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Questions to Ask Your MSP at Renewal in 2026
May 20, 2026
Most MSP contracts renew on autopilot, which is exactly how businesses end up years into a relationship that stopped improving long ago. Renewal is your leverage point — use it to ask the questions that reveal whether your provider has kept pace.
Key takeaway 1
On security: what is included in my base fee versus sold as add-ons? EDR on every endpoint, 24/7 monitoring, awareness training, dark-web monitoring, and backup testing should be baseline in 2026, not upsells. If your 'managed' plan still bills these separately, you are paying more for less than the market now offers.
Key takeaway 2
On accountability: what are my named SLAs, and what happens when you miss them? A modern contract specifies response and resolution targets and includes a no-fault exit if the provider misses two months running. Vague 'best effort' language means the risk is entirely yours.
Key takeaway 3
On direction: what have you proactively improved in my environment this year, and where can AI or automation cut manual work? A provider that only closes tickets is a cost center. One that reduces repeat issues, strengthens security, and automates repetitive workflows is an investment. Renewal is when you find out which one you have.
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