Comparing managed IT providers starts with the services your organisation needs: support when staff are working, reliable infrastructure, clear security responsibilities and a practical path through cloud change.
This Subnet-authored guide compares four providers using their public descriptions and a common set of buying questions. It is a starting shortlist, not an independent ranking or an exhaustive market review. Public service descriptions do not establish the terms of your agreement.
Four providers to include in your evaluation
| Provider | Published positioning | Evidence to request |
|---|
| Brennan | Brennan describes managed IT, cloud and security services, including 24/7/365 service desk support and security monitoring. | The applicable support tier, incident priorities, cloud migration scope and fees for your environment. |
| Datacom | Datacom describes service operations, technology lifecycle services and IT support, including 24/7 service desk capability. | The proposed delivery team, local field coverage, operating model and transition responsibilities. |
| First Focus | First Focus presents an integrated managed AI, IT, security and cloud model, with support pods and business-hours service levels. | After-hours arrangements, cloud project deliverables and how the support team would work with your staff. |
| Subnet | Subnet's published multi-site managed IT guide discusses support coordination and service selection. | A current proposal defining helpdesk hours, monitoring, escalation, on-site coverage, cloud project scope and commercial terms. |
Sources reviewed in September 2026. The same evidence standard should apply to Subnet and every other candidate. An unanswered question means the information still needs confirmation; it does not mean the provider lacks that capability.
Compare support coverage separately from monitoring
24/7 monitoring, staffed helpdesk support and on-call engineering are different services. Ask who receives an alert, who can investigate it, when a technical response begins and what happens if the issue needs another supplier. Record weekday, weekend and public-holiday arrangements separately.
Request a worked example of a critical after-hours incident. Compare acknowledgement, technical response, restoration and final resolution. Check which targets are contractual and which are reporting measures.
Compare cloud migration deliverables
Give shortlisted providers the same application inventory, integration map and business constraints. Ask each to explain what should move, what should remain, the dependencies, rollback approach and operational handover. Compare one-off project fees alongside recurring licensing, consumption, support and recovery costs.
Check security evidence and industry fit
Ask for relevant references, a responsibilities matrix and current assurance evidence with its scope and assessment date. The provider's own security assessment and the controls delivered in your environment are separate questions. Request a gap assessment against your requirements rather than treating a certification badge as complete assurance.
Make commercial flexibility measurable
Compare minimum commitments, changes in covered users and devices, excluded work, notice periods and exit assistance. A regular service review does not by itself change termination rights or reduce fixed costs. Ask providers to price the same growth, contraction and transition scenarios.
Build a shortlist you can defend
Agree your evaluation weights before scoring proposals. Record the evidence behind each score and keep unanswered items visible. Invite the strongest candidates to walk through an outage, a cloud migration and a controlled handover using your actual requirements.
To include Subnet in your evaluation, send your sites, critical systems, support hours and planned changes to sales@subnet.net.au and request a scoped discussion.
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