Strategic Security Partnership: Evaluating and Selecting a Managed IT & Cybersecurity Partner
Executive Summary
Selecting a managed IT and cybersecurity partner is one of the most consequential decisions a financial or professional services firm can make. The right partner becomes an extension of your team, protecting client data, ensuring compliance, and enabling growth. The wrong partner creates false confidence and hidden risk.
Yet many firms approach this decision without a structured evaluation framework — relying on referrals, pricing comparisons, and sales presentations that obscure meaningful differences between providers.
This white paper provides a comprehensive guide to evaluating and selecting a managed IT and cybersecurity partner — including scoring criteria, red flags, transition planning, and relationship management strategies specific to financial and professional services.
Download the full PDF for the complete analysis, frameworks, and implementation guidance.
Key Takeaways
- Structured evaluation scorecard with 25+ criteria weighted for financial services priorities
- Red flags that indicate a provider lacks the depth needed for regulated industries
- Questions to ask during evaluation that reveal true capabilities vs. marketing claims
- Transition planning framework minimizing operational disruption during provider changes
- SLA and reporting requirements specific to financial services compliance and client obligations
- Partnership governance model ensuring continuous alignment as your firm grows and regulations evolve
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