North Star vs Fully Managed
Fully Managed is a national MSP with a presence in Calgary through its acquisition of TWT Group, serving SMBs and multi-location businesses with structured managed IT and helpdesk services. North Star is headquartered in Prince George, BC and serves a similar client size across BC, Alberta, and Yukon, with additional capabilities in custom software and digital services. Both are credible SMB-focused options; the differences come down to geography, breadth, and engagement style.
Side-by-side overview
| Dimension | North Star | Fully Managed |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | SMB to mid-market in BC, AB, and Yukon | SMBs and multi-location enterprises across Canada |
| HQ | Prince George, BC | Ottawa, ON (Calgary regional presence) |
| Founded | Founded by Keegan Martin, headquartered in Prince George | Approximately 2008 |
| Engagement style | Founder-led, direct senior access on every engagement | Structured national MSP model with tiered support and ServiceNow platform |
| Local on-site (BC / AB / YT) | On-site across BC, AB, and Yukon including remote communities | Calgary regional team; national remote support model |
Who each firm serves best
When North Star fits
- Your business is based in BC, northern Alberta, or Yukon and you want a provider with genuine on-site capability in your area
- You need managed IT, cybersecurity, and custom software or web services from a single team
- You prefer working directly with the person who designed your IT environment rather than routing through a national helpdesk queue
- You want transparent flat-rate monthly pricing without volume commitments required by a national MSP model
When Fully Managed fits
- You are a multi-location business with offices across several Canadian cities and need a provider with a consistent national delivery platform
- You require an enterprise service management platform like ServiceNow integrated into your IT operations
- Your Calgary-area operations are large enough to benefit from a dedicated local team backed by national resources
- You need a provider with experience in senior care IT or other specialised verticals where Fully Managed has built specific programmes
What both firms do well
- Both firms offer 24/7 managed IT and helpdesk support to SMB and mid-market organisations
- Both are Canadian-owned and serve the Canadian market with an understanding of Canadian compliance and operational norms
- Both provide cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, and cloud support as part of their standard managed service offering
Common questions when comparing providers
Is Fully Managed available in BC?
Fully Managed operates nationally with remote support capability across Canada. Its Alberta presence comes from the former TWT Group in Calgary. North Star provides both remote and on-site support specifically across BC, Alberta, and Yukon.
What does Fully Managed's ServiceNow platform offer?
Fully Managed uses ServiceNow as its service management backbone, which provides structured ticketing, workflow automation, and reporting. This suits larger organisations with formal ITSM requirements. North Star uses similar professional tooling scaled appropriately for SMB and mid-market clients.
Can North Star match the service breadth of a larger national MSP?
For SMBs and mid-market organisations, yes. North Star covers managed IT, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, cloud, backup, and disaster recovery. The advantage is that North Star also offers custom software, website development, and digital branding, which are outside a typical MSP's scope.
How do I know which provider is right for my size of business?
If you have 5 to 150 seats, operate primarily in Western Canada, and want a direct relationship with a focused team, North Star is a strong fit. If you have multi-location national operations or require a ServiceNow-based ITSM platform at the core of your IT programme, a national MSP may serve you better.
Want a straightforward conversation about what you actually need?
Book a 30-minute scoping call. We will walk through your environment, your geography, and your priorities to help you figure out the right fit, even if that fit is not us.
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