Outsourcing the management of your Azure environment is a major decision. In 2026, the complexity of the Microsoft ecosystem and growing cloud size, as well as security concerns are leading more businesses than ever to look to outsourcing this to a Managed Service provider.
Whether you are looking to migrate or simply want to optimise your current spend, here are five essential considerations for choosing your UK Azure partner.
What is an Azure Managed Service Provider?
An Azure Managed Service Provider is an MSP that specialises in Azure. They take on the full ownership and management of your Azure environment. They ensure everything runs smoothly and deal with any bugs and issues as they arise.
A good Azure MSP is proactively identifying and delivering improvements to your environment, these can be across cost optimisation, stability, root cause issues and security.
5 considerations when picking an Azure Managed Service Provider
1. Tier 1 CSP vs. Standard Reseller
Not all Microsoft partners are a Tier 1 Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) like Bridgeall and as a result we maintain a direct relationship with Microsoft.
This status ensures faster support escalation, more flexible licensing options, and a higher level of technical accountability. If you have a critical outage, you don’t want your provider stuck in a secondary support queue.
2. Industry-Specific Compliance & Security
In the 2026 threat landscape, “standard” security isn’t enough. Your MSP should demonstrate a Zero Trust approach to your environment.
Does your Azure MSP have the Microsoft Security Solution Partner designation as a minimum? Expertise in Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) and a track record of meeting specific UK regulations like GDPR or financial services standards are also significant benefits.
3. Native Mastery of the “Modern Data Stack”
Managed services used to be just about “keeping the lights on” for servers. Today, a top-tier Azure MSP must be an expert in Data & AI.
Ensure your provider understands how to manage and optimise Microsoft Fabric and Power BI. An MSP that doesn’t understand your data architecture cannot effectively manage your cloud costs or performance.
4. Transparent Reporting & FinOps Maturity
Your MSP should act as a financial steward, not just a technical one.
Does the provider offer monthly “Showback” reports? Do they proactively suggest Reserved Instances (RIs) or Savings Plans? If your MSP is happy to let you stay on pay-as-you-go rates for steady workloads, they are costing you money. At Bridgeall we have a proven methodology that combines a wide range of cost saving metrics to ensure you’re only paying for what you need.
5. UK-Based Support & Strategic Alignment
While global providers offer scale, they often lack the personal touch required for strategic growth.
A UK-based team understands your business hours, your local market challenges, and can provide a dedicated point of contact who knows your environment by heart.
Take the Next Step
Are you looking for a new Azure MSP? At Bridgeall we have a strong track record of supporting businesses with Azure, we combine a range of consultancy services, cost management, cyber security and our highly recommended support team to help you get the most out of Azure. Discover our full range of Azure services or contact us today for a quote.
