You hardly notice it when IT is functioning well. When it isn’t, however, it quickly steals your time, misses deadlines, irritates teams, and leaves you wondering, “What broke now?”
This blog provides an uncomplicated, practical comparison between co-managed and fully managed IT services. To help you make an informed decision, you will understand what each model usually entails, how duties are divided, and what the onboarding procedure entails.
Fully managed IT is typically a better option if you’re looking for a comprehensive, hands-off solution where a provider handles daily support, monitoring, and maintenance. Co-managed IT can provide you with more coverage, better tools, or specialized knowledge without sacrificing control if you currently have an internal IT staff member or team.
What Fully Managed IT Means
Fully managed IT services mean an MSP runs your day-to-day IT end-to-end. Common coverage includes monitoring, help desk support, patching, backups, baseline security, and cloud admin.
What Co-Managed IT Means
Co-managed IT services are a partnership. Your internal team keeps ownership of priorities and business context. The MSP fills gaps like Tier 1 tickets, after-hours coverage, tooling, projects, or specialist skills.
MSP Vs MSSP
An MSP focuses on broad IT operations. An MSSP focuses on security monitoring and response. The name matters less than the written scope.
The Real Difference Is Ownership
Ownership Checklist
Before you compare prices, decide who should own these areas:
- Strategy and roadmaps
- Approvals and change control
- Admin access and credential handling
- Security decisions and incident response
- Vendor and license management
- After-hours support
- Documentation and asset inventory
UK NCSC guidance says a reputable provider should clearly articulate services, responsibilities, and incident communication. NIST CSF 2.0 elevates “Govern” outcomes like roles, oversight, and supply chain risk.
Side-By-Side Comparison
Factor | Fully Managed IT | Co-Managed IT |
Cost predictability | Higher, often bundled | Medium, depends on shared scope |
Coverage | Broad, end-to-end | Targeted, fills gaps |
Speed | SLA-driven | SLA plus coordination |
Control | Lower day-to-day control | Higher internal control |
Strategy | Provider-led, unless you guide | You lead, provider supports |
If you want “IT handled for you,” choose fully managed; otherwise, choose co-managed.
Service Menu: Who Owns What
Service Area | Fully Managed Owner | Co-Managed Owner | Outcome |
Monitoring & alerting (RMM) | MSP | MSP | Issues caught early |
Help desk/ticketing | MSP | Shared | Faster fixes |
Patch management | MSP | Shared | Reduced exposure |
Identity & MFA | MSP | Shared | Safer logins |
Endpoint + email baseline | MSP | Shared | Lower breach odds |
Backups + restore testing | MSP | Shared | Faster recovery |
DR planning | MSP | Shared | Clear RTO/RPO |
M365 / Google admin | MSP | Shared | Stable collaboration |
Network/Wi-Fi | MSP | Shared | Fewer outages |
Asset + license lifecycle | MSP | Shared | Fewer surprises |
Microsoft reports 600 million identity attacks, with password attacks making up over 99%. Verizon’s 2024 DBIR lists “use of stolen credentials” as a leading initial action in breaches.
When Fully Managed Is The Better Fit
- You do not have dedicated IT staff, or turnover is common.
- Downtime is frequent, and fixes are slow.
- Security basics are inconsistent.
- Growth is fast, and IT blocks hires or projects.
- You want one provider accountable.
Mini scenario: you run a 40-person logistics firm. A “techy” manager resets passwords between meetings. When email breaks, shipping stops. Fully managed adds coverage, routines, and one escalation path.
When Co-Managed Is The Better Fit
Co-managed IT services work when you want to keep internal control but reduce overload.
- You already have IT, but you need scale.
- Your team is stuck on tickets and cannot plan.
- You need after-hours coverage without hiring.
- You need specialist help for security, cloud, or networking.
You want internal ownership of priorities.
What Onboarding Looks Like: 30–60–90 Days
NCSC stresses clear responsibilities and communication, which starts here.
Days 0–30: Stabilize And Document
- Discover users, devices, cloud tenants, and critical apps.
- Review admin access and clean up risky accounts.
- Set up monitoring and ticketing.
- Ship quick wins like MFA support and backup verification.
Days 31–60: Standardize And Reduce Noise
- Set a patch cadence and maintenance windows.
- Define device standards and endpoint baselines.
- Agree on ticket priorities and escalation rules.
- Plan a restore test and set reporting cadence.
Days 61–90: Prove Resilience And Plan Forward
- Run a restore test and document results.
- Set basic DR targets and responsibilities.
- Start a quarterly review rhythm and a 12-month roadmap.
Pricing Models: What Changes Between Models
Fully Managed Pricing
Fully managed IT services are often priced per user, per device, or as bundles. You pay for proactive operations, not only tickets.
Co-Managed Pricing
Co-managed IT services often use a base retainer plus add-ons. Add-ons may cover after-hours, security tooling, or backups.
Why Scope Matters More Than Sticker Price
IBM reported the average global cost of a data breach was USD 4.88 million in 2024.
How To Choose: Decision Tree And Checklist
A Five-Question Decision Tree
- Do you have internal IT today?
- Do you want to keep the IT strategy in-house?
- Do you need after-hours coverage?
- Do you need specialist security or cloud help soon?
- Do you want one provider accountable for most outcomes?
If you answered “no” to question one, fully managed is usually simpler. If you answered “yes” to questions two and five, co-managed often fits better.
10 Vendor Questions To Ask
- What is included and excluded in writing?
- What response targets are in the SLA?
- Who holds admin access, and how is it protected?
- What security is baseline, and what is extra?
- Who owns backups, and how often are restores tested?
- What reports do we get each month?
- How do escalations work, including after-hours?
- What documentation will we keep current?
- What is the offboarding plan and credential return process?
- How do you communicate during an incident?
Clear roles and oversight are part of good governance.
- What is included and excluded in writing?
Choosing the Right Level of Control
Pick the model that matches your ownership comfort. Fully managed gives you a turnkey IT team. Co-managed gives your team backup and breathing room. Use the decision tree, then request a scope-based quote with a clear RACI and SLA.
FAQs
Can we switch models later?
Yes. Teams often start co-managed, then move to fully managed after growth or staffing changes.
Do we still need internal it for co-managed?
You need at least one internal owner for priorities and approvals.
What should be in the SLA?
Look for coverage hours, severity levels, response targets, escalation, and reporting. NCSC stresses clear responsibilities and incident communication.
Which is cheaper long-term?
It depends on downtime, risk, and staffing costs. Compare total cost, not only monthly fees.
