Posted by: Aubrey Felix on February 28, 2025 at 7:11 am
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Your IT manager is stretched too thin—but you already knew that. Maybe you’ve noticed missed updates, delayed response times, or an overall sense of IT burnout. What you may not realize is that this isn’t just an internal headache—it’s a major business risk that can lead to security breaches, compliance failures, and costly downtime. Is Your IT Manager Overwhelmed? – Let’s talk about why most small and mid-sized businesses in Southeast Michigan need a better IT strategy.
The Reality: One-Person IT Teams Can’t Keep Up
Every business, whether you are in Detroit, Ann Arbor, or somewhere else in Southeast Michigan, relies on technology to stay running. A well oiled IT department helps you stay productive, secure, and competitive. However, if your IT manager or small IT team is constantly putting out fires, how much time do they have for security? They likely don’t have much time or resources to dig in and take a proactive approach to cybersecurity, compliance, and infrastructure improvements. You may be staying afloat, but without those things, it will be hard to sustain growth.
Signs Your IT Team is Overwhelmed:
- Security patches and updates are constantly delayed
- Compliance requirements feel confusing or neglected
- Response times are slow, and IT issues keep piling up
- Your IT team is working after hours just to keep things running
- No clear disaster recovery or cybersecurity strategy
The truth? A stressed-out IT team puts your business at risk. Cybercriminals aren’t waiting for your IT department to catch up, and compliance auditors won’t accept “We’re understaffed” as an excuse.
The Risk: What Happens When IT Can’t Keep Up?
A single IT person—or even a small team—may be able to maintain your systems, but they can struggle to strategically improve them. That means your business could be falling behind in critical areas like:
Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
Small Businesses are prime targets for ransomware, phishing, and data breaches. Many small businesses assume that because they are not large corporations, they aren’t attractive to hackers. This is a very dangerous misconception. Cybercriminals will actively target small and mid-sized businesses because they tend to lack the resources to properly defend themselves. Without dedicated security expertise, businesses become vulnerable to these attacks.
Compliance Failures
New requirements such as CMMC, NIST 800-171, HIPAA, and CIS Controls really require ongoing attention—not just occasional check-ins. Many businesses believe they’re compliant simply because they have security measures in place. But without a structured compliance strategy, and an ongoing plan, they may still be at risk. This could result in fines, audits, or even losing contracts.
Lack of Disaster Recovery Planning
If your IT team is already overwhelmed, do you they have time to keep testing your recovery plan you have in place? Many businesses will fail to regularly test their backup and disaster recovery procedures. This can lead to downtime or data loss in the event of a cyberattack. Some small businesses take years to financially recover from a cyberattack.
Downtime and Productivity Loss
Is your IT department reactive or proactive? If they are stretched too thin, all they may have time for is the reactive approach. But this means systems can go down more often, or for longer periods of time. This can impact your operations and profits. Every minute of downtime affects productivity, revenue, and customer satisfaction. Without a proactive strategy, your business is likely constantly operating in crisis mode.
The Solution: Co-Managed IT Support – A Smarter Partnership
Instead of expecting an overworked and overwhelmed IT manager to handle everything, businesses in Southeast Michigan are choosing co-managed IT services to bridge the gap.
With a strategic IT partner like TAZ Networks, your business gains:
- Co-Managed IT Services – Working alongside your in-house IT staff to provide the expertise and manpower needed to handle IT challenges.
- Comprehensive IT Support & Help Desk – Instead of waiting for the one IT guy you have on staff, you have a whole team. Issues are solved fast and efficiently, keeping systems running smoothly.
- Proactive Cybersecurity & Compliance Care – Ensuring CMMC, HIPAA, and NIST 800-171 requirements are met without overloading your team. Implementing these standards will help protect your business from cyber threats.
- Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Planning – Keeping your business up and running, no matter what happens.
- Scalable IT Expertise – Your IT team gets support, strategy, and tools without the burnout.
- Cloud & Infrastructure Solutions – Helping businesses transition to scalable and secure cloud environments that support growth.
- Managed IT Security & Risk Assessments – Identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities before they become costly problems.
- Proactive IT Monitoring & Maintenance – Keeping systems up to date, secure, and optimized for performance.
The Way Forward
Your IT team shouldn’t be struggling to keep up—and your business shouldn’t be at risk. By supplementing your internal IT with expert outsourced support, you get the best of both worlds: an IT team that can focus on strategy and innovation while a trusted MSP handles daily operations, security, and compliance.
Is Your IT Manager Overwhelmed? —Act Now
If your IT team is overwhelmed, your business is already vulnerable. TAZ Networks helps businesses in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Southeast Michigan secure their systems, reduce compliance risks, and eliminate IT stress.
- Call 810-355-2280 to discuss IT support options
- Visit www.taznetworks.com to learn more
- Schedule a consultation today
Stop asking your IT team to do the impossible. Give them the support they need—before it’s too late. Let TAZ Networks Help Your Business Stay Secure and Compliant.
Frequently Asked Questions About Co-Managed IT Services
What is co-managed IT, and how does it work?
Co-managed IT services allow businesses to supplement their in-house IT team with external support from a managed service provider (MSP). This partnership provides access to additional resources, expertise, and security solutions without replacing the internal IT staff.
How do co-managed IT services help small businesses?
Co-managed IT services help small businesses by reducing IT workload, improving cybersecurity, ensuring compliance, and providing access to advanced IT solutions at a lower cost than hiring additional full-time staff.
Can businesses without an IT department benefit from co-managed IT?
Yes. While co-managed IT is designed to support existing IT teams, businesses without dedicated IT staff can also leverage managed IT services for full IT outsourcing.
How does co-managed IT improve cybersecurity and compliance?
With co-managed IT, businesses receive proactive security monitoring, compliance assessments, and updates aligned with industry regulations like NIST 800-171, CMMC, and HIPAA.
What industries benefit most from co-managed IT services?
Industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and professional services benefit greatly from co-managed IT due to regulatory requirements, cybersecurity needs, and the complexity of IT management.