When it comes to managing IT, businesses generally find themselves at a crossroads—should they hand over everything to an external IT provider or just get a bit of extra help to support their in-house team? That’s where Fully Managed IT Services and Co-Managed IT Services come into play.

At first glance, the difference might seem obvious. One’s a complete takeover, and the other is a partnership, right? Well, not quite. There are loads of subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences that can have a real impact on how your business runs, supports its staff, and plans for the future.

In this blog, we’re breaking it all down—section by section—to help you figure out which approach fits your organisation best. Whether you’re a small business with no IT staff or a larger firm looking to give your internal team a bit of breathing room, this guide should clear things up.

Ready to dive in?

Service Ownership & Responsibility: Who’s Steering the Ship in Fully or Co-Managed IT?

One of the biggest differences between fully managed and co-managed IT services comes down to who’s in charge of what.

With fully managed IT services, the provider takes the reins. They’re responsible for everything—your systems, security, support, and even long-term IT strategy. Think of it as handing over the keys so you can focus on running your business, while they make sure everything tech-related runs smoothly behind the scenes.

In contrast, co-managed IT services are more of a tag team effort. The provider shares responsibility with your internal IT staff. Your team may still manage day-to-day operations or certain systems, while the provider offers additional support, expertise, or capacity where needed most.

In a fully managed setup, your internal IT involvement is minimal (if you even have a team to begin with). But with co-managed services, your IT department stays in the loop and plays an active role. It’s a collaborative approach where both teams develop the strategy together instead of having it dictated.

So, if you’re looking for a hands-off experience, fully managed might be the way to go. If you’d prefer to keep your team involved and need an extra pair of hands (or five), co-managed IT might be the better fit.

Expertise & Skills: Who Brings What to the Table?

When it comes to know-how, both fully managed and co-managed IT services deliver—but in slightly different ways.

With fully managed IT services, the provider comes fully loaded with all the expertise your business might need. Whether it’s general support or niche skills like cybersecurity or cloud architecture, they’ve got it covered. They’re not just doing the work—they’re also there to train your staff, keep certifications up to date, and make sure everything stays compliant with industry standards.

On the flip side, co-managed IT services are more about topping up your existing skills. If your internal team is already strong in certain areas but could use help with specific technologies or tasks, co-managed IT is like plugging those gaps. The provider supports and complements your team—sometimes even training them up in the process.

In a fully managed setup, the provider typically doesn’t need to pass much knowledge back to you—they’re running the show. But with co-managed IT, knowledge sharing is crucial. Everyone needs to stay aligned so work flows smoothly between both sides.

So, whether you want all the expertise taken care of or just a bit of backup where needed, there’s a model that fits.

Monitoring & Maintenance: Ensuring Smooth Operations in Fully or Co-Managed IT

IT never sleeps—and neither should your monitoring and maintenance. How this is handled depends on the service model you choose.

With fully managed IT services, the provider takes full responsibility for monitoring your systems 24/7. They spot potential issues before they cause problems, roll out patches and updates on schedule, and handle every alert that comes through. They also provide detailed health reports, so you can rest assured everything’s running smoothly—without lifting a finger.

In a co-managed setup, things work a bit differently. Monitoring duties are shared, depending on how you divide the workload. Your internal IT team might monitor certain systems, while the provider oversees others. Maintenance tasks like patching can be managed in-house, delegated, or handled together.

When it comes to alerts, the provider usually acts as an early warning system, escalating any serious issues to your internal team. Reports and dashboards are often shared, offering both sides visibility and helping with quicker decision-making.

So, if you want the peace of mind that someone is always monitoring your systems, fully managed IT is the way to go. But if your team already keeps an eye on things and just needs extra support, co-managed IT might be the better fit.

End User Support: Who Do Staff Call for Help?

Every business relies on fast, friendly support when tech goes wrong—but who’s picking up the phone or replying to those help desk tickets depends on your IT service model.

With fully managed IT services, the provider is your go-to support team. They handle every help desk ticket, manage user accounts, support remote staff, and take care of onboarding and offboarding. Everything’s centralised, streamlined, and run by people who know your systems inside out. It’s a hands-off experience for you—and a smooth one for your users.

Co-managed IT services, on the other hand, are all about backing up your existing support team. If you’ve already got an in-house help desk, the provider will assist where needed—stepping in for overflow, covering after hours, or tackling complex escalations. The support structure might be more decentralised, with roles and responsibilities clearly defined between internal and external teams.

Escalation paths? In a fully managed setup, it’s all handled by the provider. But in a co-managed environment, it’s usually a joint effort, with escalation procedures agreed on in advance to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

So, if you’re looking to fully outsource your user support, a fully managed service takes care of the lot. But if your help desk just needs a reliable backup, co-managed is designed to slot right in.

Security: Safeguarding Your Business in Fully or Co-Managed IT

Cybersecurity’s a big deal, and how it’s managed can vary quite a bit depending on whether you go fully managed or co-managed.

With fully managed IT services, your provider takes the lead. They don’t just set up your security tools—they actively enforce policies, monitor for threats, and manage incident response if something goes wrong. From endpoint protection to compliance management, it’s all centralised and fully handled on your behalf. You get peace of mind knowing someone’s always keeping watch.

Co-managed IT services, on the other hand, are a more collaborative effort. Security tools might be jointly managed, with responsibilities shared between your internal IT team and the provider. If a security incident occurs, your team may respond first, with the provider stepping in for support or escalation.

When it comes to things like threat detection, policy management, or compliance, the workload is usually split. Your provider might offer expert advice, monitoring tools, and recommendations—while your internal team manages enforcement or documentation.

In short, fully managed IT gives you an all-inclusive security setup. But if you’ve already got capable hands on deck, co-managed IT lets you strengthen your defences without giving up control.

Cloud & Infrastructure: Who Builds and Maintains the Backbone?

When it comes to the backbone of your business—your cloud systems, infrastructure, and networks—the level of support you get depends on your service setup.

With fully managed IT services, the provider takes full control. That includes cloud migrations, ongoing maintenance, infrastructure design, and complete network management. They also handle backups, disaster recovery plans, and make sure everything’s running efficiently and securely behind the scenes.

In a co-managed setup, things are a bit more hands-on for your internal team. Your IT staff may already manage some cloud platforms or infrastructure, while the provider steps in to offer consultation, support, or expertise as needed. Network responsibilities are also shared—one team might handle configuration, while the other monitors uptime or security.

Backups and disaster recovery? In a fully managed model, that’s all taken care of. But with co-managed IT, your internal team might still be calling the shots, with the provider acting as a safety net to support and advise.

So, whether you’re after an all-in-one solution or just a strong partner to help build and maintain your setup, there’s a model that fits your needs and resources.

Strategic Planning & Consultancy: Steering the IT Ship in Fully or Co-Managed IT

Technology isn’t just about keeping the lights on—it’s about planning ahead, staying competitive, and making smart investments. That’s where strategic planning comes in.

With fully managed IT services, your provider often acts as a virtual CIO, taking the reins on long-term planning. They create the IT roadmap, manage budgeting and forecasting, and schedule tech refresh cycles to keep your systems modern and efficient. Decisions are guided by their insights and experience across multiple industries—giving you a clear, informed path forward.

In a co-managed model, planning is more of a team effort. You may already have a CIO or strategic lead in-house, and the provider works alongside them to shape the roadmap and support decision-making. Budgeting and forecasting responsibilities are shared, and any refresh cycles are aligned with your internal goals, not just the provider’s recommendations.

The key difference? With fully managed IT, the provider largely crafts and drives the strategy. In a co-managed setup, their insights are combined with your team’s knowledge to create a strategy that works on your terms.

So, whether you want someone to fully lead your tech strategy or prefer to co-pilot the journey, both approaches bring value—just in different ways.

Contracts & Pricing: How the Numbers (and Responsibilities) Stack Up

Let’s talk about money—and the contracts that come with it. Whether you’re budgeting for a small team or a growing business, how your IT services are priced and structured can make a big difference.

With fully managed IT services, pricing tends to be all-inclusive. You’ll typically pay a flat monthly fee that covers everything from support and monitoring to tools and software. The service level agreement (SLA) lays out full accountability—your provider is responsible for making sure things run smoothly across the board.

In contrast, co-managed IT services usually follow a modular pricing model. You only pay for the services you actually need, and pricing can be more flexible—sometimes usage-based or adjusted based on the level of support required. The SLA reflects shared responsibility, with clear lines drawn between what your internal team handles and what the provider supports.

Another important difference? With fully managed IT, the provider typically owns the tools and software, which can mean you have less visibility or control over third-party vendor costs. In a co-managed setup, your in-house team often keeps a hand on vendor relationships and retains control over specific licences or platforms—giving you more flexibility in how you allocate your tech budget.

Put simply, fully managed services offer ease and predictable pricing, while co-managed solutions give you more freedom to tailor and manage your IT spend.

Tools & Platforms: Which Tech Fits in Fully or Co-Managed IT

When it comes to the tools and platforms that keep your business ticking, your choice of IT service model can shape how much say you have in what’s used—and who manages it all.

With fully managed IT services, the provider brings their own tools, platforms, and processes to the table. They typically use a standardised tech stack that they know inside out, and they manage everything from software licences to documentation and asset tracking. It’s a tidy, hands-off setup for you—just plug in and go.

By contrast, co-managed IT services offer a bit more flexibility. You and the provider collaboratively select tools and platforms, blending the provider’s expertise with your team’s preferences. Typically, internal IT handles software licenses, while both teams share responsibility for documentation to ensure nothing gets lost in translation.

Asset tracking? In a fully managed setup, that’s owned entirely by the provider. In co-managed models, it’s more of a joint effort, with both sides keeping an eye on what’s in use and what needs updating.

Essentially, fully managed IT provides a streamlined, provider-driven toolkit—ideal if you’re after consistency. Co-managed, on the other hand, gives you more control and customisation, making it ideal if you already have systems in place that work well for your team.

Team Dynamics: Who’s on the Ground—and How Do They Work Together?

The way your IT team functions daily—and how it interacts with others—can look quite different depending on whether you’re fully outsourcing or partnering through a co-managed model.

In a fully managed IT service, the provider operates pretty much independently. They are your IT department, handling everything without needing much from your internal team. That means you can run lean on in-house tech staff, and changes in your own team have minimal impact on operations. Even leadership on the client side doesn’t need to be heavily involved day-to-day.

Co-managed IT, on the other hand, is all about collaboration. The provider works closely with your internal staff, strengthening your existing team rather than replacing it. They’re there to support, not take over—more like an extension of your department than a separate entity.

Team changes? With co-managed setups, internal turnover—especially in leadership or specialised roles—can have a noticeable effect on how smoothly things run. The partnership relies on continuity, shared processes, and good communication.

So, if you want to build a close working relationship between your team and external experts, co-managed IT might be your style. If you’re looking to offload everything with minimal internal involvement, fully managed is the way to go.

Collaboration & Integration: How Seamless Is It in Fully or Co-Managed IT

When it comes to day-to-day collaboration, the difference between fully managed and co-managed IT services can feel a bit like night and day.

With fully managed IT, there’s typically minimal integration with your internal workflows. The provider runs things using their own systems, and your team usually adapts to the way they operate. Communication tends to be more external, with updates and support handled through the provider’s own processes—often via a separate ticketing system. This setup keeps things straightforward, but it can mean lower visibility for your internal staff into what’s going on behind the scenes.

Co-managed IT takes a different approach. Here, the provider deeply integrates into your existing processes, adapting to your systems rather than the other way around. Expect constant back-and-forth communication and a much more collaborative vibe. You often share or fully integrate ticketing systems, and internal visibility is high—you know what’s happening, when, and why.

In short, if you’re after simplicity and a hands-off experience, fully managed may suit you. But if transparency and teamwork matter more, co-managed services offer a more connected and integrated experience.

Operational Style: How Do Things Get Done Behind the Scenes?

When it comes to how your IT support operates day-to-day, the style of management can vary greatly depending on whether you’re fully outsourcing or working with a co-managed model.

In fully managed IT services, things tend to run on standardised processes. The provider handles most tasks autonomously, solving problems and managing workflows with minimal input from your internal team. Scheduling is handled by the provider, and their escalation hierarchy is often outsourced, meaning issues are typically passed up through external channels. The approach here is efficient and hands-off, but there’s less room for customisation in terms of workflows and problem-solving.

On the other hand, co-managed IT is much more about collaboration. Internal teams and the provider work together to troubleshoot issues and customise workflows to better suit your business needs.Scheduling aligns with your internal calendars, ensuring IT doesn’t conflict with other priorities. The escalation chain is seamless, with both internal and external teams working together to address issues at the right level.

In summary, fully managed IT is about streamlining processes with a consistent, outsourced approach. Co-managed IT gives you the flexibility to tailor how things work, making it ideal if you want more hands-on control and customised solutions.

Reporting & Analytics: Who Controls the Data in Fully or Co-Managed IT

When it comes to tracking performance and making data-driven decisions, the approach to reporting can differ significantly between fully managed and co-managed IT services.

In fully managed IT services, the provider typically takes charge of reporting. They prepare all reports, and access to dashboards might be more limited—you might not have real-time visibility into the data. Typically, reporting cycles are fixed, and the provider selects the KPIs, often providing more generic insights instead of tailored information.

In a co-managed IT model, reporting is much more of a collaborative effort. You and the provider work together to build reports, and you’ll likely have real-time access to dashboards so you can keep track of progress as it happens. We offer flexible reporting intervals, and we co-define the KPIs, ensuring the data you track aligns with your business goals. Insights are much more tailored to your specific needs, helping you make more informed decisions.

If you prefer control and customisation over your IT data, a co-managed setup could be the way to go. But if you’re happy with standard reports and minimal input, fully managed IT offers a more streamlined approach.

Onboarding & Offboarding: Who’s Taking Care of the Tech Transitions?

When new employees join or leave the company, the onboarding and offboarding process can look quite different depending on whether you’re working with a fully managed or co-managed IT service.

In a fully managed IT service, the provider handles everything. From onboarding to offboarding, the provider handles the entire process. This includes hardware provisioning and setting access rules, with the provider in control of both. End users receive the knowledge directly, ensuring they have everything they need to get set up. When someone leaves, the provider takes care of the offboarding process as well.

In co-managed IT, things are more collaborative.

The provider supports your internal IT team during onboarding, but your team remains heavily involved.Your team and the provider coordinate hardware provisioning to ensure it aligns with company policies. During offboarding, both IT and HR work together, and they agree on access rules. Your in-house team receives the knowledge transfer to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.

If you prefer a streamlined, hands-off process where the provider takes full responsibility, fully managed IT could be the right choice. But if you want more control and teamwork throughout transitions, co-managed IT provides that flexibility.

Flexibility & Scalability: Can Fully or Co-Managed IT Grow with Your Business

When scaling your IT services as your business evolves, fully managed and co-managed setups have distinct differences.

In a fully managed IT service, the scope remains fixed. Scaling your services often requires contract renegotiation to accommodate new needs. If your business grows or changes, you’ll need to work through formal processes to adjust the service level. Fully managed IT typically offers full-stack coverage, but when it comes to scaling, it’s more reactive—you request changes, and the provider responds.

Co-managed IT, on the other hand, offers more flexibility. You can adjust service boundaries to suit your needs, and it’s usually easier to scale specific areas without overhauling everything.
Co-managed IT allows you to pick and choose a-la-carte services, tailoring support to what’s necessary. It’s also more proactive in terms of planning for future growth and can adjust quickly to internal reorganisations or shifts in your business structure.

If your business is likely to experience frequent changes or growth, co-managed IT gives you more control and adaptability. Fully managed IT offers a more stable, all-inclusive approach but may not offer the same level of flexibility.

Compliance & Documentation: Who’s In Charge of Keeping Things Organised?

When it comes to compliance and keeping your documentation in check, the level of responsibility can differ quite a bit between fully managed and co-managed IT services.

In fully managed IT services, the provider takes full responsibility for maintaining records and ensuring compliance. They handle external audit support and are fully in charge of evidence collection to demonstrate compliance. The provider usually maintains documentation in predefined formats that align with their standards. They focus on meeting SLA requirements, ensuring compliance stays within the agreed-upon framework.

In co-managed IT, documentation is more of a shared effort. Your internal team and the provider collaborate to maintain compliance, with your internal team taking on a larger role. The provider assists your team, particularly when it comes to audits, and provides evidence for joint audits. Documentation follows your business’s internal structure, making it easier to integrate into your broader compliance efforts. The focus here is not just on meeting basic service requirements but aligning compliance efforts with overall business goals.

If you prefer your IT provider to take full ownership of compliance and documentation, fully managed IT is the way to go. But if you want to ensure that your internal team remains engaged in the process while still getting expert support, co-managed IT offers a more collaborative approach.

Infrastructure Handling: Who Manages the Foundations in Fully or Co-Managed IT

When it comes to your company’s IT infrastructure, the approach can be quite different depending on whether you’re working with a fully managed or co-managed IT service.

In fully managed IT services, the provider takes charge of everything, from installing to managing your infrastructure. They design systems independently, ensuring that everything works smoothly without needing much input from your internal team. They also handle data centre usage and have full control over the hardware lifecycle, from procurement to disposal. The provider defines the network topology, making all key network decisions on your behalf.

In co-managed IT, your internal IT team may take on the responsibility of installing the infrastructure, while the provider takes care of the ongoing management.

The provider works closely with your team on design decisions to keep everyone aligned. If your company already runs internal data centres, you can integrate them into the overall infrastructure plan. Both the provider and your internal team share responsibility for hardware management. You and the provider make network decisions jointly, giving your team a greater role in shaping the network’s structure.

If you’d rather the provider handle everything and prefer a hands-off approach, fully managed IT might be your best option. But if you want to retain more control and collaborate on infrastructure decisions, co-managed IT could be the better choice.

Learning & Development: Who’s Helping Your Team Grow?

When it comes to learning and development, the approach to training and upskilling can vary significantly between fully managed and co-managed IT services.

With fully managed IT services, user training is often optional. While your team can take advantage of training resources, the primary focus is on the provider managing the technical side of things. The provider also handles any necessary certifications for their own team but doesn’t typically require or facilitate internal upskilling. There’s less opportunity for mentorship, and the knowledge base is often static, staying relatively unchanged as the provider takes full control.

On the other hand, co-managed IT encourages training for your internal IT team. The provider actively supports your team’s growth, helping them get certified and providing resources for professional development. The provider is also more likely to facilitate mentorship opportunities, with external experts offering advice and guidance. The knowledge base in a co-managed environment is dynamic, constantly evolving as both your internal team and the provider collaborate and share insights.

If you’re looking for more formalised training and certifications managed by the provider, fully managed IT may be ideal. However, if you want to build your internal team’s skills and encourage ongoing development, co-managed IT offers a more hands-on approach to learning and mentorship.

Business Continuity & Risk: Who’s Protecting Your Business in Fully or Co-Managed IT

When it comes to ensuring your business keeps running smoothly during disruptions, the responsibilities around business continuity and risk management can differ between fully managed and co-managed IT services.

With fully managed IT services, the provider takes full ownership of business continuity.They conduct risk assessments and take the lead on incident planning, making sure your organisation is ready for any potential disruptions.
The provider also performs an impact analysis to identify how disruptions might affect your business operations, and they’re responsible for initiating disaster recovery (DR) testing to make sure your systems are resilient.

In co-managed IT, business continuity is more of a shared responsibility. The provider brings their expertise, while the internal team actively takes part in joint risk analysis and incident planning. Your business units integrate their own needs into the planning process, making it more aligned with internal priorities. Your leadership team reviews the impact analysis to ensure everyone’s aligned. The provider and internal team jointly coordinate disaster recovery testing, actively working together to ensure everything runs smoothly.

If you want a fully outsourced approach to business continuity and risk management, fully managed IT is the way to go. But if you prefer a more collaborative approach, where your internal team plays an active role, co-managed IT can help strike a balance between external expertise and internal ownership.

Vendor Management & Integration: Who’s in Charge of Your Vendors?

When you manage third-party vendors, how you divide responsibilities depends on whether you choose fully managed or co-managed IT services.

In a fully managed IT setup, the provider takes charge of all vendor relationships, choosing the third-party solutions that align with your needs. They act as the central point of contact for vendors, handling licensing directly and taking full responsibility for any vendor disputes that arise. This can simplify things for you, as the provider manages everything, leaving your internal team to focus on other areas.

With co-managed IT, the responsibility for vendor management is more shared. While the provider may still bring their expertise to the table, your internal team may maintain key relationships with important vendors, giving you more control over the process. Vendor selection becomes a collaborative effort, with both the provider and your team working together to choose the best solutions. The licensing may remain under the client’s control, allowing for more flexibility.And if any vendor issues come up, your internal IT team steps in and actively resolves them.

If you prefer to have a single point of contact and let the provider handle all vendor-related matters, fully managed IT is the better option. However, if you value being more hands-on with vendor selection and want to keep certain vendor relationships in-house, co-managed IT allows for more collaboration and flexibility.

Conclusion: Is Fully or Co-Managed IT Right for You?

Choosing between fully managed IT services and co-managed IT services ultimately comes down to the level of control, collaboration, and responsibility you want to maintain over your IT operations.

If you want a hands-off approach, a dedicated provider can take over and manage every aspect of your IT infrastructure—making fully managed IT a great fit. It offers a streamlined experience, with the provider taking responsibility for everything from monitoring and maintenance to vendor management and risk planning. This model works well for businesses that prefer to offload their IT management and focus on their core activities.

On the other hand, if your organisation values collaboration, internal control, and customisation, co-managed IT can provide the best of both worlds. With this model, you still benefit from external expertise but retain significant involvement in strategic decisions, vendor management, and compliance processes. It’s a great option for businesses with an existing IT team that needs extra support or specialised assistance without fully outsourcing their operations.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your unique business needs, internal capabilities, and how much control you want to retain. Both models have their strengths, and understanding the differences can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals and IT strategy.