A detailed comparison of two major Australian Managed Service Providers.
Feature
Rackspace Technology
Rocketsmiths
Overall Score
3.0
3.4
Type
US Cloud MSP
Managed Services
Employees
14000
50-100
Founded
1999
2010
Headquarters
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Melbourne, VIC
Revenue
$3.0B
Private
Salary Range
$50,000 - $140,000
$70,000 - $145,000
Specialties
Managed Cloud, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Kubernetes, DevOps
Managed Services, Cloud, DevOps
Certifications
AWS Premier Partner, Microsoft Partner, Google Cloud Partner, ISO 27001
Microsoft Partner, AWS Partner
Green Flags
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
Good work-life balance Technology focus
Red Flags
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
Small scale Below-market salaries
Worker Pros
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
Technology focus Work-life balance
Worker Cons
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
Both US Cloud MSP and Managed Services 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.
Contract red flags, salary data, and industry analysis. No spam.
β You're in.
π Table of Contents
📧
Before you go…
Get the Red Flag Checklist — the 12 contract clauses every Australian MSP worker should flag before signing. Plus weekly analysis delivered to your inbox.