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Co-Managed vs. Fully Managed IT

Co-Managed IT vs. Fully Managed IT: Which Is Right for You?

The answer depends on whether you have internal IT staff. Benchmark Network Solutions offers both models for Triangle-area businesses — and we'll help you identify which one fits your team size, budget, and goals.

Help Me Choose the Right Model (919) 678-8595
Understanding the Difference

Two Models for Two Different Situations

Both models include our monitoring platform, security tools, and engineering team — the difference is whether you have internal IT staff in the mix.

Co-Managed IT

You have one or more internal IT employees. They handle what they do best — helpdesk relationships, hardware purchasing, local vendor coordination — while Benchmark provides the infrastructure, tools, and specialized expertise they can't provide alone: 24/7 NOC, SIEM, security engineering, and senior-level backup for complex projects. Your IT person stays employed and gains a team behind them.

Best for: businesses with 1–3 internal IT staff

Fully Managed IT

You have no internal IT staff — or you're replacing a departing IT person and don't want to hire again. Benchmark Network Solutions becomes your complete IT department: helpdesk, monitoring, security, cloud management, procurement, and strategy. One flat monthly fee. One point of contact. Complete accountability.

Best for: businesses with no dedicated IT staff

Flexible Scope

Many clients start co-managed and move to fully managed when their IT person leaves, or vice versa when they make their first IT hire. Benchmark designs engagements to flex with your organization — no renegotiation required when your needs change.

Month-to-month agreements, no long-term lock-in
Side-by-Side Comparison

Co-Managed vs. Fully Managed IT at a Glance

Feature / Capability Co-Managed IT Fully Managed IT
Internal IT staff requiredYes (1+ person)No
24/7 remote monitoring & NOC✓ Included✓ Included
Helpdesk / end-user support△ Shared with internal team✓ Fully handled by BNS
Endpoint security (EDR)✓ Included✓ Included
Patch management✓ Included✓ Included
SIEM / log monitoring✓ Add-on available✓ Add-on available
vCIO strategy sessions✓ Available✓ Included
Vendor management△ Shared with internal team✓ Fully managed by BNS
IT procurement△ Optional✓ Included
On-site technician visits✓ As needed✓ Included
Monthly cost (relative)Lower (shared scope)Higher (full scope)
After-hours emergency coverage✓ Included✓ Included
Making the Decision

Who Should Choose Each Model

Choose Co-Managed IT If...

You have one or more IT staff who are overwhelmed or underequipped. You want to keep your internal person but give them better tools and backup. You need 24/7 coverage your team can't provide. You're facing a security or compliance requirement that exceeds your team's specialization. Your IT person needs senior engineering support for a major project.

Choose Fully Managed IT If...

You have no internal IT staff. Your IT person just left or is leaving and you'd rather not hire again. You're a growing business that wants predictable IT costs without managing an IT employee. You want single-point accountability — one vendor who owns everything. You need IT that scales with you without adding headcount.

Not Sure? Let's Talk.

Most businesses know they need IT help but aren't sure which model fits. A 30-minute call with a BNS engineer is usually enough to clarify your situation and recommend the right starting point. We're straightforward — if co-managed isn't right for you, we'll tell you.

Free consultation — no obligation
Co-managed IT is a partnership between your existing in-house IT staff and an external managed service provider. Your internal IT person or team handles the work they know best while Benchmark Network Solutions provides 24/7 monitoring, security tools, specialized expertise, and backup coverage they cannot provide alone. You keep your team; you add our capabilities.
Fully managed IT means Benchmark Network Solutions handles your entire IT environment — there is no internal IT person. We serve as your complete IT department. Co-managed IT means you have an internal IT employee or small team, and Benchmark augments their capabilities with monitoring infrastructure, a NOC, security tools, and senior engineering expertise. Co-managed costs less per user but assumes your internal team handles first-line support.
Co-managed IT is typically the right fit. A single IT person cannot be available 24/7, cannot cover all specializations, and burns out quickly without backup. Benchmark's co-managed plan gives them 24/7 monitoring infrastructure, a NOC for after-hours coverage, access to senior engineers for complex projects, and vacation coverage — without replacing them or threatening their job.
Yes. Benchmark designs co-managed engagements with this transition in mind. If your internal IT person leaves and you don't want to hire a replacement, we can absorb all functions under a fully managed plan — typically within 30 days. The transition is smooth because we already have full knowledge of your environment from the co-managed relationship.
Yes. We can integrate with your existing ticketing system (ServiceNow, Freshservice, Zendesk, Jira) via API or email-to-ticket workflows. Alternatively, your internal IT staff can access our ConnectWise Manage portal to see and update tickets in real time. We adapt to your workflow — not the other way around.
Find the Right Fit

Free Assessment — Co-Managed or Fully Managed, We'll Help You Decide

Tell us about your current team and IT challenges. We'll recommend the right model and give you a clear quote. No pressure, no commitment.

Request Free Assessment (919) 678-8595