Checklist · switching
MSP onboarding checklist: the first 30 days with a new IT provider
Switching to a managed services provider is mostly a handover problem. This checklist sets out what you hand over, what the provider should do, and what you should have in hand when onboarding ends.
The short answer
A good MSP onboarding has four stages: discovery (inventory, access and risks), handover (admin credentials, domains, licences and contracts), deployment (monitoring agents, security and backup checks) and stabilisation (fixing what was found, documenting everything and agreeing reporting). You should keep support throughout and finish with documentation, a tested restore and your first report.
Published · By Missan 365, a Missan Global company
Before you sign: what to gather
- A list of users, their roles and the devices they use.
- Admin access for Microsoft 365, domain registrar and DNS, firewall, Wi-Fi and any servers.
- Software licences, renewal dates and the accounts they sit under.
- Current IT contracts and notice periods, including any AMC.
- Known problems: the slow laptop, the printer that never works, the backup nobody checks.
- A named person who can approve changes on your side.
Week 1: discovery and access
- Full inventory of devices, servers, network equipment and cloud services.
- Admin credentials moved into a secure vault, and old shared passwords changed.
- Confirm who owns the domain, Microsoft 365 tenant and licences — they should be in your organisation's name.
- Agree priorities, contacts and how requests are raised.
Week 2: deployment
- Monitoring and management agents installed on every endpoint and server — see monitoring and RMM.
- Patching policies set and the first missed updates applied.
- Endpoint protection, email security and multi-factor authentication checked — see managed cybersecurity.
- Backups reviewed, including Microsoft 365 data, and a test restore carried out.
Weeks 3–4: stabilise and document
- Fix the risks found in discovery, highest impact first.
- Document the network, systems, vendors and procedures.
- Confirm response targets by priority are in the service agreement.
- Hand over the first report and agree the review rhythm.
What you should have at the end
- Documentation you can read, with credentials stored securely and owned by you.
- Every device monitored, patched and protected.
- A tested backup and a recovery plan.
- First-response targets in writing: at Missan 365, 4 business hours for P1, 8 business hours for P2, 1 business day for P3 and 5 business days for P4.
- A monthly report and a date for your first quarterly review.
This is how we onboard at Missan 365, a Missan Global company. The detail is on switching to Missan 365.
Common questions
Questions UAE businesses ask.
How long does MSP onboarding take?
For most small and mid-sized organisations, a structured onboarding runs over a few weeks: discovery, access handover, agent deployment, documentation and a stabilisation period. Missan 365 runs a 30-day onboarding, described on our switching page, with support in place from the first day.
Will we lose support while we switch provider?
You should not. A good onboarding overlaps with your current arrangement until admin access, documentation and monitoring are confirmed. Ask any new provider how they cover the gap between signing and full handover.
What do we need to prepare before onboarding?
A list of users and devices, admin credentials for Microsoft 365, domains, firewall and servers, your software licences, any current contracts, and a named contact who can approve changes. Missing items are found during discovery, but having them ready saves time.
What should we receive at the end of onboarding?
Documented systems and passwords stored securely, monitoring agents on every device, backups checked with a test restore, a list of risks found and fixed, and your first report. From then on you should get a regular report and review.
Ready to plan your switch?
Tell us about your current setup and provider. We reply within one business day with an onboarding plan and a written quote.