October 26, 2026
Shea
Switching MSP providers requires a transition plan that maintains business continuity and minimizes downtime. We take a step-by-step approach that fixes the problems you’re having with your existing provider first so that we can build a solid working relationship from the start.
If you plan on an MSP transition, the guide below will help.
A single bad ticket shouldn’t lead to searching for how to switch MSP companies. Operational problems that continue to happen well past the onboarding process call for a reliable switch to a team that better fits the needs of your company.
We never encourage you to switch companies without being sure that it’s the right move because there are:
Before you change a managed service provider, be sure that the problems are not due to unclear expectations rather than a failed MSP.
Discuss the following:
Write each issue down. Once it’s on paper, the contract gives your MSP a measurable target, and a deadline for the fix shows exactly what you expect. That often solves the problem before you have to look for a new IT provider.
Certain problems with providers are harder to fix than others because of data ownership and control risks. Your partnership with an outgoing MSP has become a serious operational risk if:
End-of-life systems may remain in service with no ownership over who will replace them. If your MSP issues include two or more of the above points, it’s time to silently begin the offboarding process and service handover.
You don’t want to give your existing MSP notice that you’re switching just yet.
Switching MSP provider companies requires a strategic approach because you want to verify ownership and access to critical systems. Your team shouldn’t have to depend on the past provider for the incoming MSP handover.
Use our table below to assist with the transition. You can fill in the last two columns as you go along:
| System | What You Need | Who Controls It | Verified? |
| Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace | Two named internal global admins, a break-glass account stored offline, MFA recovery options, list of delegated MSP access | ||
| Domain registrar | Account in your company’s name, registrant contact details, auto-renew status, transfer lock setting | ||
| DNS hosting | Login to the DNS provider, full export of current records (A, MX, TXT, CNAME) | ||
| Firewall and network | Firewall credentials, saved configuration backup, VPN settings, ISP account and circuit details, network documentation | ||
| Backups | Console access, backup retention settings, encryption keys, date of last successful restore test | ||
| Endpoint management and RMM agent | List of managed devices, what the RMM agent controls, removal plan for the agent | ||
| Endpoint security and cybersecurity monitoring | Admin access to the security console, alert history, exclusions list | ||
| Cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, others) | Owner or billing role on each subscription, list of service principals and API keys | ||
| Software licenses and vendor accounts | License agreements in your company’s name, renewal dates, vendor support contacts for line-of-business apps | ||
| Password vault | Your own admin access to the shared vault, plus a record of who else has it | ||
| IT documentation | Asset inventory, network diagrams, runbooks, onboarding and offboarding checklists for staff |
Start with accounts that may allow you to regain control of critical business services, such as administrator Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace accounts. Also, maintain DNS access or ask your current provider to transfer access to you.
Create a device inventory for desktops, laptops, servers, mobile devices and any network equipment that you may have available. Add software licenses and subscription services to the list so that you have every vendor account the MSP manages accessible to you.
Small business and enterprise IT managed services both rely on strict backup and restoration processes that are tested and maintained within the written retention period. Record all settings so that disaster recovery matches former settings after the transition period.
Switching MSP provider companies requires a post-transition review of the contract to look for:
Contractual items can affect the timing and cost of the switch. Work with your team to better understand how to handle the terms of the agreement.
Be sure to evaluate the company’s exit process so that you don’t have the same vendor-lock-in problems when signing a new contract.
Don’t choose a new MSP because they promise to fix all of the issues that you’re having with your former provider. You may have transition issues with a slow or uncooperative former company.
We recommend that you follow these recommendations on how to switch MSP companies.
Start with a list of why you plan to switch a managed IT provider, including the systems and outcomes that you want to achieve. You might consider things such as parallel support, endpoint security, patch management and network monitoring.
Clearly define the boundaries you want in place to accept a new provider.
Response and resolution time are two terms that companies confuse when choosing a managed service provider. Providers may have a one-hour response time and still take a week to fix issues, which is never ideal.
Most issues should be resolved within one business day, and critical ones – within an hour.
Ask for an SLA that addresses the issue priority and the course of action in case of an SLA breach.
Check if they have ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certifications, which confirm the basic level of security during data processing and information security management procedures; ask about the typical time of a patch implementation and escalation procedures.
A staged migration is a good start to your business relationship, but you want to know a few other details:
Ask questions before you sign anything.
Compare the scope of the service and review SLAs, cybersecurity, support coverage, documentation ownership, exit terms, pricing, references and reporting. Ask the provider for testimonials and recommendations that you verify on your own.
Switching an MSP provider without downtime requires a transition plan with dates, ownership, responsibilities and a rollback plan in place. You don’t want a single-night approach on a Friday unless there’s a single cutover.
Parallel support to reduce the risk when switching MSPs. Overlap during a transition allows your outgoing provider to offer you support for live systems and makes the process less risky. But be cautious of the costs of keeping both contracts active.
Choosing an MSP also includes outlining who owns each system when handing them over, such as a cutover plan that includes:
Staged migrations allow your staff to know what to expect during the transition. You can alert them to potential outages for helpdesk requests, logins, authentication and other services. Allow your employees to prepare ahead of time.
What should I look for when I switch MSP companies? The services you want with a defined transition period. You can look at what managed IT services include in your agreement on top of:
Your stages may vary, but they often include some or all of the points above.
Switching MSP provider companies may come with delays. You might hear horror stories of dramatic lockouts, but these are rare in our experience. What normally transpires is incomplete documentation arrives, credentials are missing or requests sit unanswered.
Make the handover easy with:
Maintain records of all correspondence to make the handover less difficult.
To switch MSP providers, you must have a strategic process in place that includes a verification checklist of:
Create a checklist to verify that everything works before dismissing your former MSP.
Switching to the new provider usually requires some one-time costs. You should consider and budget for this transition period, including the time when you are paying both companies simultaneously, the onboarding and implementation cost, necessary changes/remediation, and license conversion or other expenses you may incur in the process (e.g., hardware purchases to bring the environment up to date).
Request a detailed breakdown of all these one-time costs from your new provider.
Don’t switch MSP providers without a plan in place. At Cyber Husky, we can take control of the transition to make it as hands-off as possible for your team.
Contact Cyber Husky to learn more.
Transition timelines depend on your environment, number of users and locations, documentation quality, contract notice period, applications, compliance requirements and system types. Ask both parties to estimate how long they expect the switch to take.
Yes. If you change a managed service provider with the help of your former MSP, it will make the transition easier. Overlap reduces the risk of outages as you move to a new service.
No, not with certainty. Choosing an MSP that guarantees zero issues is a bad choice. Companies can do everything in their power to keep systems online but still fall short. You can take steps to reduce disruptions, such as overlapping providers.
Send a written request that lists all passwords and documentation you need. Escalate that request through the appropriate channels if they fail to respond or withhold data.
When you switch managed service provider companies, your backups may stop. Be sure to have a new process in place first to avoid disruptions and have active restoration points.
No. Choosing an MSP is one part of the equation. But you also need to be realistic that downtime is possible. If you can avoid the busiest time of year, it will reduce the risk of business interruption.
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