The Stark Reality of IT Overwhelm and the IT Control Paradox

So many internal IT initiatives fail.?

Not because IT teams lack talent, motivation, drive, or intelligence… but simply because they’re overwhelmed and spread too thin.?

The following illustrates exactly this point. It’s (due to the highly confidential nature of Cyber Security) a fictional tale made up of a number of very real events. It does not reflect any particular single company.?

Join us as we look at the story of Mickey Metal, a fictional Canadian company, and how they jumped on an innovation bandwagon, how it went wrong, and steps you can take to avoid their fate.?

Mickey Metal

In the heart of Canada, nestled in a small town known for its rugged beauty and hardworking people, there was a company called Mickey Metal. For decades, Mickey Metal had been a pillar of the community, providing jobs and crafting some of the finest steel products in the country. The company prided itself on its resilience, innovation, and commitment to quality.

But as the world around them changed, so too did the steel industry. Advances in technology promised to revolutionise production, making it faster, smarter, and more efficient. Mickey Metal's leadership recognised the opportunity. They saw how new technologies could propel them ahead of their competitors, open doors to new markets, and deepen their relationships with customers.

The why behind Mickey Metal had always been clear: to build the strongest, most reliable products that would stand the test of time. They believed in the power of hard work and ingenuity.?

So, when the chance came to modernise their operations, they jumped at it. They invested in cutting-edge machinery, connected their systems to the cloud, and began to automate parts of their production process.

But here’s where the story takes a turn. Mickey Metal, despite its bold vision and clear why, made a crucial mistake. They believed that their internal IT team, the same team that had managed their traditional systems for years, could handle this massive transformation on their own.?

The leadership trusted their people, and why wouldn't they? This team had always delivered, always kept the company running smoothly.

However, what Mickey Metal's leadership didn't fully grasp was that this new era of digital transformation required a different kind of vigilance. As they poured resources into new technologies, their IT team became overwhelmed. They were asked to manage more than just the everyday operations—they were now responsible for safeguarding an increasingly complex and vulnerable system.

Weeks turned into months, and the cracks began to show.?

The IT team, spread too thin, struggled to keep up with the demands of the new infrastructure. They put off critical security updates, postponed necessary system audits, and missed warning signs of potential threats. But Mickey Metal was too focused on their vision of growth to notice the danger lurking in the shadows.

And truth be told, they had considered a co-managed IT option, but were too afraid to lose control (this is the IT Control Paradox and you can learn more about it here).?

One cold winter morning, it happened.?

A cyberattack.?

It started small, just a few suspicious emails that slipped through the cracks.?

But within hours, it escalated into a full-blown crisis. Hackers infiltrated their systems, crippling production lines, accessing sensitive customer data, and bringing the company to its knees.

In the aftermath, Mickey Metal was left reeling.?

The damage was done, not just to their systems, but to their reputation.?

Customers who had once trusted them without question now hesitated. Competitors who had been trailing behind suddenly surged ahead. And the community, the very people who had relied on Mickey Metal for generations, began to lose faith.

The why that had driven Mickey Metal for so long—to build the strongest, most reliable products—was now at risk.?

Not because they lacked the vision, but because they had underestimated the need for specialised expertise. They had believed that their internal resources could handle everything, but the truth was, they couldn’t do it alone.

In the end, Mickey Metal’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of aligning your why with the how. It’s not enough to simply see the opportunity; you must also understand the complexities that come with it.?

And sometimes, that means knowing when to seek help, when to bring in the experts who can protect what you’ve built.

How to Tell When You’re Close to Needing Co-Managed IT

A company knows it's on the cusp of needing co-managed IT when it begins to feel the strain of growth and complexity outpacing its internal capabilities. It’s when the IT team, once capable of handling everything smoothly, starts to struggle under the weight of new demands—be it cyber security threats, rapid technological advancements, or the need for 24/7 operational support.

You’ll notice it in the small cracks that start to appear: critical updates being delayed, strategic initiatives getting sidelined, or a reactive approach to problems rather than a proactive one. It’s when the leadership begins to realise that their IT team, as talented and dedicated as they are, can’t be everywhere at once.

The tipping point comes when the cost of not having that extra support—whether in the form of downtime, security breaches, or missed opportunities—starts to outweigh the investment in bringing in specialised external expertise. Co-managed IT isn’t about replacing your team; it’s about recognising that to stay ahead, to protect what you’ve built, and to continue driving forward, you need a partnership that can scale with you, offering both the depth and breadth of expertise required today.

When you reach that moment where your growth and ambition are pushing the limits of what your internal resources can handle, that’s when you know it’s time to consider co-managed IT. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a strategic decision to ensure that your company can continue to thrive without compromise.

Stop Guessing—Know.

Imagine having the clarity to see exactly how much your business could save by outsourcing some of your IT functions. With our cost-saving calculator, you can do just that. It’s a simple, powerful tool designed to show you the real impact on your bottom line when you partner with experts to manage your IT needs.

Don’t just guess—know.

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Want to learn how co-managed IT can help you scale the growth wall? Read more.

Want to learn how to quickly transition to co-managed IT? Download our guide.