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Presidio vs Telstra Purple: Which MSP is Better? | The MSP Playbook

Article 2026-07-27

Presidio vs Telstra Purple

A detailed comparison of two major Australian Managed Service Providers.

Feature Presidio Telstra Purple
Overall Score3.63.5
TypeUS MSP / IT SolutionsTelco / Enterprise
Employees50005000-10000
Founded20022017
HeadquartersNew York, New York, USASydney, NSW
Revenue$3.2BPrivate
Salary Range$60,000 - $155,000$80,000 - $170,000
SpecialtiesManaged Services, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Network Infrastructure, Digital Transformation, Data CenterManaged Infrastructure, Cloud Services, Cybersecurity, Consulting
CertificationsMicrosoft Partner, AWS Premier Partner, Cisco Gold Partner, VMware Partner, ISO 27001Microsoft Partner, AWS Partner, Cisco Partner, ServiceNow Partner
Green FlagsTop-tier partner status with Microsoft, AWS, and Cisco β€” elite certifications
Strong mid-market and enterprise focus in US with accountable regional model
PE-backed (BC Partners) provides capital for strategic acquisitions
Deep cloud and cybersecurity practice with genuine technical depth
Good client NPS scores demonstrating service quality
Telstra brand provides stability and scale
ASX-listed benefits structure
Strong telecommunications backbone
Good vendor partnerships
Red FlagsPE ownership creates margin pressure and cost discipline culture
Regional fragmentation β€” quality varies significantly by office
Below-market compensation compared to consulting firms
Acquisition integration from 15+ buyouts creates cultural inconsistency
Limited international presence β€” purely US-focused
550 roles cut in July 2025 Ò€” largest restructure in years
Telco culture dominates Ò€” IT services are secondary
Contractor dependency creates inconsistency
Bureaucratic decision-making slows everything down
Legacy telco culture persists in some divisions
Worker ProsElite-level vendor partnerships and certifications
Good for mid-market US cloud and security career path
Regional model provides local decision-making autonomy
Strong technology stack exposure across cloud, network, security
Telstra compensation structure is genuinely good
ASX-listed stability Ò€” won't be sold or acquired
Access to Telstra's network and enterprise relationships
Brand recognition opens doors
Worker ConsPE ownership drives margin obsession and cost cutting
Quality varies significantly by regional office
Below-market compensation for senior technical roles
Acquisition overload creates integration headaches
550 roles cut in 2025 Ò€” 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 US MSP / IT Solutions 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.