10 technology providers to investigate for your next shortlist

How to use this research list

These ten names appear in the public Sandler Partners material linked below. Inclusion means there is a published research lead to investigate. It does not establish current commercial availability, a recommendation, or a relationship between a provider and DuPont Tech Advisor.

Begin with your required coverage, locations, operating responsibilities, integrations, and delivery constraints. Ask the provider for a current written scope and check the offer against the same criteria. This list is not a ranking of the ten best providers.

Sources reviewed October 1, 2026. The cloud source dates from April 2022, so those listings require current confirmation before a shortlist or proposal.

The research starting points

For an MSP or MSSP, check the actual security scope

A provider label is not enough evidence of the service you need. Ask whether the proposed team monitors, investigates, and responds, which hours and systems it covers, and what action requires your approval. Request a responsibility map and an example escalation workflow.

An existing MSP can be considered if it can demonstrate the required scope and staffing. If it cannot, identify the missing capability and evaluate specialist support. Use the managed security checklist to structure those questions.

For backup and recovery, define the service to restore

Tell providers which business service must recover, what data it depends on, how much interruption the business can tolerate, and who will accept the result. Have your technical and business owners agree the recovery objectives.

Ask for evidence from a recovery test relevant to the proposed scope. Check application dependencies, restore access, security responsibilities, test frequency, data location, and the work your team must perform. Ask what happens if the primary environment cannot be trusted. Put those questions beside the recurring price.

Document why each provider remains on the list

For each requirement, record the answer, supporting evidence, owner, and any exception. Remove a provider when an essential requirement cannot be met; keep uncertainty visible when an answer is still pending.

Before a purchase, verify the provider’s current service terms and availability directly. Build the project brief first so the research has a business question to answer.