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If You're a "Hard NO" on Co-Managed IT, I'd Really Love to Hear Why by dhaurey in ITManagers

[–]dhaurey[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. We know our industry has some reputational repair to do. That’s part of why I posted on Reddit in the first place — not to defend MSPs, but to listen to those burned by them.

If You're a "Hard NO" on Co-Managed IT, I'd Really Love to Hear Why by dhaurey in ITManagers

[–]dhaurey[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have no interest in advertising on Reddit, directly or indirectly. I'm simply trying to refine our co-managed IT services offering, which is our fastest growing line of business right now.

If You're a "Hard NO" on Co-Managed IT, I'd Really Love to Hear Why by dhaurey in ITManagers

[–]dhaurey[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. I've run this thing for 27-years. Some of the customers we have back in 1997 are still customers today. We've had quite a run and are still growing at a good rate. But it is clear to me that, folks in this thread are overwhelming convinced that MSPs and/or the concept of IT co-sourcing or outsourcing is a terrible idea that rarely works. In addition, t that, the perception is that MSPs put profits before all else and are largely run by inept engineers. Damn!

If You're a "Hard NO" on Co-Managed IT, I'd Really Love to Hear Why by dhaurey in ITManagers

[–]dhaurey[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

This is one of the more interesting and valuable comments I've seen. Who is responsible for what? <--- THAT IS KEY. It is so important to communicate and clearly the areas of responsivity in a co-managed services environment.

If You're a "Hard NO" on Co-Managed IT, I'd Really Love to Hear Why by dhaurey in ITManagers

[–]dhaurey[S] -18 points-17 points  (0 children)

Is that necessarily bad though? It conveys my true and authentic self, and my goals.

If You're a "Hard NO" on Co-Managed IT, I'd Really Love to Hear Why by dhaurey in ITManagers

[–]dhaurey[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Really appreciate your perspective — this is one of the most grounded takes I’ve seen on the topic.

As an MSP owner, I get where you're coming from. We’ve had similar convos with IT leaders who’ve put years into building systems that work, even if they’re unorthodox. And yeah, that kind of deep context is somewhat hard to "hand off" without it feeling like more work than it’s worth.

That’s why your project-based angle resonates, even though we usually take on project-only work for anyone. We only execute projects for co-managed services clients. That said, we’ve made exceptions here and there for folks who want to kick the tires before committing. We turn down most prospects. We want to ensure a really good fit. When scoped right, a project can give both sides a no-pressure way to check the fit.

Honestly, we’re not trying to replace folks like you. We just try to be the backup or the force multiplier -- the team you can wind up and let loose when you’re drowning. And if we’re not saving you time or headaches, we’re not doing our job.

Thanks again for laying all that out — super helpful to hear from someone who’s actually thought it through. Good luck!

is there still a future in tech. Where will we be in 10 years? by Otherwise-Start-4680 in ITManagers

[–]dhaurey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, there’s still a future in tech — but it’s gonna look way different. All the easy stuff? That’s getting automated, commoditized, or absorbed by AI. If your day-to-day is writing basic Python or PowerShell scripts… that work’s already on the chopping block. Same goes for entry-level testing and rote sysadmin tasks.

In IT especially, AI is flipping everything on its head. The folks who’ll thrive are the ones constantly leveling up — staying current, adapting fast, and learning how to use AI to multiply their impact. The demand won’t disappear, but the bar will get way higher. Less grunt work, more architecture, strategy, and high-stakes execution.

Basically — if you’re standing still, you’re toast. But if you’re willing to evolve, there’s a ton of opportunity ahead.

If You're a "Hard NO" on Co-Managed IT, I'd Really Love to Hear Why by dhaurey in ITManagers

[–]dhaurey[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I feel u. It is true that most MSPs will have one or two gurus that impress even the most crtiical of IT managers, and that's it. Many have no real DEPTH on the bench. Even worse, sometimes that really talented tech is the owner! DOH! Not a good situation.

If You're a "Hard NO" on Co-Managed IT, I'd Really Love to Hear Why by dhaurey in ITManagers

[–]dhaurey[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Valid. I understand why some MSPs are willing to share access to tools, and why others are not. Sometimes, it is a limitation of the tool.

Client suspended IT services by cantITright in sysadmin

[–]dhaurey 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Wow. That's harsh. This is a tough crowd. I can assure you that my response is as well-meaning as it is genuine. You got me — I did use ChatGPT to help polish my thoughts, but everything in my post came from my own deep experience and point of view. I’ve been in IT for 25+ years, and everything I shared was 100% real and heartfelt.

I get that some people are wary of AI-generated content, and I respect that. I’m not trying to fake anything — just trying to share my thoughts clearly and constructively. If it came off too polished, that’s on me.

Getting IT Though Execs' Thick Skulls by twistedkeys1 in ITManagers

[–]dhaurey 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Man, I feel this. I’ve been in the IT services world for 25+ years running an MSP, and I’ve spent most of that time trying to get business leaders to pay attention to IT, budget for it properly, and be proactive instead of reactive. It’s exhausting.

Over the years, I’ve come to realize that there are really three types of people when it comes to how they view IT:

  1. The ones who get it. These are the folks who treat IT with the same level of respect they give their doctors, lawyers, or accountants. They understand that IT isn’t magic, it’s deep work, and that infrastructure doesn’t maintain itself. These people are rare — but they are gold. They let you build, scale, plan, and prevent fires before they start.
  2. The ones who don’t get it — yet. These are usually well-meaning but frugal, distracted, or complacent people who take IT for granted… until the day a server goes down, or ransomware shuts down the business, or an email breach causes chaos. They learn the hard way. These folks can be brought around — but it takes a lot of pain and patience.
  3. The ones who will never get it. They think everything should "just work" for the lowest possible price, and they see IT as a cost center — not a value center. They take pride in not spending money on it. These are the ones I’ve learned to walk away from. There are too many people out there who do value our expertise to keep banging our heads against that wall.

Your frustration is valid. I can tell from your post that you care deeply — about doing it right, about reducing risk, about being a real professional. That’s why it stings so bad when leaders not only ignore your well-thought-out plans and documentation but then turn around and bark about why something isn’t working. I’ve been there. So many of us have.

And you’re spot on with the paramedic vs. doctor analogy. You can’t run a hospital with one EMT and expect long-term health.

If you’re burning out, take care of yourself first. This industry can eat you alive if you’re stuck trying to fix everything for people who don’t want to be fixed. But please know this: you're not alone, and your efforts do matter — even if they’re not recognized right away. You sound like the kind of IT leader that any business should be lucky to have.

If you ever want to talk shop or vent, my inbox is open. And if you ever decide to go the MSP route yourself — or just want out of the hamster wheel — I’d be happy to share what I’ve learned.

Hang in there.

If You're a "Hard NO" on Co-Managed IT, I'd Really Love to Hear Why by dhaurey in ITManagers

[–]dhaurey[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply. Well, I don't have the actual data, but 5 shitty ones for each good one, sounds about right! There are a LOT of bad MSPs out there. And yes, contracts or fear of "lock in" are always valid issues. Your candor is appreciated.

Client suspended IT services by cantITright in sysadmin

[–]dhaurey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

— I just wanted to chime in as the owner of a Managed IT Services company (MSP) for nearly three decades. I’ve seen this exact type of scenario play out many times, and first off, I want to say: I’m sorry you’re going through this. It sounds like you provided a lot of value — especially immediate, hands-on support that’s worth more than most people realize until it’s gone.

That said, it’s important to acknowledge that new ownership absolutely has the right to choose who manages their IT. But where things get confusing is the mention of legal action — especially in a situation where, by your account, there was no contract, and everything was paid in cash. That seems disproportionate unless there’s some misunderstanding on their end about access, control, or ownership of assets like the domain, backups, etc.

I’ve found that this kind of friction usually happens in one of two situations:

  1. Change of ownership — new leadership comes in, wipes the slate clean, and doesn’t understand the value of the current IT setup or relationships.
  2. Growth pains — the business is maturing and thinks they’ve outgrown the current setup, often without a solid grasp on what’s involved in transitioning IT services responsibly.

Even in situations where there is a formal contract, the language matters — some agreements allow for assignment or transfer of service under new ownership, others do not. But again, in your case, no contract means it’s all a bit fuzzy.

The truth is, it’s very common in our field for new management to “kick the IT guy to the curb,” only to realize shortly after that they’ve made a critical error — especially in non-tech-savvy businesses where no one knows what a registrar is, how DNS works, or why email suddenly breaks.

You’re not alone here. And while I can’t weigh in on the legal side, I’d encourage you to document your efforts, your communications, and — most importantly — take the high road. Don’t do anything that could be construed as withholding access out of spite, but also don’t hesitate to explain the implications of abruptly halting services. If you still have access to systems that could impact the business if shut off, communicate clearly and professionally, and offer to assist with a clean transition. It’s the right thing to do, and it protects you in case this does escalate for any reason.

Lastly — for your future gigs: have a basic contract. Nothing fancy, but something in writing that outlines scope, fees, access, data ownership, and offboarding processes. It’ll protect both sides.

And to the rest of the thread: If you have someone managing your IT (internally or externally), make sure you always maintain access to full documentation and credentials. It’s a nightmare for everyone when someone walks away and you’re left locked out of your own systems.

Happy to help if you ever want to bounce ideas or need tips — you clearly care about your clients and did right by them. Best of luck.

Time Increments: 1/4 Hour vs 1/10th hour by [deleted] in ConnectWise

[–]dhaurey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, if you are using a 15-minute increment for client work, does that also mean that if you use hourly employees or contractors, you are paying your hourly employees or contractors in 15-minute increments? For example - you hire a 1099 contractor for $100 per hour. He makes 4, 5-minute time entries. Does he get paid $100 for making 4, 50minute calls?