Some law firms have an in-house IT lead or small IT team. They know the firm, the staff, and the day-to-day rhythms. What they often lack is the specialized depth to handle Clio configuration, Microsoft 365 security hardening, endpoint management at scale, or cybersecurity controls that satisfy insurers.
Co-managed IT is a model where ALT works alongside your internal team — not replacing them, but extending their capability in the areas where specialization matters most.
What Co-Managed IT Covers
We take on the areas where depth and specialization matter most, leaving ownership and day-to-day relationships with your internal team:
Device Management
End-to-end management of distributed secure computing environments, including administration and support for Windows and macOS workstations, peripherals, communications tools, and mobile devices. We enroll devices in Microsoft Intune with encryption, firewall, and approved app policies enforced centrally — so standards don't drift when new machines come in.
Identity and Access
Identity management in Entra ID, including multi-factor authentication, role-based access controls, conditional access policies, and sign-in risk monitoring. Your team handles onboarding and offboarding workflows; we ensure the underlying identity architecture stays clean and documented.
Security Depth
Your internal team can handle helpdesk tickets and hardware issues. ALT handles the security layer: endpoint detection and response, email security (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), security awareness training, vulnerability management, and backup integrity. We also provide the compliance documentation your insurer or clients require.
Specialty Software Support
Legal software — Clio, NetDocuments, and their integrations with Microsoft 365 — requires specialized knowledge. We provide support for connectors, single sign-on configuration, sync health monitoring, and adoption issues that general IT staff often don't have experience with.
Projects and Infrastructure Changes
When your firm needs to move servers, migrate to a new platform, or make a major change to the stack, your internal team stays focused on continuity while ALT drives the project — from design to testing to rollout.
How the Engagement Works
Co-managed IT requires clear lines of responsibility. We document who owns what — which functions belong to your internal team, which belong to ALT, and how escalations work in both directions. This isn't informal; it's a defined structure that gets reviewed regularly.
Most co-managed engagements involve:
- A monthly operating review where ALT reports on security posture, patch status, open incidents, and upcoming changes
- A defined escalation path for tickets your team sends to ALT
- ALT-owned security tooling and monitoring that runs continuously
- Strategic input from ALT on technology decisions before they're made
Who This Is For
Co-managed IT is the right model for law firms that:
- Have one or more internal IT staff members who handle day-to-day support
- Need security depth, compliance documentation, or specialized software support that internal staff can't provide
- Want strategic technology guidance without a full fractional CIO engagement
- Are growing and need additional capacity for projects without hiring full-time
What's Different from ALT Care Plus
ALT Care Plus is ALT's fully managed program — designed for firms with no internal IT staff. Co-managed IT is for firms that have internal coverage and want ALT to fill specific gaps, add security depth, and provide strategic oversight without replacing the internal function.
If you're not sure which model fits your situation, a Clarity Call is the right starting point. We can discuss your current setup and recommend the right engagement structure.