How to evaluate an MSP without spreadsheet warfare

Comparing MSPs by checklist usually ends in a tie. Here is what we tell people to ask instead.

1. Show me a real ticket from last week, sanitized.

Watch how they handle the ask. Their response tells you what their internal documentation discipline looks like.

2. Who is on call this Saturday at 2 AM?

If they cannot name a person, the on-call rotation is theoretical.

3. What was your last security incident and what changed afterward?

Everyone has had incidents. The right answer includes a real story and a specific change to procedure.

4. How do you offboard a customer?

The end of a relationship is more telling than the start.

5. Can I talk to a customer who has been with you 5+ years?

Long-tenured customers are the truest signal.