MSPs

MSPs stands for managed service providers in information technology. An MSP is a company that remotely oversees and manages a customer's IT infrastructure and end-user systems, often under a subscription or service-level agreement. Typical offerings include network monitoring and administration, data backup and disaster recovery, cybersecurity services, help desk, patch management, cloud service administration, and vendor management. Many MSPs use remote monitoring and management (RMM) and professional services automation (PSA) tools to automate tasks and track tickets.

Business models commonly involve recurring fees, often per device or per user, with tiered service levels and uptime guarantees. MSPs may provide on-site support as needed and typically emphasize proactive maintenance over break-fix approaches.

Impact and market developments: The MSP model supports small and medium-sized enterprises needing scalable IT support without in-house teams. Growth is driven by cloud adoption, rising cybersecurity concerns, and ongoing digital transformation. Standards and best practices commonly referenced include ITIL, ISO/IEC 20000, and SOC 2, which help define service delivery processes and controls.

Risks and considerations: Clients should evaluate data security and privacy protections, potential outages, vendor lock-in, and the terms of service-level agreements and termination or transition clauses. Important due diligence factors include MSP capabilities, geographic data residency, incident response processes, and alignment with business continuity requirements.

Other uses: In the United Kingdom, MSPs can also refer to Members of the Scottish Parliament; this article focuses on managed service providers.