10 Things Your MSP Should Be Doing

Not all managed service providers are created equal. Many businesses don't realize their IT company is leaving them exposed until something goes wrong. Use this checklist to evaluate whether your current provider—or a potential new one—is meeting the standard your business deserves.

Proactive 24/7 Monitoring

Your MSP should be watching your systems around the clock—not waiting for you to call when something breaks. AI-powered monitoring tools can detect and resolve many issues before you even notice them.

Red Flag: If you're always the first to notice problems, your MSP isn't monitoring proactively.

Sub-15-Minute Response Times

When you have a critical issue, every minute counts. Your MSP should guarantee response times—not just "we'll get back to you." Look for documented SLAs with specific timeframes.

Sabre Standard: Our average response time is 7 minutes for urgent issues.

Advanced Endpoint Protection (EDR)

Traditional antivirus is dead. Your MSP should deploy Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) technology that uses AI to detect and stop sophisticated threats like ransomware.

Multi-Factor Authentication Everywhere

MFA should be enforced on all business systems—email, VPNs, cloud applications, and admin accounts. This single control stops over 99% of account compromise attacks.

Red Flag: If MFA is "optional" or only on some systems, you're exposed.

Tested Backup & Disaster Recovery

Backups aren't enough—they need to be tested regularly. Your MSP should perform monthly restore tests and document results. Ask them: "When did you last test a full restore?"

2026 Standard: The 3-2-1-1 rule—3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite, 1 immutable (unchangeable).

Security Awareness Training

Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your biggest vulnerability. Your MSP should provide ongoing security training with simulated phishing tests, not just an annual PowerPoint.

Patch Management Within 72 Hours

Critical security patches should be deployed within 72 hours of release. Unpatched systems are the #1 entry point for ransomware. Ask how quickly your MSP applies updates.

Strategic IT Planning (vCIO Services)

A good MSP doesn't just fix problems—they help you plan for the future. You should have regular business reviews, technology roadmaps, and budget planning assistance.

Red Flag: If you only hear from your MSP when something breaks, they're not a strategic partner.

Compliance Documentation Support

Whether you need HIPAA, FTC Safeguards, SOC 2, or industry-specific compliance, your MSP should provide documentation, evidence gathering, and audit support.

No Long-Term Contract Lock-Ins

The best MSPs earn your business every month. If an MSP requires a 3-5 year contract with heavy cancellation penalties, ask yourself why they need to lock you in.

Confidence Signal: Month-to-month options show an MSP believes in their service quality.

📋 Quick Scorecard: Rate Your Current MSP

Proactive 24/7 Monitoring☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure

Documented Response Time SLAs☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure

EDR/Advanced Endpoint Protection☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure

MFA on All Critical Systems☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure

Monthly Backup Testing☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure

Ongoing Security Training☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure

72-Hour Patch Deployment☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure

Quarterly Business Reviews☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure

Compliance Support☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure

Month-to-Month Options☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure

Scoring: 8-10 Yes = Great MSP | 5-7 = Room for improvement | Under 5 = Time to evaluate alternatives

Not Getting All 10? Let's Talk.

Sabre IT Services delivers all 10 of these capabilities to Columbus-area businesses. No long-term contracts. 7-minute response times. Real partnership.

Schedule a Free Discovery Call →

Or call us: (614) 683-0060