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

Article 2026-06-12

Telstra Purple vs The Missing Link

A detailed comparison of two major Australian Managed Service Providers.

Feature Telstra Purple The Missing Link
Overall Score3.54.0
TypeTelco / EnterpriseSecurity / Infrastructure
Employees5000-10000200-300
Founded20171999
HeadquartersSydney, NSWSydney, NSW
RevenuePrivatePrivate
Salary Range$80,000 - $170,000$75,000 - $155,000
SpecialtiesManaged Infrastructure, Cloud Services, Cybersecurity, ConsultingCybersecurity, Infrastructure, Cloud, Managed Services
CertificationsMicrosoft Partner, AWS Partner, Cisco Partner, ServiceNow PartnerISO 27001, Microsoft Partner, AWS Partner, Fortinet Partner
Green FlagsTelstra brand provides stability and scale
ASX-listed benefits structure
Strong telecommunications backbone
Good vendor partnerships
Highest-rated small MSP on Glassdoor
Strong culture and employee satisfaction
Good 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
Small scale — limited exposure to large projects
Below-market salaries at senior levels
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
Great culture
Technology focus
High Glassdoor rating
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
Small scale
Below-market pay at senior levels

Which MSP Should You Choose?

Both Telco / Enterprise and Security / Infrastructure 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.