What Are Managed Services?

Definition, service models, and how managed services differ from break-fix and staff augmentation

8 minUpdated August 2026DCS Global Engineering TeamCertified Data Center Infrastructure Experts

Executive summary

Managed services are IT functions delivered by a third-party provider on an ongoing basis under a service level agreement. Managed services differ from break-fix support (reactive, per-incident) and staff augmentation (temporary personnel).

Key takeaways

This guide covers the essential concepts, best practices, and decision frameworks for What Are Managed Services?.
DCS Global engineers have deep expertise in this area across national and international projects across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East.
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Overview

Managed services encompass managed infrastructure, managed security, managed cloud, and managed end-user services. The defining characteristic is ongoing, proactive management under an SLA.

Key Concepts

MSP: Managed Service Provider. SLA: Service Level Agreement. Break-fix: Reactive support model. Staff augmentation: Temporary personnel. Co-managed IT: Shared management between internal IT and MSP.

Best Practices

Define clear SLAs with measurable metrics. Retain strategic IT functions internally. Evaluate MSPs on operational track record. Establish governance processes.

Key Considerations

Managed services reduce operational burden but require effective vendor management. SLA remedies may not compensate for actual business impact. Co-managed models require clear responsibility boundaries.

Next Steps

DCS Global provides expert guidance and implementation services for What Are Managed Services?. Our certified engineers have delivered solutions across national and international engagements and can help you navigate the complexity of enterprise infrastructure decisions. Contact our team to schedule a consultation or infrastructure assessment.

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Updated August 2026

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What Are Managed Services? | Managed Services | DCS Global

What Are Managed Services? — Managed Services | DCS Global