What should I ask about an MSP’s stock of spare laptops and network gear?

Ask to visit the storage space and count a sample against the list. Check make, age, condition and whether each item has a label showing where it came from. Look for dusty items nobody has touched for a long while.

Ask about ownership. Some devices may be loaned to clients, held on behalf of a client, financed or leased. An accountant can compare the list with the asset records, and a lawyer can read any lease or client agreement that touches it. Ask how the stock is used. Is it replaced when a spare goes out? Is there a rule for how many of each kind to hold? A provider with a clear pattern is easier to take over than one that buys on impulse.

Check security. Spare laptops can carry client data. Ask how devices are wiped, logged and returned, and who is responsible when one goes missing. Finally, ask how much of the stock is current. Old gear that no one will use should be treated as clutter, not an asset. Ask for a short written list of who has recently borrowed or used the spares. A tidy sign-out record suggests the stock is managed, and gaps in it suggest equipment may walk out without anyone noticing.

Key takeaways

• Count a sample of spares against the list in person.
• Separate owned, leased, loaned and client-owned items.
• Ask how devices are wiped and tracked between clients.