Otto IT has been recognised as MSP of the Year in the 0-49 employees category at the inaugural CRN Channel Awards Australia 2026. The award was presented on 17 September 2026 at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney, recognising the Melbourne-based managed service provider’s distinctive approach to customer transparency and control.

The CRN Channel Awards Australia recognises excellence across the channel, celebrating organisations that drive innovation and deliver exceptional service to their clients. Otto IT’s win reflects nearly two decades of dedication to customer-centric service delivery in the IT, cloud and cybersecurity space.

What the MSP of the Year Award Recognises

Otto IT’s MSP of the Year award acknowledges the company’s commitment to transparency, urgency, and client control in managed service delivery. The recognition highlights a philosophy that places customers at the centre of decision-making, ensuring they maintain real visibility and governance over their own technology environments.

This award category specifically celebrates managed service providers operating in the smallest business segment (0-49 employees), where personalised service and direct engagement define the market. Otto IT’s win demonstrates that independent, locally-focused MSPs can compete at the highest levels of industry recognition when delivering genuine value.

The inaugural CRN Channel Awards Australia drew entries from across the region’s managed services and technology sectors. Achieving finalist status across multiple categories and winning in the competitive MSP category underscores Otto IT’s standing within the Australian IT channel.

Otto IT’s Path to Recognition

Otto IT was announced as a finalist in multiple categories leading into the September awards ceremony. The path to this recognition reflects years of consistent delivery to professional services firms with 20+ staff across Melbourne and beyond. (See our announcement of finalist status from June.)

The company’s heritage spans nearly two decades, formally incorporated as Milan Industries Group Pty Ltd in July 2020 and rebranded to Otto IT in March 2021 following a strategic merger with DWM Solutions. That continuity of service, combined with modernisation of customer engagement practices, has positioned Otto IT as a distinctive player in the Australian managed services market.

Otto IT’s client base includes 263 active companies as of mid-2026, supported by a team committed to making IT straightforward and reducing friction from day one. The company’s Net CSAT score of 93.3 with a 95.7 per cent happy rating across 4,020 customer reviews demonstrates consistent delivery of customer satisfaction.

The Distinctive Approach Behind the Award

Otto IT’s recognition at the CRN Channel Awards reflects a specific approach to customer service that has become increasingly valuable in managed IT and cybersecurity. The company leads with transparency about what is happening in clients’ technology environments, communicates with genuine urgency about security and performance issues, and ensures clients retain real control and visibility over their own systems.

This philosophy stands in contrast to managed service models that treat customer access or visibility as secondary to service provider convenience. Otto IT’s approach recognises that professional services firms require genuine oversight of their technology infrastructure, and that trust is built through openness and client agency.

Founder and Chief Executive Milan Rajkovic has built the company around this principle from inception. Chief Customer and Marketing Officer Megan Visser and Chief Revenue Officer Paul Whiteoak have extended this commitment across customer delivery and market presence, whilst General Manager Alanna Kane ensures operational excellence in day-to-day service delivery.

What Winning the MSP of the Year Award Means

Winning MSP of the Year at the CRN Channel Awards Australia validates Otto IT’s approach in the industry’s own voice. The award comes from CRN Australia, the country’s leading channel and IT industry publication, and recognises excellence as judged by industry peers and expertise.

For Otto IT’s clients, the award provides independent confirmation that their choice of managed service provider reflects industry-leading standards. Professional services firms that have chosen Otto IT for managed IT support can see their decision reinforced by third-party recognition.

For the broader Australian channel, the award highlights that customer-centric, locally-focused service delivery remains a path to competitive success. In an era where centralised, automation-heavy managed services dominate the market, Otto IT’s success demonstrates that transparency, responsiveness, and client control remain differentiating factors.

Transparency and Control as Competitive Advantages

The core of Otto IT’s award-winning approach is deceptively simple: clients should know what is happening in their technology environment, and should have genuine control over decisions that affect their systems.

In practice, this means:

• Clear, jargon-free communication about security incidents, performance issues, and planned changes
• Regular visibility into system logs, access patterns, and configuration changes
• Client approval on major infrastructure modifications, not post-notification surprises
• Proactive flagging of risks and recommendations, with full context for decision-making
• Honest assessment of costs versus benefits when trade-offs exist

This transparency approach requires more time investment than opaque service delivery. It means slower growth but deeper client relationships. It means fewer surprise escalations because clients understand their environments. It means higher retention because switching providers means losing that visibility advantage.

The CRN Channel Awards recognition of this model validates the investment in doing service delivery the harder way.

Why This Award Matters for Professional Services Firms

If you lead a professional services firm, Otto IT’s MSP of the Year recognition signals that a different model of managed IT exists. Rather than accepting a service provider that communicates in technical jargon and obscures what is happening behind the scenes, you can choose transparency.

Professional services firms generate valuable intellectual property and client data that demands rigorous technology governance. Your IT infrastructure supports your competitive advantage and client trust. Choosing an MSP that insists on client visibility and control over that infrastructure protects your interests.

Otto IT’s award-winning service model is built on the conviction that MSPs and their clients succeed together when the client retains genuine control and visibility. This approach has now been recognised at the highest level of Australian industry awards.

Looking Forward

The MSP of the Year award represents a milestone in Otto IT’s journey but not its destination. The company’s commitment to customer transparency, urgency, and control will continue to drive service delivery and client outcomes.

For Otto IT’s existing client base of 263 companies, the award confirms they have chosen an MSP recognised as industry-leading. For professional services firms currently evaluating managed IT options, the recognition provides independent validation that Otto IT operates to award-winning standards.

Otto IT remains focused on the market it knows best: Melbourne and Australian professional services firms that demand transparency from their technology partners and want genuine control over their IT environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Otto IT win MSP of the Year?

Otto IT won MSP of the Year (0-49 employees category) at the inaugural CRN Channel Awards Australia on 17 September 2026, held at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney.

What does the 0-49 employees category mean?

The MSP category recognises managed service providers with between zero and 49 employees. This category is designed to celebrate smaller, independently-operated MSPs rather than large multinational providers.

Is Otto IT part of a larger company?

Otto IT operates as a standalone managed service provider. The company was formally incorporated as Milan Industries Group Pty Ltd in July 2020 and rebranded to Otto IT in March 2021 following a strategic merger with DWM Solutions. The company remains based in Melbourne with a focus on Australian professional services firms.

What services does Otto IT offer?

Otto IT provides managed IT support, cloud services, and cybersecurity solutions tailored to professional services firms with 20+ staff. More information about the company is available on the Otto IT about page.

Who judged the CRN Channel Awards?

The CRN Channel Awards Australia recognises excellence in the channel and technology sector. Winners are selected by industry judges and announced through CRN’s official awards program. More details are available at crn.com.au.

Can I see Otto IT’s customer service ratings?

Otto IT maintains a Net CSAT score of 93.3 with a 95.7 per cent happy rating across 4,020 customer reviews as of mid-2026. These ratings reflect customer feedback collected through SmileBack, an independent review platform used by professional services firms and technology companies.

How long has Otto IT been operating?

Otto IT’s heritage spans nearly two decades. The company was formally incorporated as Milan Industries Group in July 2020 and rebranded to Otto IT in March 2021 after merging with DWM Solutions, maintaining service continuity throughout.

How can I learn more about Otto IT’s services?

You can view detailed information about managed IT support for professional services firms, cloud and security solutions, or contact Otto IT directly.

If your professional services firm is evaluating managed IT options, Otto IT’s award-winning approach to transparency and client control may align with your governance requirements. Book a consultation with Paul Whiteoak to discuss your technology priorities.