Managed IT
How to choose an MSP in Melbourne
A practical checklist for Melbourne business owners comparing managed IT providers — scope, security, response times, and exit terms.
Start with your actual stack
List what you rely on today — Microsoft 365 or Google, line-of-business apps, on-prem servers, website host, backups, and who answers when email breaks. A good provider should understand the whole picture, not only desktops. If you also need website and cloud under one roof, favour teams that deliver both rather than a pure MSP plus a separate web agency.
Compare scope, not just per-user price
Melbourne managed IT often runs roughly $80–$180 per user per month for SMBs, but quotes are not interchangeable. Ask what is included: after-hours escalation, onsite visits, backup restore testing, security tooling, Microsoft 365 admin, and vendor liaison. Cheap quotes that exclude security or backup testing cost more when something fails.
Check response times and ownership
Ask for average response and resolution targets for P1 issues (email down, ransomware, server offline). Clarify who owns the relationship — a named engineer or account lead beats an anonymous ticket queue. Request two Melbourne references in a similar industry and size.
Security and compliance basics
At minimum expect MFA, patch management, tested backups, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and admin access controls. If you handle sensitive data or insurance questionnaires, ask how they map to the ACSC Essential Eight or SMB1001. Providers with verified credentials (for example CyberCert) have demonstrated baseline practices.
Website, email, and DNS together
Many outages are DNS or email misconfiguration after a website migration. If your website and Microsoft 365 are managed by different vendors, run a health check on DNS, MX, and authentication before you switch providers. Use free tools to baseline your domain before signing.
Exit terms and documentation
You should receive admin credentials, network diagrams, and backup access if you leave. Avoid multi-year lock-ins without clear break clauses. A confident provider documents your environment from day one because they plan to support you long term, not trap you.
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