Choosing the wrong MSP is expensive — in downtime, security risk, and switching costs. These 12 questions will help you evaluate any managed IT provider and avoid the most common pitfalls.
After helping dozens of businesses switch from underperforming MSPs to CloudTechForce, we have identified the 12 questions that separate great providers from mediocre ones. Ask these before signing any managed IT agreement.
1) What is your average response time for critical issues? (Look for under 15 minutes.) 2) What is your average resolution time? (Measure in hours, not days.) 3) What does your onboarding process look like, and how long does it take? (A good MSP has a documented 30-60-90 day onboarding plan.) 4) What cybersecurity tools do you include in the base price? (MFA, EDR, email security, and training should be standard — not add-ons.) 5) Do you provide a dedicated account manager or vCIO? (You should have a named point of contact, not a random technician each time.)
6) How do you handle after-hours emergencies? (24/7 should mean 24/7 — not a voicemail.) 7) What is your employee turnover rate? (High turnover means constantly re-explaining your environment.) 8) What compliance frameworks do you support? (If you are in healthcare, finance, or government, they need specific experience.) 9) Can you provide 3 references from companies similar to ours? 10) What is included and excluded from the base monthly price? (Beware of low base prices with expensive add-ons.)
11) What does offboarding look like if we leave? (Professional MSPs have documented transition processes.) 12) What are your guaranteed SLA metrics and what happens if you miss them? (Look for financial penalties for SLA misses, not just apologies.)
CloudTechForce publishes our SLAs, pricing, and onboarding process transparently. We welcome these questions — and encourage you to ask them of every provider you evaluate.
