Is Your MSP Really Protecting You? 7 Questions to Ask Right Now

As an SMB leader, you’ve already taken the important step of partnering with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) to handle your technology needs. You know the value of outsourcing to experts so you can stay focused on running your business. But here's the crucial question: is your MSP genuinely keeping your organization safe, secure, and productive or simply going through the motions?

Cyber threats aren’t slowing down. In fact, they're becoming more sophisticated by the day. Attacks like ransomware, phishing scams, and data breaches are now commonplace threats for businesses of every size, not just large corporations. If your MSP isn't proactive or fully transparent, your company could be at serious risk without you even knowing it until it’s too late.

To help you figure out exactly where you stand, we've compiled seven essential questions you should be asking your MSP right now. Each of these questions will give you a clear snapshot of whether your MSP is truly equipped to protect your business today and in the future.

1. Do You Have an Up-to-Date Incident Response Plan?

Every MSP claims to "handle" incidents, but can your MSP prove they have a formal, documented incident response plan? An effective plan doesn’t just list a few procedures; it clearly outlines steps for prevention, detection, containment, recovery, and reporting.

If your MSP hesitates or can’t promptly produce such a document, it’s a huge red flag. Without a defined response plan, your business risks prolonged downtime, lost revenue, and significant reputational damage after even a minor breach.

What you want to hear:
Your MSP can immediately show you a detailed, documented plan, updated regularly, and they proactively practice drills internally to ensure rapid and effective response when needed.

2. How Frequently Are You Backing Up Our Data and Where?

Data backup might seem basic, but backups fail more often than you think. Regular, tested backups are your best protection against ransomware and data loss incidents.

Ask your MSP for specifics: How frequently do backups run? Are backups incremental, full, or both? How quickly can data be restored? Where are the backups stored—are they cloud-based, offsite, or both? And most importantly, have they tested a restoration process recently?

What you want to hear:
Your MSP provides daily automated backups stored securely offsite or in a reputable cloud platform. They test backups regularly and can clearly outline the recovery timeline in the event of an emergency.

3. Are You Actively Managing Our Compliance Requirements?

In 2025, regulations such as HIPAA, CMMC, GDPR, and various state privacy laws have made compliance critical for almost every SMB. Even if you're not regulated directly, your customers or partners might be, meaning compliance indirectly affects your operations.

Ask your MSP exactly how they’re ensuring compliance across your technology stack. Do they track regulatory changes proactively? Do they regularly audit your systems and document compliance? Can they provide immediate reports proving compliance in a pinch?

What you want to hear:
Your MSP proactively monitors compliance standards relevant to your industry, performs routine compliance audits, and provides clear documentation proving adherence to all necessary regulations.

4. How Quickly Can You Identify and Respond to a Cyber Threat?

It’s easy for MSPs to promise protection, but speed and precision during a cyber incident separate exceptional MSPs from mediocre ones. Minutes matter significantly during a breach. Ask your MSP how they detect threats—do they rely on real-time monitoring and advanced analytics? How quickly do they typically identify and mitigate threats?

Also, find out how quickly you, as the client, are notified when a potential threat occurs.

What you want to hear:
Your MSP uses advanced real-time threat detection software, 24/7 monitoring, and clearly defined notification protocols. They provide detailed reports outlining threats, response times, and actions taken.

5. Do You Perform Ongoing Employee Security Training?

Human error continues to be a primary vulnerability in cybersecurity. Even the best security tech can’t protect against a well-targeted phishing attack if your employees aren’t prepared. Ask your MSP how frequently they train your team—are training sessions interactive and ongoing, or just one-off annual checkboxes?

What you want to hear:
Your MSP provides regular (monthly or quarterly) employee training, including simulated phishing tests and practical sessions that truly build cybersecurity awareness.

6. How Transparent Are You About SLA Performance Metrics?

Your MSP should proactively demonstrate accountability. They should be open about Service Level Agreement (SLA) performance, clearly outlining metrics such as uptime guarantees, response time to service requests, and resolution speed.

Ask specifically: can they share real-time data or monthly reports showing their SLA adherence clearly? If something goes wrong, do they proactively explain why and what’s being done to prevent it from happening again?

What you want to hear:
Your MSP regularly shares clear, detailed SLA performance reports without prompting and addresses any shortfalls proactively, transparently, and clearly, without excuses.

7. How Accessible Are Your Tech Support and Senior Staff?

Responsiveness and accessibility are often overlooked until something urgent arises. Can you easily reach your MSP’s support team? If a major problem arises, can you speak directly with senior-level technicians or executives?

Ask your MSP directly about their support structure—are they available after-hours or weekends? How quickly do they guarantee a response to your critical issues?

What you want to hear:
Your MSP offers direct lines of communication, clear escalation procedures, guaranteed response times (under 1-hour response for critical issues is ideal), and easy access to senior technicians or decision-makers if necessary.

Red Flags: Is Your MSP Failing the Test?

If you encounter hesitation, vague responses, or insufficient detail when asking these questions, it might be time to reconsider your relationship with your MSP. The stakes are too high to rely on unclear promises or empty assurances. Cybersecurity in 2025 requires diligence, proactivity, and transparency—settling for less puts your business at significant risk.

Take Action Today: Download Our Free MSP Assessment Checklist

Want a quick way to evaluate your MSP thoroughly? We’ve developed a comprehensive MSP Assessment Checklist covering these seven questions (and several more critical areas). This checklist will give you the tools to determine exactly how well your MSP stacks up and highlight areas that need immediate attention.

[Download Your Free MSP Assessment Checklist Now]

Don’t wait until disaster strikes to find out if your MSP is truly protecting your business. Get clarity today, and ensure you have a technology partner that’s fully committed to your security and business continuity.