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Transitioning from an IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) to Electric

Switching IT vendors can be complex, especially when you are moving away from an IT Managed Service Provider (MSP). This article outlines the steps you should take to ensure a smooth transition to Electric and avoid common issues that can delay device enrollment, security configuration, or day-to-day IT operations.

Electric is not an MSP. We provide IT management software that enables you to manage onboarding, offboarding, devices, applications, and security in a more automated and scalable way. The steps below help you prepare your environment so Electric can be implemented successfully.

Why MSP Transitions Require Extra Planning

MSPs often manage critical systems on your behalf, including device management, administrative access, software deployments, and vendor relationships. If these responsibilities are not properly handed off, organizations can experience:

  • Device enrollment failures

  • Conflicts with existing device management (MDM) or remote management (RMM) tools

  • Loss of administrative access

  • Gaps in IT support coverage

Following the steps below will help minimize disruption.

What to Do Before Your MSP’s Last Day of Service

1. Share Your MSP End Date with Electric

As soon as you know it, share your MSP’s last day of service with Electric.

If your MSP’s end date is within two weeks of when Electric will be activated, there may be temporary gaps related to device enrollment or security add-on implementation. Early visibility helps everyone plan appropriately.

2. Obtain an MSP Offboarding Packet (IT Runbook)

Request an offboarding packet from your MSP, often referred to as an IT Runbook.

While Electric will not access this document, it is critical for your organization to retain. It should include:

  • Administrative usernames and passwords

  • System access details

  • Notes on how your environment is configured

This ensures your access is not limited once MSP credentials are removed.

3. Confirm Removal of MSP Software Tools

Confirm that your MSP will remove their management tools before their final day of service.

This may include:

  • MDM software

  • RMM tools

  • Security agents

Ask for a removal report in case software fails to uninstall on certain devices. Conflicting tools can interfere with Electric’s device management.

4. Verify Local Administrator Access

Confirm whether your employees have local administrator privileges on their devices.

Local admin access is required to complete Electric’s device enrollment process. If users are not local admins, ask your MSP to:

  • Elevate user permissions before their last day, or

  • Provide credentials for any local admin accounts they created on devices

We recommend ensuring these credentials are included in your IT Runbook.

5. Remove MSP Access from Apple Business Manager (If Applicable)

If you use Apple devices:

  • Remove your MSP from your Apple Business Manager account

  • Ensure your organization has at least one internal administrator with access to:

    • Apple Business Manager

    • Apple eCommerce Store

This prevents devices from re-enrolling into your MSP’s MDM during Electric setup.

6. Establish Direct Vendor Billing

If your MSP resold software licenses on your behalf, establish direct billing relationships with those vendors.

This ensures continuity of service and prevents unexpected license interruptions.

Planning for the Transition Period

7. Prepare for a Temporary IT Support Gap

If your MSP provided day-to-day IT support, plan for how support will be handled during the transition.

Examples include:

  • Identifying who will handle urgent IT issues internally

  • Ensuring employees have download links for critical productivity applications

This is especially important if removing the MSP’s MDM removes applications from devices.

8. Align on Upcoming Employee Changes

Let Electric know if you are forecasting:

  • New hires

  • Employee offboardings

Sharing these timelines allows us to prioritize getting your Electric Admin Console ready ahead of critical dates.

Key Questions to Answer During an MSP Transition

Knowing the answers to the following questions will ensure your transition to Electric is smooth and effective:

  • What is your MSP’s last day of service?

  • When will their MDM or RMM software be removed?

  • Do employees have local administrator access?

  • What tools are currently deployed via MDM or RMM?

  • If you use Apple Business Manager, has the MSP’s MDM server been removed?

  • Which SaaS applications did the MSP support for you?

  • Do you have administrative access to all systems?

  • Are there subscription services the MSP is reselling?

  • Does the MSP have device inventory that needs to be shipped to Electric?

  • Are there existing onboarding or offboarding workflows you should be aware of?

  • What is your IT support workflow without the MSP?

  • What is your ideal approach for enrolling employees into Electric?