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Optus Business vs Rackspace Technology: Which MSP is Better? | The MSP Playbook

Article 2026-07-27

Optus Business vs Rackspace Technology

A detailed comparison of two major Australian Managed Service Providers.

Feature Optus Business Rackspace Technology
Overall Score3.03.0
TypeTelco / EnterpriseUS Cloud MSP
Employees2000-300014000
Founded19911999
HeadquartersSydney, NSW (Parent: Singapore)San Antonio, Texas, USA
RevenuePrivate$3.0B
Salary Range$75,000 - $145,000$50,000 - $140,000
SpecialtiesCybersecurity, Cloud, Network Services, Managed ServicesManaged Cloud, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Kubernetes, DevOps
CertificationsMicrosoft Partner, AWS Partner, Cisco Partner, Fortinet PartnerAWS Premier Partner, Microsoft Partner, Google Cloud Partner, ISO 27001
Green FlagsSingapore Telecom parent provides stability
Strong telecommunications backbone
Good benefits package
Pioneer of 'Fanatical Support' β€” differentiated managed cloud support model
Strong multi-cloud expertise across AWS, Azure, GCP
Good for early-career cloud engineers seeking certification support
Private equity backing provides capital for growth
Red FlagsTelco culture Ò€” IT services are secondary
Below-market salaries
Limited career progression
Bureaucratic decision-making
Financial distress β€” loss of founder leadership, multiple restructurings
Below-market compensation across most roles
PE ownership creates margin pressure and cost-cutting mentality
Massive layoff cycles (2022: 10%, 2023: 15%, 2024: ongoing)
Awful Glassdoor rating (3.0) β€” among worst of major MSPs
Business model disruption from hyperscalers going direct to customers
Worker ProsStable employment
Good benefits
Telecommunications expertise
Strong multi-cloud managed services expertise
Fanatical Support training instills good customer service habits
Cloud certification support and exam coverage
Good for early-career cloud engineers building a resume
Worker ConsIT services are secondary to telco
Below-market salaries
Bureaucratic culture
Limited career progression
Financial instability β€” multiple layoff rounds and loss of founder CEO
Below-market salaries across all roles
PE ownership drives constant cost-cutting and margin pressure
Hyperscalers (AWS, Azure) going direct β€” squeezing Rackspace's business model

Which MSP Should You Choose?

Both Telco / Enterprise and US Cloud MSP 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.