Selecting a new Managed Service Provider (MSP) is a daunting task. The flashy products and services can all sound the same and feel very complex – and different MSPs will emphasize different aspects. One helpful tactic is to find an MSP whose priorities match your own. As you search for a new provider, we want to help you ask tough questions of each potential IT partner, to determine for yourself how their actual methods align with your organization’s needs.

There isn’t a single “correct” answer to any question on this list. These questions are conversation starters, and can help you assess what’s most important for your organization. If a given area doesn’t seem as important to you as the others, you can use that as an indicator: regardless of cost or size, an MSP that invests heavily into areas you don’t prioritize probably doesn’t align with your needs.