Choosing a Managed Service Provider (MSP)

As the new year rolls around, we all might be busy thinking about our personal resolutions, whether that’s joining the gym, decluttering our home, or drinking more water. However, it’s important that you don’t forget about a fresh start for your business, and there’s one resolution that every business in the South West should be sticking to: Becoming cyber resilient.

This might sound daunting at first, but you don’t have to do it alone. A well-chosen Managed Service Provider (MSP) can be the partner that keeps your resolution going long after the early January enthusiasm fades. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has recently published important guidance on choosing the right MSP.

In this blog, we’ll break it down in plain, practical terms and discuss what this means for organisations in the South West.

Reflect before you resolve

Before committing to any resolutions, it’s important to take stock of where you are now. This also applies to MSPs. The NCSC points out that many organisations rely heavily on MSPs for essential IT support, often without realising the risk this creates if the provider has a cyber breach of their own or mismanages access.

Before choosing an MSP, ask yourself:

• Which systems or data do you need an MSP to manage?
• How much access will they really need?
• Are there any security gaps in your systems that keep you awake at night?

Be honest about the weak spots in your systems and the risks these pose to your organisation. This will help you find an MSP that actually fits your organisation’s needs.

Do your due diligence

Choosing an MSP isn’t something to tick off your to-do list in a hurry. The NCSC emphasises the importance of taking the time to properly assess any provider that you’re considering trusting with your systems. They recommend looking closely at:

• Their reputation: Speak to current clients in similar industries to understand how they perform in real world scenarios.
• Their security practices: They should be able to clearly explain how they handle patching up security gaps, access control, and incident planning and response.
• Clear contracts: Ensure their responsibilities are explicitly outlined in the contract, especially when it comes to how potential incidents will be managed and communicated.

Taking the time to do your due diligence now will save you trouble down the line and help you build a mutually beneficial and supportive relationship with your MSP that contributes to your cyber resilience goals.

Outsourcing isn’t offloading

One of the biggest flaws of partnering with an MSP is thinking that someone else can take the entire problem away. Even if you outsource key IT services, you must understand that the responsibility of your organisation’s security still lies with you and your staff. The NCSC make this crystal clear in their guidelines. While a good MSP should improve your configurations, manage system updates, look out for potential threats, and support incident response, you still must set the direction for your company’s journey to cyber resilience.

Ask the questions that really matter

If there’s ever a moment to be thorough, it’s now. The NCSC highlights the key questions that you should challenge any MSP with before you partner with them.

• How do you secure admin access into systems?
• What does your monitoring and alerting look like?
• How quickly do you respond to incidents, and how will you tell us there has been an incident?
• What is your vulnerability management process?
• How do you handle breaches in your own environment?

A good MSP should reply in an easy to understand, jargon-free way without hesitation or dodging questions. If they try to bury you in technical terms, it’s a sign to walk away.

Cyber security is not optional

Cyber security must be an integral part of any managed service offering rather than an added on feature. A credible MSP will embed cyber security protocols into every aspect of their delivery, including configuration management, system monitoring, vulnerability handling, and reporting. This ensures proactivity rather than reactivity to any potential cyber threat. If a provider treats cyber security like an option, it’s a strong indication that they may not be properly equipped to support your organisation’s cyber resilience needs.

What does this mean for businesses in the South West?

For organisations across the South West, choosing the right MSP has never been more important. Our region is a prime target for criminals because of our busy local economies and active supply chains. That means the impact of a compromised MSP can ripple fast throughout the business and entire supply chain. By following the NCSC’s guidance and taking a more informed approach to choosing an MSP, South West businesses can strengthen their cyber security measures, reduce the likelihood of a cyber attack, and achieve cyber resilience in 2026 and beyond.

Alongside your MSP, The Cyber Resilience Centre for the South West is also here to help. By joining us, you’ll receive free expert guidance, access to helpful tools from the NCSC, and fully funded cyber security services delivered by cyber security students and professionals. Click here to take the first step towards cyber resilience for your business today.