Breaking Free from RMM Vendor Lock-In: Why It Matters

Vendor lock-in is one of the most underestimated risks in IT management, especially in the world of Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM). For Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and internal IT teams, the ability to adapt and pivot is key to long-term success. Yet many find themselves stuck with tools that no longer fit their workflows, their clients, or their evolving service models.

At Level, we’ve built our RMM platform around the principle of choice. That means no long-term contracts, no bundled trapdoors, and no surprises when you decide to scale, switch, or pause. This article explores what RMM vendor lock-in really looks like, how it impacts real operations, and what it takes to avoid it.

What Is Vendor Lock-In?

Vendor lock-in happens when a customer becomes so reliant on a product or service that switching becomes difficult, time-consuming, or expensive. In practice, it usually shows up in a few key ways:

• Limited or unreadable data export formats
• Proprietary scripting or automation tools
• Expensive cancellation terms
• Inflexible integrations and workflows
• Required bundling of unrelated services

In short, vendor lock-in means giving up your freedom to choose the best tool for the job.

The RMM World Is Rife with Lock-In

Vendor lock-in is more than a side effect in the RMM market. It’s often a deliberate tactic. Here’s what to watch for:

Long-Term Contracts

Many RMM vendors require multi-year commitments. ConnectWise Automate and Kaseya VSA, for example, often lock users into 12–36 month agreements. If your needs change, you’re stuck paying for a solution that may no longer deliver value.

Proprietary Scripting Languages

Some platforms use custom scripting engines that don’t transfer well. That means all the automation your team builds is tied to their system. Kaseya’s custom scripts and N-able’s policy-based configurations are common culprits here.

Complex, Closed Ecosystems

Platforms like Datto RMM and ConnectWise don’t just sell RMM tools. They bundle them with backup, PSA, documentation, and security tools. Leaving one product means losing access to all of them. It’s a package deal designed to keep you in the ecosystem.

Data Portability Roadblocks

Want to export device inventories, performance logs, or patch history? Some vendors make that difficult or unreadable. For MSPs managing hundreds or thousands of endpoints, poor data portability adds weeks of manual effort to a migration project.

The Real Cost of Lock-In

Vendor lock-in affects more than your wallet. It impacts your ability to deliver, grow, and respond to client needs. Here’s how:

• Reduced Agility: You can’t adopt better tools or respond to operational changes quickly.
• Higher Costs: Long-term commitments can mean overpaying for underperforming tools.
• Lost Productivity: Teams waste hours maintaining legacy tools instead of solving real problems.
• Vendor Risk: If your provider falters or shifts focus, you’re exposed, and there’s no easy way out.

According to a 2024 G2 survey, 72% of MSPs say vendor flexibility is a key factor in tool selection, yet over half feel trapped by their current RMM vendor.

RMM Platforms That Lock You In

Let’s take a closer look at how major players structure their lock-in strategies:

ConnectWise Automate

• Contracts: 1–3 years common
• Custom scripting discourages migration
• High friction during onboarding and offboarding

Kaseya VSA

• Long contracts with severe cancellation fees
• Bundled with IT Glue, BMS, and other tools
• Slow support responses create added friction

N-able N-central and RMM

• Contracts start at 12 months
• Tiered pricing locks features behind higher costs
• Complex data and script migration

Datto RMM

• Tightly integrated with backup and continuity tools
• Leaving means dismantling your stack
• Migration documentation is sparse and limited
  
  

Why Do Vendors Use Lock-In?

The incentives are clear:

• Revenue Predictability: Long-term contracts reduce churn
• Bundling Pressure: The more tools you depend on, the less likely you are to switch
• High Switching Costs: Custom workflows and proprietary formats create exit barriers
• Discount-for-Commitment Deals: Short-term savings, long-term restrictions
• Opaque Exit Paths: Limited data exports, hidden offboarding fees

In other words, lock-in increases vendor leverage at your expense.

What To Look For Instead

When evaluating RMM tools, here’s what freedom looks like:

• Month-to-Month Billing: Avoid contracts that lock you in for years
• Exportable Data: Reports, inventory lists, and scripts should be usable elsewhere
• Open APIs: Integrate without getting boxed in
• Standard Scripting: Avoid custom automation engines
• Clear Documentation: Onboarding and offboarding should both be well supported

Ask direct questions: Can I export all my data? Can I cancel at any time? What happens if I need to switch tools in six months?

How Level Avoids Lock-In By Design

At Level, we believe in earning your business every month, not locking it in. That belief shapes every part of our platform.

Transparent, No-Contract Pricing

We offer simple month-to-month pricing at $2 per endpoint. No hidden fees. No required bundles. Discounts for volume are public, not gated behind negotiations.

Open, Portable Workflows

Level Automations supports standard scripting languages such as PowerShell, Bash, Python, Ansible, and Go. This gives you the flexibility to create reusable scripts that work across multiple vendors and environments. In addition, Level provides a full API, enabling you to seamlessly pull and push data between Level and other systems.

Simple Onboarding and Offboarding

Whether you’re coming from another RMM or thinking ahead to your next move, Level makes transitions clear. You won’t need to hire a consultant just to get started or to leave.

Built for Practical Efficiency

We focus on the features that matter most: patching, monitoring, remote access, scripting, and inventory management. No clutter. No unnecessary complexity. Just fast, reliable tools for modern IT operations.

Constantly Evolving

Level ships new features weekly and builds from direct customer feedback. That means the platform grows with you, not away from you. We don’t lock you in because we aim to stay relevant.

Why MSPs and IT Teams Choose Level

MSPs tell us they need flexibility, not contracts. Internal IT teams want tools they can trust without months of procurement. Level delivers both:

• For Growing MSPs: Scale clients up or down without renegotiating terms
• For Lean IT Teams: Deploy quickly without waiting for budget approvals
• For New Service Models: Adjust or pivot as your stack evolves

According to internal data, over 60% of new Level customers switched from contract-based RMMs. Of those, 87% cited ease of migration as a top benefit.

Final Thought: A Good RMM Lets You Leave

The best RMM isn’t the one that locks you in. It’s the one that makes staying worthwhile. Lock-in signals fear. Transparency signals confidence. At Level, we structure everything to support your choices, your flexibility, and your future.

You should stay with your RMM because it works. Not because you're stuck.