Managed service providers in general can be hosting companies or access providers that offer IT services such as fully outsourced network management arrangements, including IP telephony, messaging and call center management, virtual private networks (VPNs), managed firewalls and monitoring/reporting of network servers. Most of these services can be performed from outside a company's internal network with a special emphasis placed on integration and certification of Internet security for applications and content. MSP's effectively serve as outsourcing agents for companies, especially other service providers like ISPs.

In addition to such basic communication service LAN & WAN, an MSP can manage and integrate a range of activities normally associated with enterprise networks.