Epic IT vs Telstra Purple
A detailed comparison of two major Australian Managed Service Providers.
| Feature |
Epic IT |
Telstra Purple |
| Overall Score | β | 3.5 |
| Type | Australian Mid-Market MSP / Cybersecurity | Telco / Enterprise |
| Employees | 35+ | 5000-10000 |
| Founded | 2003 | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Perth, WA | Sydney, NSW |
| Revenue | Private | ~$15.2B (Telstra division, FY2025) |
| Salary Range | Not publicly disclosed | $80,000 - $170,000 |
| Specialties | Managed IT Services, Cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, Cloud, AI Governance, vCIO | Managed Infrastructure, Cloud Services, Cybersecurity, Consulting |
| Certifications | ISO 27001, Essential Eight aligned | Microsoft Partner, AWS Partner, Cisco Partner, ServiceNow Partner |
| Green Flags | Australian-owned ISO 27001 certified Strategic vCIO included in engagements 90-day satisfaction guarantee stated by provider | Telstra brand provides stability and scale ASX-listed benefits structure Strong telecommunications backbone Good vendor partnerships |
| Red Flags | Provider claims and guarantees require independent validation before procurement | 550 roles cut in July 2025 Γ’β¬β largest restructure in years Telco culture dominates Γ’β¬β IT services are secondary Contractor dependency creates inconsistency Bureaucratic decision-making slows everything down Legacy telco culture persists in some divisions |
| Worker Pros | β | Telstra compensation structure is genuinely good ASX-listed stability Γ’β¬β won't be sold or acquired Access to Telstra's network and enterprise relationships Brand recognition opens doors |
| Worker Cons | β | 550 roles cut in 2025 Γ’β¬β even Telstra isn't immune IT services are secondary to the telco business Bureaucratic culture slows innovation Contractor dependency creates quality inconsistency Career progression limited unless you're in the telco side |
Which MSP Should You Choose?
Both Australian Mid-Market MSP / Cybersecurity and Telco / Enterprise have strengths and weaknesses. Your choice depends on your priorities β whether that's career growth, salary, work-life balance, or technical exposure.
Use the side-by-side comparison tool for a deeper look, or check out individual profiles for detailed employee reviews.
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