world.And let's
(03:28):
not forget-cybersecurity.
I mean, all it takes is one ransomwareattack.
They're happening every 11 seconds thesedays, which, honestly, is just terrifying
for a small business executive.True.
And unfortunately, statistics show that60% of SMBs never recover from a major
(03:48):
data breach.
So, having the right cybersecurity toolsand partners, like an MSP, is often
essential for survival.Yeah, like, nopressure, but it kinda feels like this is
what separates those who thrive fromthose who...well, just barely hang on.
So, really, this service gives your teamthe bandwidth to focus on the big
(04:11):
picture, rather than just fighting firesall day long.Exactly.
A co-managed IT service helps alleviatethose pain points.
You've got an overburdened team?
This approach scales with your needs,providing support where it's most
critical.And it's not just the techiestuff-it brings some calm to the chaos,
(04:32):
you know?
Helping internal teams do what they'rebest at, instead of drowning in endless
tasks.
Makes everyone's job moreenjoyable.Absolutely.
Co-managed IT is about balance-andstrengthening what you already have.
And the results speak for themselves.Ohfor sure, and speaking of results, uh,
(04:56):
you've gotta hear about some of thesuccess stories we've seen with this
model.
Trust me, it'll blow your mind.You'reabsolutely right, Reid-let's dive into
one of those success stories.
One example that stands out is ourcollaboration with a life sciences
consulting company.
They were facing significantinfrastructure challenges but didn't want
(05:18):
to fully outsource IT.
So, we partnered with their internalteam, focusing on areas like device
management, patching, and other criticalsupport functions.And, uh, here's the
cool part-they weren't just treadingwater anymore.
This partnership let their in-house teamactually focus on big-picture stuff, the
(05:41):
kind of strategic initiatives that drivereal growth.
I mean, how often do you hear about ITfolks getting to innovate instead of just
putting out fires all day?Exactly.
And that shift in focus does more thanjust improve operations-it boosts morale.
When your IT team isn't buried underroutine tasks, they can work smarter, not
(06:03):
harder.
It's transformative for staffsatisfaction and retention.Happy IT teams
make happy businesses, after all.
But wait, let's talk about thatconstruction company we worked with.
This one's wild-they came to us afterstruggling with another provider.
We stepped in and, uh, fixed fourteen-no,no-fifteen critical issues in just a
(06:25):
matter of days.
Some of these were, like, massive "howdid this get missed?" kind of
problems.That was a great case study inwhat a tailored, needs-based approach can
accomplish.
The flexibility of co-managed IT allowedus to target their problem areas without
overstepping their internal team's roles.
(06:48):
It's the perfect balance of support andcollaboration.Right, and you know what's
key there?
The scalability of this model.
Like, it doesn't matter if you're dealingwith seasonal peaks, rapid growth, or a
total tech hiccup-they found a solutionthat worked right now, but also grows
with them.
That adaptability?
That's the game-changer.And let's notforget that it's also cost-effective.
(07:12):
You're not locked into an inflexiblearrangement.
Instead, you get exactly what you need,when you need it, while keeping the
financials manageable.It's a win-win, nodoubt.
It takes the pressure off internal teams.
So they finally have breathing room tofocus on where they add the most value,
which could be something like launchingnew projects or streamlining their
(07:35):
current operations.
That's the kind of ROI that's hard toignore.Absolutely.
And stories like these show thatco-managed IT is more than just a
supplemental service-it's really astrategic advantage.Reid, those stories
really highlight how co-managed IT can bea game-changer.
(07:58):
But let's shift gears a little bit andtalk about how to pick the right partner,
because not all service providers deliverthe same level of expertise or
value.Yeah, so.
there are some real gems out there, andthen-well, let's just say there are
providers you wouldn't wanna rely onduring a system outage at midnight.We've
(08:20):
heard our fair share about thoseproviders.
Which leads me to the first point.
The first thing you really want toprioritize is excellent service quality.
Does the provider have a track record forfast response times, clear communication,
and solutions that actually solveproblems?Right, for example, we tell our
(08:40):
clients that when someone picks up thephone and calls us, they'll be speaking
to a technical expert in just 15-seconds.
That's someone who can help them solvetheir problem.
So, looking for response times is a bigone.
That's gotta be a lifesaver for so manybusinesses.
I mean, who has time for endless holdmusic when your systems are down?True.
(09:05):
Timeliness aside, it's also critical toensure the MSP aligns with your industry.
If they don't understand the uniquechallenges your business faces-whether
it's compliance, security needs, orscalability-you're not going to get the
kind of support you need.And let's behonest, Gar, it's not just about them
(09:28):
knowing your industry, it's about themactually caring about your goals.
Are they outcome-driven?
Do they clearly outline how theirservices will help you meet your
objectives?Exactly.
And a transparent Service LevelAgreement-an SLA-is key here.
(09:49):
It lays out the expectations for bothsides, so you know what you're getting,
and they know how to deliver without anyambiguity.Oh, yeah.
No more "uh, I thought that was included"surprises.
An SLA is basically the contract thatsaves friendships-or, you know, in this
(10:10):
case, partnerships.Well said.
And beyond that, I always tell businessesto ask for references and reviews.
See what others have to say about theproviders you're interviewing.
A company with a proven trackrecord-like, uh, over 200 five-star
Google reviews and detailed casestudies-that's usually a strong indicator
(10:33):
of reliability.Yeah, because let's faceit: anyone can talk the talk.
But if they can't back it up withreal-world proof, it's probably a red
flag.Exactly.
Now, another area to evaluate is security.
For instance, does the provider haveleading benchmarks like a strong score on
platforms like SecurityScorecard?
(10:56):
In today's world, cybersecurity has to bea priority.Oh, no kidding.
It's wild out there, I mean, you reallycan't leave security up to chance.Agreed.
And don't forget scalability.
The right MSP grows with you, adapting tochanges like seasonal peaks or rapid
(11:16):
expansion without locking you into rigidterms.Right-and it's not just about
keeping up with growth either.
It's about avoiding paying for servicesyou don't need.
Like, only scaling when it makes sensefor your business.That adaptability
ensures cost-efficiency.
And speaking of costs, one bigmisconception I'd like to clear-the
(11:38):
co-managed model is not just for thosewith large budgets.
It's tailored to complement what youalready have, filling gaps without
replacing your team or ballooning youroverhead.Oh, totally.
It's like a booster pack for your ITteam-whether you're dealing with routine
(11:58):
maintenance or big-picture projects, it'scost-effective and, honestly, a
no-brainer for a lot of SMBs.Absolutely.
And if you're still not convinced,remember, the goal is to enable your team
and business to thrive.
A good MSP, like Teal, is a partner whomeasures success by the success of their
(12:22):
clients.
That's what makes all the difference.Andwith that, I guess we can finally
say-we've covered it all.
From what co-managed IT is to how to findthe right partner.
Feeling good about this one?Definitely.
And to all our listeners-choosing theright IT partner could redefine how your
(12:44):
business operates.
Take your time, vet your options, anddon't settle for anything less than a
true strategic ally.Well said, Gar.
Thanks, everyone, for tuning in.
And hey, if you've got questions or wannaexplore your options, you know where to
find us.
Until next time!Thanks for listening.
Stay visionary, stay secure, and we'llsee you in the next episode.
Welcome, everyone, to the first episodeof Visionary IT.
(00:03):
This podcast is where technology meetsstrategy, and we're going to explore how
businesses can leverage IT to drive theirsuccess-both securely and efficiently.And
hey, we won't just be tossing aroundbuzzwords here.
I think you'll find we're all aboutpractical, no-nonsense advice you can
(00:25):
actually use.
Because let's face it, IT is confusingenough without, you know,
overcomplicating things.Right, Reid.
So the goal for Visionary IT is to cutthrough the jargon to give you the
actionable insights.
Each episode, we'll tackle pressing ITchallenges, share best practices, and
(00:47):
discuss emerging trends-all geared towardhelping small and midsized businesses
thrive.And let's not forget, we wannamake this relatable, too.
I mean, IT should be an enabler, not asource of stress, right?
So besides diving into strategies, we'llchat about stuff that actually solves
(01:09):
problems.
Like-spoiler alert-how co-managed IT canhelp overwhelmed teams without replacing
them.
Pretty cool, huh?Exactly.
And to give our listeners an edge, we'llbe breaking down key concepts that are
critical for enhancing ITperformance-while staying secure and
(01:32):
cost-effective.
It's all about empowering them with theknowledge they need to succeed in today's
digital landscape.Oh, totally.
And not to brag, but between us, we'vegot decades of experience helping SMBs
find their footing in this tech-heavyworld.
(01:53):
So, we're gonna bring that expertise andhave some fun while we're at it.
Trust me, it won't be all firewalls andpatch updates.Well said.
So, if you're ready to optimize your ITstrategy and learn from real-world
examples, you're in the right place.Andhey, if nothing else, stick around just
(02:16):
to find out how Gar puts up with me.
It's gonna be a great ride!Well, speakingof me putting up with Reid-let's jump
into today's topic (02:22):
co-managed IT services.
At its core, it's really aboutpartnership.
Think of it as bringing in reinforcementsfor your in-house IT team, working
hand-in-hand, not, you know, replacinganyone.Yeah, it's more like hiring some
extra hands during crunch time, but onlywhen and where you need them.
(02:43):
Makes sense, right?Exactly, Reid.
The idea is to optimize resources andaddress challenges without the huge
overhead of expanding your IT department.
And the benefits can be pretty incredible.
For example, cost reductions can rangefrom 25% to even 45%.Which is huge,
(03:06):
especially for SMBs.
I mean, for most of them, hiring just onefull-time IT pro can be a serious budget
hit, right?That's a great point.
And it's not just about costs.
Operational efficiency can improve by upto 65%, which can be a game changer for
organizations trying to stay competitivein a fast-paced digital world.And let's
(03:28):
not forget-cybersecurity.
I mean, all it takes is one ransomwareattack.
They're happening every 11 seconds thesedays, which, honestly, is just terrifying
for a small business executive.True.
And unfortunately, statistics show that60% of SMBs never recover from a major
(03:48):
data breach.
So, having the right cybersecurity toolsand partners, like an MSP, is often
essential for survival.Yeah, like, nopressure, but it kinda feels like this is
what separates those who thrive fromthose who...well, just barely hang on.
So, really, this service gives your teamthe bandwidth to focus on the big
(04:11):
picture, rather than just fighting firesall day long.Exactly.
A co-managed IT service helps alleviatethose pain points.
You've got an overburdened team?
This approach scales with your needs,providing support where it's most
critical.And it's not just the techiestuff-it brings some calm to the chaos,
(04:32):
you know?
Helping internal teams do what they'rebest at, instead of drowning in endless
tasks.
Makes everyone's job moreenjoyable.Absolutely.
Co-managed IT is about balance-andstrengthening what you already have.
And the results speak for themselves.Ohfor sure, and speaking of results, uh,
(04:56):
you've gotta hear about some of thesuccess stories we've seen with this
model.
Trust me, it'll blow your mind.You'reabsolutely right, Reid-let's dive into
one of those success stories.
One example that stands out is ourcollaboration with a life sciences
consulting company.
They were facing significantinfrastructure challenges but didn't want
(05:18):
to fully outsource IT.
So, we partnered with their internalteam, focusing on areas like device
management, patching, and other criticalsupport functions.And, uh, here's the
cool part-they weren't just treadingwater anymore.
This partnership let their in-house teamactually focus on big-picture stuff, the
(05:41):
kind of strategic initiatives that drivereal growth.
I mean, how often do you hear about ITfolks getting to innovate instead of just
putting out fires all day?Exactly.
And that shift in focus does more thanjust improve operations-it boosts morale.
When your IT team isn't buried underroutine tasks, they can work smarter, not
(06:03):
harder.
It's transformative for staffsatisfaction and retention.Happy IT teams
make happy businesses, after all.
But wait, let's talk about thatconstruction company we worked with.
This one's wild-they came to us afterstruggling with another provider.
We stepped in and, uh, fixed fourteen-no,no-fifteen critical issues in just a
(06:25):
matter of days.
Some of these were, like, massive "howdid this get missed?" kind of
problems.That was a great case study inwhat a tailored, needs-based approach can
accomplish.
The flexibility of co-managed IT allowedus to target their problem areas without
overstepping their internal team's roles.
(06:48):
It's the perfect balance of support andcollaboration.Right, and you know what's
key there?
The scalability of this model.
Like, it doesn't matter if you're dealingwith seasonal peaks, rapid growth, or a
total tech hiccup-they found a solutionthat worked right now, but also grows
with them.
That adaptability?
That's the game-changer.And let's notforget that it's also cost-effective.
(07:12):
You're not locked into an inflexiblearrangement.
Instead, you get exactly what you need,when you need it, while keeping the
financials manageable.It's a win-win, nodoubt.
It takes the pressure off internal teams.
So they finally have breathing room tofocus on where they add the most value,
which could be something like launchingnew projects or streamlining their
(07:35):
current operations.
That's the kind of ROI that's hard toignore.Absolutely.
And stories like these show thatco-managed IT is more than just a
supplemental service-it's really astrategic advantage.Reid, those stories
really highlight how co-managed IT can bea game-changer.
(07:58):
But let's shift gears a little bit andtalk about how to pick the right partner,
because not all service providers deliverthe same level of expertise or
value.Yeah, so.
there are some real gems out there, andthen-well, let's just say there are
providers you wouldn't wanna rely onduring a system outage at midnight.We've
(08:20):
heard our fair share about thoseproviders.
Which leads me to the first point.
The first thing you really want toprioritize is excellent service quality.
Does the provider have a track record forfast response times, clear communication,
and solutions that actually solveproblems?Right, for example, we tell our
(08:40):
clients that when someone picks up thephone and calls us, they'll be speaking
to a technical expert in just 15-seconds.
That's someone who can help them solvetheir problem.
So, looking for response times is a bigone.
That's gotta be a lifesaver for so manybusinesses.
I mean, who has time for endless holdmusic when your systems are down?True.
(09:05):
Timeliness aside, it's also critical toensure the MSP aligns with your industry.
If they don't understand the uniquechallenges your business faces-whether
it's compliance, security needs, orscalability-you're not going to get the
kind of support you need.And let's behonest, Gar, it's not just about them
(09:28):
knowing your industry, it's about themactually caring about your goals.
Are they outcome-driven?
Do they clearly outline how theirservices will help you meet your
objectives?Exactly.
And a transparent Service LevelAgreement-an SLA-is key here.
(09:49):
It lays out the expectations for bothsides, so you know what you're getting,
and they know how to deliver without anyambiguity.Oh, yeah.
No more "uh, I thought that was included"surprises.
An SLA is basically the contract thatsaves friendships-or, you know, in this
(10:10):
case, partnerships.Well said.
And beyond that, I always tell businessesto ask for references and reviews.
See what others have to say about theproviders you're interviewing.
A company with a proven trackrecord-like, uh, over 200 five-star
Google reviews and detailed casestudies-that's usually a strong indicator
(10:33):
of reliability.Yeah, because let's faceit: anyone can talk the talk.
But if they can't back it up withreal-world proof, it's probably a red
flag.Exactly.
Now, another area to evaluate is security.
For instance, does the provider haveleading benchmarks like a strong score on
platforms like SecurityScorecard?
(10:56):
In today's world, cybersecurity has to bea priority.Oh, no kidding.
It's wild out there, I mean, you reallycan't leave security up to chance.Agreed.
And don't forget scalability.
The right MSP grows with you, adapting tochanges like seasonal peaks or rapid
(11:16):
expansion without locking you into rigidterms.Right-and it's not just about
keeping up with growth either.
It's about avoiding paying for servicesyou don't need.
Like, only scaling when it makes sensefor your business.That adaptability
ensures cost-efficiency.
And speaking of costs, one bigmisconception I'd like to clear-the
(11:38):
co-managed model is not just for thosewith large budgets.
It's tailored to complement what youalready have, filling gaps without
replacing your team or ballooning youroverhead.Oh, totally.
It's like a booster pack for your ITteam-whether you're dealing with routine
(11:58):
maintenance or big-picture projects, it'scost-effective and, honestly, a
no-brainer for a lot of SMBs.Absolutely.
And if you're still not convinced,remember, the goal is to enable your team
and business to thrive.
A good MSP, like Teal, is a partner whomeasures success by the success of their
(12:22):
clients.
That's what makes all the difference.Andwith that, I guess we can finally
say-we've covered it all.
From what co-managed IT is to how to findthe right partner.
Feeling good about this one?Definitely.
And to all our listeners-choosing theright IT partner could redefine how your
(12:44):
business operates.
Take your time, vet your options, anddon't settle for anything less than a
true strategic ally.Well said, Gar.
Thanks, everyone, for tuning in.
And hey, if you've got questions or wannaexplore your options, you know where to
find us.
Until next time!Thanks for listening.
Stay visionary, stay secure, and we'llsee you in the next episode.
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