# Red Flags When Evaluating an MSP

- Link: https://dbr-soft.com/red-flags-when-evaluating-an-msp/
- Published: 2026-10-17T15:37:07+00:00
- Author: David Botero

A bad IT partnership costs money and creates risk. These warning signs deserve attention.

**Sales and communication**

– **Pressure to sign quickly,** or “limited-time” discounts on long contracts

– **Vague answers** about services, pricing, or security

– **Promises that sound too good:** guaranteed “zero downtime” or “never get hacked”

– **No references,** or only hand-picked ones

**Pricing and contracts**

– **Unclear scope:** it’s hard to tell what’s included

– **Long lock-ins** with heavy exit penalties

– **Hidden fees** for common requests

– **Auto-renewal traps**

– **They keep ownership** of your accounts, licenses, or documentation

**Security and operations**

– **Shared administrator passwords** among technicians

– **No MFA** on their own tools

– **No documented process** for incidents, onboarding, or changes

– **No regular reporting** or reviews

– **Reluctance to talk about their own security**

– **Ignoring basic protections** such as backups and patching in their proposal

**Service quality**

– **No SLA** or only vague response promises

– **Outsourced support with no accountability**

– **High staff turnover**

– **Reactive only,** with no proactive monitoring or planning

**Cultural signs**

– They criticize competitors without substance

– They talk only about technology and not about your business

– They dismiss your questions

**How to protect yourself**

Ask for a written proposal, check references, read the contract carefully, and make
sure you retain ownership of all accounts and data.

**Trust your instincts**

If something feels evasive in the sales process, it often gets worse in the service
relationship.

**DBR Soft aims for transparency in every conversation. Ask us anything.** **[Contact us for more information.](https://dbr-soft.com/contact/)**

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