Co-Managed IT Services
in Grand Rapids
Your IT Team, Amplified.
You already have an internal IT person — or a small IT team. They’re good at what they do. But technology never stops moving, and one or two people can only handle so much. Real IT Solutions’ Co-Managed IT (COMIT) model works alongside your existing team, filling the gaps in capacity, coverage, and specialized expertise — without replacing anyone.
- Flexible & Tailored — Built Around Your Team
- 24×7 US-Based Help Desk Backup
- Specialist Expertise On Demand
- No Long-Term Lock-In — Scale As You Need
- 100% Money-Back Guarantee
Built For Businesses With Internal IT
A Partner. Not A Replacement.
Co-Managed IT is not for every business — and that’s the point. It’s designed specifically for organizations that already have internal IT staff but are running into one or more of these situations:
- Your internal IT team is stretched thin and reactive tickets are crowding out strategic work
- You need after-hours or weekend coverage your team can’t provide
- A project or initiative requires skills your team doesn’t have — cybersecurity, cloud migration, compliance, virtualization
- Your IT person is going on leave, or you recently lost someone and need continuity
- You want enterprise-level tools and monitoring without hiring additional full-time staff
- You’re growing and your IT infrastructure is struggling to keep up
If any of these sound familiar, co-managed IT is likely the right fit. Real IT Solutions becomes an extension of your team — collaborative, flexible, and invested in making your internal IT function better, not redundant.
Common Challenges We Help Internal IT Teams Solve
We’ve Seen These Problems Before.
System Downtime & Reliability
When your internal team is the only line of defense, any downtime — a server crash, a network outage, a failed update — falls entirely on them to resolve, often at inconvenient hours. Our proactive monitoring and 24×7 support ensure maximum uptime and rapid issue resolution, so your internal team isn’t the only one watching the environment.
Resource & Budget Constraints
Hiring additional full-time IT staff is expensive — salary, benefits, training, and the risk that they leave. Co-Managed IT gives you access to a full team of certified specialists at a predictable monthly cost, with enterprise-level tools and capabilities your internal team can leverage without building everything from scratch.
Efficient Use of Technology
Technology should support your business — not create friction. When internal IT is buried in tickets, strategic improvements don’t happen. Co-managed IT frees your team to focus on higher-value work while we handle the routine monitoring, maintenance, and tier-one support that keeps the lights on. The result is a leaner internal team operating at full capacity, with a reliable partner managing the day-to-day so nothing slips through the cracks.
Data Security & Compliance
Cybersecurity is a full-time discipline. For an internal IT team managing day-to-day operations, it’s nearly impossible to stay ahead of evolving threats, compliance requirements, and vulnerability assessments simultaneously. We layer in cybersecurity expertise — threat monitoring, security policy reviews, compliance guidance — so your team can focus on operations without leaving the organization exposed.
How Co-Managed IT Works
Flexible. Collaborative. On Your Terms.
Every co-managed client is unique. Some need overflow help desk support. Others need a security layer their team can’t provide. Some need a vCIO to lead strategic planning. The model is designed to be tailored — you choose the services that fill your gaps, and we deliver them as a seamless extension of your existing team.
Here’s how responsibilities are typically split in a co-managed relationship:
| Area | Your Internal IT Team | Real IT Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Day-to-Day Operations | Primary ownership | Backup, overflow, and escalation |
| After-Hours Coverage | Limited or unavailable | 24×7 US-based help desk |
| Cybersecurity | Policy enforcement, user management | Threat monitoring, EDR, incident response, vCSO |
| Strategic Planning | Input and operational alignment | vCIO leadership, roadmap, business alignment |
| Specialized Projects | Project management, internal coordination | Technical execution, specialist skills |
| Proactive Monitoring | Internal visibility | RMM tooling, automated alerts, system health |
| Compliance & Reporting | Internal policy ownership | Compliance monitoring, vulnerability assessments, reporting |
The split is always negotiated based on your team’s strengths and your organization’s needs. Nothing is imposed. We start with a thorough IT assessment and build a co-managed plan that makes sense for how your team actually operates.
What Real IT Brings to Your Team
Automated. Proactive. Reactive. Strategic.
As a RealCare™ Co-Managed IT partner, your organization gains access to the same four-pillar service model that powers our fully managed clients — tailored to work alongside your existing team rather than replace them.
Automated Services
Always Watching. Always Maintained.
We deploy and manage the automation layer across your environment — so your team isn’t manually running patches, verifying backups, or monitoring system health. Everything runs on schedule and in the background, with alerts routed to the right people when action is needed.
- Windows patching and security updates — automated and scheduled
- Disk cleanup and optimization — maintain system performance
- Server and workstation reboots — scheduled around your operations
- Server backup verification and testing — guaranteed recoverability
- System monitoring — real-time alerts
- Endpoint security management — antivirus, malware detection, firewall
- Automated reporting — on system performance, security status, and IT metrics
Proactive Services
Prevention Before The Problem.
Your internal team knows your environment. We bring the structured, ongoing proactive layer that keeps it healthy over time — reviewing security posture, training employees, and maintaining technology standards that prevent issues from developing in the first place.
- Technology roadmap development — IT planning aligned to your business goals
- Security policy review and enhancement — keeping protocols current with evolving threats
- Compliance-focused security training — covering CSAT and industry compliance standards
- Enhanced user training with LMS — Microsoft Office courses and customized departmental training
- Technology standards — and best practices across your infrastructure
- Internet connection stability monitoring — working with ISPs to optimize bandwidth
- Identity Threat Detection — continuous monitoring for compromised credentials and lateral movement
Reactive Services
Backup When It Counts.
When your internal team is unavailable, at capacity, or dealing with a complex incident, our 24×7 US-based help desk and engineering team steps in. Whether it’s after-hours coverage, an escalation that needs a specialist, or a security incident that needs immediate response — we’re here.
- Remote support — immediate assistance via phone or secure remote access
- Onsite support — field technicians dispatched for complex on-site issues
- After-hours support — 24×7 coverage outside your team’s business hours
- Block hours for onsite support — flexible packages for scheduled visits and maintenance
- Data recovery services — retrieval and restoration of lost or corrupted data
- Security incident response — containment, investigation, and remediation 24x7x365
- Email and communication support — setup, troubleshooting, and maintenance
Strategic Services
Executive IT Leadership. On Demand.
Your internal IT team handles operations. Real IT Solutions brings the strategic leadership layer — a Virtual CIO to align technology with business goals, and a Virtual CSO to lead cybersecurity strategy. This gives your organization executive-level IT direction without the cost of additional full-time hires.
vCIO — Technology Direction & Planning
- Strategic IT planning — aligned to your business objectives and growth plans
- Business alignment — ensuring technology investments support long-term goals
- Pain point resolution — identifying and addressing IT friction in your operations
- Technology roadmap — a prioritized, customized blueprint for your IT future
- Risk mitigation — across cybersecurity, compliance, data management, and disaster recovery
vCSO — Cybersecurity Management & Guidance (Additional Service)
- Cybersecurity strategy development — tailored to your industry and risk profile
- Risk assessment and management — identifying vulnerabilities before incidents occur
- Security policy and compliance — developing and maintaining policies that meet regulatory requirements
- Vendor risk management — third-party risk assessments and ongoing monitoring
- Cybersecurity technology integration — evaluating and implementing the right security tools
Let’s Talk About Your IT Team
If your internal IT team is doing great work but needs more capacity, better coverage, or deeper expertise in specific areas — Real IT Solutions can help. A free IT assessment takes about 30 minutes and gives us everything we need to build a co-managed plan that fits your team and your budget.
Enhanced Co-Managed IT Stack Access
The Right Tools. Already Built.
Co-Managed IT clients gain access to Real IT’s enterprise IT stack — tools and platforms your team can use immediately, without the cost of licensing, configuring, or managing them independently. Select the services that align with your needs:
| Service | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Password Management | Centralized, secure password storage and sharing for your organization — enhancing security while streamlining access for authorized users |
| Documentation Software (Hudu) | Centralize IT documentation, procedures, and your knowledge base — improving collaboration and making critical IT information accessible to both your team and ours |
| Remote Access via Web Browser | Enable secure remote access to company resources and applications from anywhere — supporting remote and hybrid work without compromising security |
| Microsoft 365 Data Backup (DaaS) | Independent, automated backup of your M365 environment — protecting against accidental deletion, ransomware, and sync failures that Microsoft’s native tools don’t cover |
| Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) | MFA deployment via Duo across your organization — strengthening access control and protecting against credential theft and phishing attacks |
| Domain Registration & DNS Management | Domain registration, DNS configuration, and email security protocols — including DMARC, DKIM, and SPF implementation to protect against email threats and optimize deliverability |
| Block Hours for Onsite Support | Flexible onsite support hour packages for scheduled visits, troubleshooting, system maintenance, and hands-on IT needs at your location |
Why Internal IT Teams Choose Real IT Solutions
A Partner Who Makes You Better.
The best co-managed IT relationships aren’t transactional — they’re genuine partnerships. At Real IT Solutions, our focus with co-managed clients isn’t just on supporting end users. It’s on empowering your IT department to be more effective, more strategic, and less overwhelmed.
- We work alongside you — not around you. Your team retains control. We fill the gaps you define.
- No territorial dynamics. We’re not trying to replace your IT person. We’re invested in making them more effective.
- Shared documentation. Using Hudu, both teams work from the same IT knowledge base — no siloed information, no starting from scratch on every escalation.
- Enterprise tools, shared cost. You access Real IT’s full RMM, security, and management stack without licensing it independently.
- 40+ years of combined experience. Your team gains access to certified specialists across cybersecurity, cloud, compliance, networking, and infrastructure.
- Locally owned and operated. We’re based in Grand Rapids and serve businesses across Kent County and West Michigan — we’re close when you need us on-site.
And if we ever fall short — for any reason — our guarantee is unconditional. Contact us within 72 hours and we’ll make it right, or refund 100% of what you paid for that service. Thrilled Today or You Don’t Pay.
Co-Managed IT Services FAQs for Businesses
Q: What cybersecurity threats affect small businesses most?
A: Small businesses are frequently targeted by ransomware, phishing attacks, credential theft, and software vulnerabilities. Attackers often focus on smaller organizations because they may lack dedicated security teams or advanced protection systems.
Q: Do you provide onsite support for co-managed clients? A: Yes. For complex issues that require physical presence, our field technicians come to your location. Co-managed clients can also purchase flexible block hours packages for scheduled onsite visits, system maintenance, and planned IT work. We serve Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming, and greater Kent County, Michigan.
Q: Will Real IT Solutions replace my internal IT person? A: No — and that’s not our goal. Co-managed IT is specifically designed to empower your internal IT team, not make them redundant. We work alongside them, handle the areas where they need support, and share documentation and context so nothing falls through the cracks. Many of our co-managed clients tell us their internal IT staff became more effective — not less essential — after bringing us in.
Q: What specialized skills does Real IT bring that my team may lack? A: Our team of certified technicians brings more than 40 years of combined experience across cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, compliance (HIPAA, CMMC, SOC 2), network engineering, virtualization, Microsoft 365 administration, and IT strategy. Co-managed clients access this full bench of expertise — not just one generalist — on demand, without hiring or training additional staff.
Q: How do you work alongside our existing IT team day-to-day? A: We start with a thorough IT assessment to understand your environment, your team’s strengths, and the gaps you need filled. From there, we build a co-managed plan that clearly defines responsibilities — what your team owns, what we own, and where we collaborate. We use shared documentation through Hudu so both teams work from the same knowledge base, and we route escalations and after-hours tickets through our help desk so your team is never the single point of failure.
Q: How is co-managed IT priced? A: Co-managed IT is priced based on the specific services selected and the scope of the engagement — it’s not a one-size-fits-all number. Because every co-managed relationship is tailored, we build a custom proposal after a free IT assessment. The result is a predictable monthly fee covering the services your organization needs, without paying for what you don’t. To get a number specific to your situation, schedule your free assessment and we’ll put together a proposal.
Q: What if my IT person goes on vacation or leaves the company? A: That’s one of the most common reasons organizations move to a co-managed model. When your internal IT person is unavailable — whether for vacation, illness, or departure — our team provides continuity. We already know your environment, your documentation is shared, and our help desk is available 24×7. There’s no scramble, no learning curve, and no gap in coverage.
Q: Is co-managed IT right for my size of business? A: Co-managed IT is typically a fit for organizations with 15 or more employees that already have one or more internal IT staff but need additional capacity, coverage, or specialist depth. If you have no internal IT staff, our fully managed RealCare™ model is likely a better fit. If you have a full enterprise IT department with all the tools and coverage you need, you probably don’t need us. The sweet spot is the growing mid-sized business whose internal IT team is good but stretched.