Co-managed IT support that works alongside your existing team
Stratiis provides additional capacity, specialist expertise, monitoring, cybersecurity and project resources while your internal IT team retains its organisational knowledge, priorities and control.
What is co-managed IT?
Co-managed IT is a partnership between an organisation's internal IT team and an external managed service provider. Responsibilities are divided clearly: internal IT keeps the areas it is best placed to own, while Stratiis supplies agreed tools, skills or capacity such as security monitoring, Microsoft 365 expertise, third-line escalation, backup oversight or project delivery.
More capability without replacing the team you already trust
The service is designed to relieve pressure, close specialist gaps and reduce reliance on one person—not to remove internal ownership.
Additional capacity
Handle ticket peaks, absence cover and growing workload without making every resource permanent.
Specialist expertise
Access cybersecurity, cloud, Microsoft 365, networking and senior engineering skills when required.
Faster projects
Move strategic work forward without abandoning user support and day-to-day operational responsibilities.
Greater continuity
Shared documentation, tools and knowledge reduce key-person risk during leave or staff changes.
Co-managed IT works best where internal capability already exists
Co-managed IT may be a strong fit when…
When fully managed IT may be better
If there is no internal IT resource, or the organisation wants one provider to take primary responsibility for day-to-day technology, a fully managed service is normally clearer. A short, defined requirement may instead suit project-based delivery.
How can co-managed IT work in practice?
The right model follows internal strengths, service pressures and business risk. Several models can be combined.
Cybersecurity support
Stratiis manages agreed security controls, monitoring, vulnerability work and assurance while internal IT runs daily operations.
Technical escalation
Internal IT handles first-line requests while Stratiis provides senior engineering, infrastructure and cloud escalation.
Helpdesk overflow
Additional user support during peaks, absence, onboarding activity or organisational change.
Project delivery
Specialist resources deliver migrations, infrastructure, Microsoft 365 and security projects alongside the internal team.
Blended partnership
A tailored combination of monitoring, backup, escalation, projects and selected operational responsibilities.
What should stay in-house, and what can be shared?
A co-managed agreement should define ownership, escalation, access and reporting so tasks do not fall between teams.
| Responsibility | Common internal ownership | Common Stratiis support |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy and priorities | Business context, stakeholder relationships, budget ownership and final decisions. | Advice, roadmaps, risk information and options to support decisions. |
| Users and applications | Business application knowledge, local priorities and selected first-line support. | Overflow support, onboarding processes, Microsoft 365 administration and escalation. |
| Cybersecurity | Policies, risk acceptance and organisational responsibilities. | Monitoring, configuration, vulnerability management, Cyber Essentials and incident readiness. |
| Infrastructure | Local knowledge and agreed operational tasks. | Monitoring, patching, networks, cloud platforms, third-line engineering and lifecycle advice. |
| Backup and recovery | Business priorities, recovery objectives and continuity decisions. | Backup oversight, testing, reporting and technical recovery support. |
| Projects | Sponsorship, requirements, user involvement and approval. | Discovery, design, project management, implementation, testing and migration. |
Choose the operating model that matches your internal team
| Area | Co-managed IT | Fully managed IT |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Organisations with an IT manager, technician or internal department. | Organisations that want an external provider to lead most day-to-day IT. |
| Responsibility | Shared and documented around internal capability. | Primarily assigned to the managed service provider. |
| User contact | Internal IT may remain the main route, with Stratiis handling overflow or escalation. | The provider commonly becomes the main support route for users. |
| Strategy | Internal IT retains organisational context and control, supported by external expertise. | The provider helps lead planning with business stakeholders. |
| Flexibility | Selected tools, skills, capacity and projects can be added around the team. | A broader standardised service covers the agreed environment. |
Specialist services connected to your wider IT environment
These links replace the page's previous non-working placeholders and lead to the relevant live Stratiis service pages.
Cybersecurity
Layered protection, monitoring and guidance across identities, endpoints, email, networks and data.
Microsoft 365
Administration, identity, Intune, Defender, Teams, SharePoint, Exchange and security configuration.
Cyber Essentials
Gap assessment, remediation guidance and practical preparation for certification requirements.
Cloud, backup and recovery
Cloud management, monitored protection, recovery testing and disaster recovery planning.
Projects and transformation
Additional capacity for discovery, migrations, infrastructure, adoption and project management.
Strategic vCIO support
Roadmaps, lifecycle planning, budgets, governance and leadership-level technology reviews.
Managed IT support
A fully managed alternative when the organisation wants one provider to lead day-to-day technology.
Pricing estimate
Provide initial information about users, locations and service requirements to shape a discussion.
Benefits that support the internal team and the wider organisation
Broader expertise
Reach specialists across Microsoft 365, cybersecurity, cloud, networking and projects without hiring every role.
Less operational pressure
Move repeatable or resource-intensive tasks away from internal staff so strategic work receives attention.
Stronger cybersecurity
Add structure, monitoring and specialist capacity around risks that are difficult to manage alongside daily support.
Faster delivery
Keep migrations and improvements moving while internal staff continue supporting the organisation.
Reduced key-person risk
Share documentation and technical knowledge so absence or turnover does not leave the organisation exposed.
Flexible capacity
Adjust responsibilities as workload, projects, risks and internal resources change.
Internal IT support across the sectors Stratiis works with
Organisational structure, systems, regulation, sites and user needs vary by sector. Each card links directly to the relevant sector page.
A five-stage co-managed onboarding process
The aim is to create clarity and trust between teams before operational work begins.
Assess
Understand the environment, internal capability, workload, risks and business priorities.
Divide
Agree ownership, boundaries, escalation, service levels and communication routes.
Connect
Document access, tools, systems, suppliers and working practices across both teams.
Operate
Deliver the agreed monitoring, support, security, escalation or project services.
Improve
Review performance, capacity, risk and changing priorities together.
How much does co-managed IT cost?
Pricing depends on the responsibilities assigned to Stratiis, the service coverage required and the condition of the environment. A focused cybersecurity arrangement will differ from a broader service combining helpdesk, Microsoft 365, monitoring, backup, escalation and projects.
Shape the right division of responsibility
Start with an assessment of workload, internal strengths and the areas where added capacity will create the most value.
Co-managed IT explained
Will co-managed IT replace our internal team?
No. The model is designed to strengthen an existing IT function. Responsibilities are shared deliberately, and internal staff retain the organisational knowledge and authority agreed with leadership.
Can our IT manager remain the main contact for users?
Yes. Internal IT can keep first-line contact while Stratiis provides escalation, overflow or specialist services. Stratiis can also handle selected user requests if that better suits the service design.
What tasks can be outsourced?
Common areas include monitoring, patching, Microsoft 365, cybersecurity, backup oversight, third-line escalation, helpdesk overflow, project delivery and absence cover.
What should normally stay in-house?
Business priorities, stakeholder relationships, application context, budget ownership and final decisions often remain internal, although Stratiis can provide advice and evidence.
Can co-managed IT improve cybersecurity?
Yes. It can add security monitoring, configuration expertise, vulnerability management, Cyber Essentials support and incident preparation around the internal team's existing work.
Can Stratiis help manage Microsoft 365?
Yes. The scope can include administration, identity, Defender, Intune, Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, licensing and security policy, depending on internal responsibilities.
Is co-managed IT cheaper than hiring?
It is not a like-for-like comparison. Co-managed IT can provide access to several disciplines and flexible capacity, while an employee provides dedicated internal time and organisational knowledge. The right choice depends on the gap being solved.
Can the service change over time?
Yes. Responsibilities can be reviewed as internal capability, workload, technology and risk change, provided access, pricing and ownership remain documented.
How are conflicts between teams avoided?
A clear responsibility matrix, service scope, escalation path, communication rhythm and shared documentation reduce ambiguity and help both teams work as one service.
How quickly can co-managed support begin?
Timescale depends on scope, access, documentation and the environment's condition. A focused escalation service can be simpler to establish than a broad monitoring and security partnership.
Add capability where it creates the greatest value
Talk to Stratiis about current workload, risks, projects and internal strengths. We will help define a co-managed model with clear responsibilities and a practical route to improvement.
Book a co-managed IT assessmentEstimate service requirements
Call 0141 348 7960 or email sales@stratiis.com.
