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

Article 2026-06-11

Telstra Purple vs The IT Department

A detailed comparison of two major Australian Managed Service Providers.

Feature Telstra Purple The IT Department
Overall Score3.53.8
TypeTelco / EnterpriseNon-Profit Specialist
Employees5000-1000030-60
Founded20172005
HeadquartersSydney, NSWSydney, NSW
RevenuePrivatePrivate
Salary Range$80,000 - $170,000$70,000 - $140,000
SpecialtiesManaged Infrastructure, Cloud Services, Cybersecurity, ConsultingNon-Profit IT, Managed Services, Cloud, Microsoft 365
CertificationsMicrosoft Partner, AWS Partner, Cisco Partner, ServiceNow PartnerMicrosoft Partner, AWS Partner
Green FlagsTelstra brand provides stability and scale
ASX-listed benefits structure
Strong telecommunications backbone
Good vendor partnerships
Good work-life balance
Technology focus
Red Flags550 roles cut in July 2025 — largest restructure in years
Telco culture dominates — IT services are secondary
Contractor dependency creates inconsistency
Bureaucratic decision-making slows everything down
Legacy telco culture persists in some divisions
Very small scale
Limited career progression
Worker ProsTelstra compensation structure is genuinely good
ASX-listed stability — won't be sold or acquired
Access to Telstra's network and enterprise relationships
Brand recognition opens doors
Technology focus
Work-life balance
Worker Cons550 roles cut in 2025 — 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
Very small scale
Limited progression

Which MSP Should You Choose?

Both Telco / Enterprise and Non-Profit Specialist have strengths and weaknesses. Your choice depends on your priorities — 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.