A managed service provider (MSP) is a company that remotely monitors, manages, and secures a business’s IT infrastructure and systems on an ongoing basis for a fixed monthly fee. One82 is a managed service provider based in Los Gatos, California, serving CPA firms, law firms, and boutique financial services firms across the San Francisco Bay Area since 1999. Rather than calling a technician when something breaks, firms that work with an MSP have a dedicated team continuously managing their technology, security, and compliance — preventing problems before they impact operations.
How an MSP Works
When a professional services firm partners with an MSP, the provider becomes the firm’s outsourced IT department. The MSP takes responsibility for:
- Monitoring and maintenance — Keeping servers, workstations, and cloud environments healthy and up to date
- Help desk support — Providing a team that staff can contact when they have technology questions or issues
- Cybersecurity — Deploying and managing layered security tools including endpoint detection and response (EDR), multi-factor authentication (MFA), email filtering, and security awareness training
- Compliance support — Generating documentation and reports that demonstrate your firm meets regulatory requirements
- Strategic planning — Acting as a virtual CIO (vCIO) to align your technology investments with your firm’s business goals
According to MarketsandMarkets, the global managed services market was valued at $299.01 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $511.03 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 11.3% (MarketsandMarkets, 2024). That growth reflects the reality that small and mid-sized businesses increasingly cannot manage cybersecurity and IT complexity on their own.
MSP Services Commonly Included
The services bundled into an MSP agreement vary by provider, but a qualified MSP for professional services firms should include:
| Service Category | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Managed IT | Help desk, patch management, endpoint monitoring, hardware and software lifecycle management |
| Cybersecurity | EDR, MFA, email security, dark web monitoring, security awareness training, incident response |
| Compliance | Gap assessments, policy documentation, vendor risk management, regulatory reporting |
| Cloud management | Microsoft 365 administration, cloud backup, disaster recovery planning |
| Strategic IT | Quarterly business reviews, technology roadmapping, budget planning, vendor management |
MSP Pricing Models
MSPs typically use one of three pricing models:
Per-user pricing. The most common model for professional services firms. You pay a fixed monthly fee for each user (employee) at your firm. This fee covers all included services regardless of how many support requests are made. Per-user pricing is predictable and scales naturally as your firm grows.
Per-device pricing. Some MSPs charge based on the number of devices (laptops, desktops, servers) they manage. This model can be less predictable as firms add devices.
Tiered or bundled pricing. The MSP offers packages (e.g., basic, standard, premium) with increasing levels of service. Firms choose the tier that matches their needs.
For professional services firms, per-user pricing is generally the best fit because it creates complete cost predictability and covers the full range of services your firm needs without nickel-and-diming on individual support tickets.
What to Look for in an MSP
Not all managed service providers are created equal. When evaluating MSPs for a professional services firm, prioritize:
Industry specialization. An MSP that serves accounting firms, law firms, and financial services firms understands your regulatory obligations, your workflow patterns, and the consequences of IT failure in your environment. According to Channel Futures’ 2024 MSP 501 survey, the top-performing MSPs consistently demonstrate vertical market specialization as a key differentiator (Channel Futures MSP 501, 2024).
Compliance expertise. Your MSP should be conversant in the regulations that apply to your firm — IRS Publication 4557, the FTC Safeguards Rule, state bar technology competence rules, SEC cybersecurity requirements, or SOC 2 — depending on your industry.
Proven cybersecurity stack. Ask about specific tools and practices. A qualified MSP should be able to detail their endpoint protection, email security, backup strategy, and incident response procedures.
Local presence. While much of managed IT is delivered remotely, having a provider with a local team means faster on-site response when physical access is needed.
AI readiness. As professional services firms explore AI tools for research, document review, and workflow automation, your MSP should be able to guide adoption safely — ensuring AI use does not create compliance risks.
One82: An MSP Built for Professional Services
One82 has operated as a managed service provider in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1999. Our four service pillars — Managed IT, Cybersecurity, Compliance and Regulatory, and AI Integration and Strategy (Revenue Enablement) — are designed specifically for the accounting, legal, and financial services firms we have served for over 26 years. We do not serve general small businesses; our entire operation is built around the regulatory, security, and workflow requirements of professional services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does MSP stand for?
MSP stands for managed service provider. It refers to a company that takes ongoing responsibility for monitoring, managing, and securing a business’s IT infrastructure for a fixed monthly fee, as opposed to a break-fix model where a technician is called only when something goes wrong.
How is an MSP different from an IT consultant?
An IT consultant typically provides advice and project-based work — they help you plan a network upgrade or evaluate software options, then leave. An MSP provides continuous, day-to-day management of your IT environment. They monitor your systems around the clock, respond to issues, manage security, and ensure compliance on an ongoing basis.
How much does an MSP cost for a small professional services firm?
MSP pricing for professional services firms generally ranges from $150 to $300 per user per month, depending on the scope of services. A 15-person CPA firm, for example, might pay between $2,250 and $4,500 per month for comprehensive managed IT, cybersecurity, and compliance support.
Do I need an MSP if I already have an internal IT person?
Many firms with 20 to 50 employees maintain one internal IT generalist and partner with an MSP for specialized functions like cybersecurity, compliance documentation, and strategic planning. This co-managed model gives your firm the depth of an MSP’s security and compliance expertise while keeping a familiar face on site for daily user support.
Can an MSP help with compliance requirements specific to my industry?
A specialized MSP can. For CPA firms, that means IRS Publication 4557 and FTC Safeguards Rule compliance. For law firms, it means meeting state bar technology competence obligations. For financial services firms, it means SEC cybersecurity rules, DFPI requirements, and SOC 2 readiness. A generalist MSP may not have this industry-specific expertise.
What happens during the first month with an MSP?
The first month typically includes a comprehensive assessment of your current IT environment, deployment of monitoring and security tools, migration of any necessary systems, staff training on new procedures and tools, and the establishment of your firm’s technology documentation and compliance baseline.
