Choosing the Right Managed Service Provider: 5 Questions to Ask

Technology drives modern business. From communication and collaboration tools to data storage and cybersecurity, your infrastructure forms the backbone of how you operate. Yet as systems evolve, maintaining them becomes increasingly complex—and falling behind can have serious consequences.

An outdated IT setup exposes your business to unnecessary risk. It can:

Make it easier for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities
Lead to compliance breaches and regulatory penalties
Reduce productivity and system reliability
Lower employee morale and retention
Frustrate customers with slow or inconsistent service

That’s why many New Zealand organisations are turning to a Managed Service Provider to keep their technology optimised, secure, and future-ready.

However, not all providers are created equal. Choosing the right partner can mean the difference between strategic growth and constant firefighting. To help you make an informed decision, here are five essential questions to ask when evaluating a Managed Service Provider.

1. How Will You Align IT Strategy With My Business Goals?

Technology should support your business outcomes, not just keep the lights on. A high-quality Managed Service Provider acts as a long-term strategic partner, helping your IT evolve alongside your goals.

Ask how your provider plans to understand your business priorities—whether that’s improving collaboration, scaling operations, or enhancing security. A capable MSP will conduct regular reviews, assess system performance, and provide technology roadmaps tailored to your growth.

They should also help you plan for innovation, ensuring your IT infrastructure remains competitive as your market changes.

To learn more about aligning IT with business strategy, see our guide on IT Consulting.

2. Do You Perform Regular Risk Assessments?

The threat landscape changes daily. New vulnerabilities, phishing campaigns, and ransomware variants appear faster than ever. A reliable Managed Service Provider should perform regular risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities in your network before they become entry points for attackers.

Ask how often these assessments are carried out, what tools they use, and how results are communicated. A good MSP will provide transparent reporting with actionable insights into both internal and external threats.

Routine risk assessments also ensure that your security posture adapts as your business grows. To see how this connects to resilience and uptime, visit our Business Continuity Plan page.

3. How Do You Handle Data Security and Compliance for Clients?

In today’s environment, cybersecurity and compliance are non-negotiable. Your Managed Service Provider should have a proven framework for protecting your data and meeting relevant standards.

Ask for details on:

Encryption methods, firewalls, and access control policies
How often systems are tested and patched
Backup and disaster recovery processes
Compliance certifications or adherence to recognised standards

A strong MSP doesn’t just protect its own infrastructure—it also helps your organisation maintain compliance with privacy laws, insurance requirements, and industry regulations.

To explore how security and compliance work together, visit our Cyber Security page.

4. Do You Have a Disaster Recovery Plan, and Is It Tested Regularly?

Even the best systems can experience downtime from cyber incidents, hardware failures, or natural disasters. That’s why your Managed Service Provider must have a disaster recovery (DR) plan that’s regularly tested and proven effective.

Ask how their plan works in practice. How quickly can they restore your data? What recovery point objectives (RPOs) and recovery time objectives (RTOs) do they commit to? Testing is essential—many providers have plans on paper that fail under real pressure.

A dependable MSP aligns its recovery capabilities with your business needs, ensuring minimal disruption when issues occur. For a deeper understanding of recovery planning, explore our Business Impact Analysis insights.

5. How Confident Are You in Your Security Posture—and Why?

Cybersecurity defines the trust you can place in your Managed Service Provider. Ask potential partners how they assess and maintain their own security posture. What layers of protection do they use? Do they employ continuous monitoring, multi-factor authentication, and endpoint detection tools?

Their confidence should come from evidence—compliance certifications, internal audits, and documented testing. An MSP that practices what it preaches is more likely to protect your business effectively.

A forward-thinking provider will also apply a Defence in Depth approach, layering tools and policies to stop threats before they cause harm.

Why These Questions Matter

Partnering with a Managed Service Provider isn’t just about outsourcing technical work—it’s about gaining a trusted partner who actively improves your operations.

These five questions help you understand whether a provider is proactive, transparent, and capable of protecting your business. A good MSP will:

Align IT strategy with your business objectives
Conduct regular security assessments and updates
Maintain compliance with best practices and regulations
Guarantee reliable recovery systems
Communicate clearly and act as an extension of your team

When you find a provider who meets these standards, you’ll spend less time managing technology and more time driving growth.

How Exodesk Delivers as a Managed Service Provider

At Exodesk, we don’t just manage IT—we partner with you to make it work smarter. Our Managed Service Provider solutions are designed to support growth, reduce risk, and keep your business secure and productive.

Our services include:

Continuous 24/7 monitoring and proactive maintenance
Regular risk assessments and compliance reviews
Strategic IT consulting and cloud solutions
Disaster recovery and backup management
Advanced cybersecurity and user awareness training

By combining technical expertise with real business understanding, Exodesk ensures your technology supports your goals, not slows you down.

Explore our full range of IT Services to see how we can help your business perform at its best.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a Managed Service Provider?
A Managed Service Provider (MSP) is a company that remotely manages your IT infrastructure, network, and cybersecurity under a service contract.

2. Why should my business use a Managed Service Provider?
Working with an MSP gives you access to expert support, predictable costs, and advanced tools without the expense of an internal IT department.

3. What separates a good Managed Service Provider from a great one?
A great MSP offers strategic guidance, not just technical fixes. They align IT with business goals and help you plan for growth.

4. How often should a Managed Service Provider review my systems?
At least quarterly, or whenever major software updates, compliance changes, or new threats emerge.

5. What if my business experiences a cyberattack?
A proactive MSP will detect and contain the threat quickly, restore data from backups, and strengthen defences to prevent future incidents.

6. Can Exodesk act as our Managed Service Provider?
Yes. Exodesk provides fully managed IT and cybersecurity solutions tailored to your business, with 24/7 monitoring, strategic guidance, and expert support.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Managed Service Provider can transform the way your business operates. With the right partner, you gain more than just IT support—you gain a trusted advisor who ensures your systems are secure, your data is protected, and your technology works for you.

At Exodesk, we combine proactive management, layered security, and business insight to deliver results that matter.

Ready to explore how a Managed Service Provider can strengthen your business? Contact us today or connect with us on LinkedIn to keep up with more insights.