Comparison · vs Centre Technologies
A Centre Technologies alternative that is actually based in North Texas
Centre brings a Houston address and a deep certification stack. We are DFW-native and publish our pricing.
Centre Technologies vs Topping Technologies, and who each one is best for
Centre Technologies
Centre Technologies is a Houston-headquartered MSP and MSSP with a deep certification stack: SOC 2 Type II, Microsoft Solutions Partner, Dell, Cisco, Veeam, Arctic Wolf, and Texas DIR. They focus on the 50–500-employee mid-market, and they are a credentialed, capable firm.
Best fit
Houston-area buyers, or RFPs scored purely on certification count today.
Topping Technologies
Topping Technologies is a DFW-native MSP and MSSP headquartered in Plano, pairing managed IT and security in a single practice, with a published SLA, transparent pricing, and a named local team across North Texas.
Best fit
North Texas mid-market that values local presence, responsiveness, and transparency.
Side by side
| Centre Technologies | Topping Technologies | |
|---|---|---|
| Published SLA | Not publicly published | Published: P1 15-min response, engineer within 1 hour; miss → service credit |
| DFW local office / presence | Houston-headquartered; statewide reach | Headquartered in Plano, TX; on-site across North Texas |
| MSP + MSSP together | Yes, managed IT and security | Yes: managed IT and security, one team, one bill |
| Account-team continuity | Larger-org structure; team varies by account | Named local team that does not churn |
| Vendor-neutral procurement | Strong partner stack (Microsoft, Dell, Cisco, Veeam, Arctic Wolf) | Vendor-neutral across IT and security procurement |
| Response-time commitment | Defined per contract; no public standard listed | Published tiered response times for every priority level |
| Best-fit company size | Mid-market, roughly 50–500 employees | SMB to mid-market (roughly 10–500 seats) |
The honest take
When Centre Technologies is the right call
- You are based in the Houston area, where Centre is headquartered and closest to the ground.
- Your procurement scores RFPs heavily on certification and partner-tier count today, and Centre brings a deep, documented stack: SOC 2 Type II, Microsoft Solutions Partner, Dell, Cisco, Veeam, Arctic Wolf, Texas DIR.
- You want a larger statewide provider with a broad named-vendor partner program.
When Topping is the right call
- You are a North Texas business that wants a partner headquartered here, with same-day on-site and a named team that stays on your account.
- You value a written, published SLA and transparent starting-at pricing you can read before signing.
- You want vendor-neutral procurement, where the advice follows your environment and budget, free of any fixed partner tier.
From a business that made the switch
“On paper the certification list was longer, but we are in Plano and wanted a partner who could be in our office that afternoon. The published SLA and the local team made the decision easy.”
Controller, 140-seat mid-market manufacturer in DFW (illustrative)
Illustrative example pending a signed customer release. Real, named switch stories replace this as Topping collects them.
Frequently asked questions
Is Topping Technologies a good alternative to Centre Technologies?
For North Texas businesses, yes. Centre is a capable Houston-based MSP/MSSP with a deep certification stack and a statewide footprint. Topping is DFW-native, headquartered in Plano, and leads with local presence, a published SLA, transparent pricing, and a named team that stays put. If you are in Houston or score RFPs purely on cert count, Centre may be the stronger fit.
Centre has a long certification list. How does Topping compare?
Centre maintains a deep, documented stack: SOC 2 Type II, Microsoft Solutions Partner, Dell, Cisco, Veeam, Arctic Wolf, and Texas DIR. Topping's strengths are different: local responsiveness, a written SLA, and vendor-neutral procurement. If your selection is driven strictly by certification count today, weigh that honestly in your scoring.
Is Topping local to DFW, unlike Centre?
Yes. Topping is headquartered in Plano (8375 Dominion Pkwy, Suite 407) and serves North Texas on-site and remotely. Centre is headquartered in Houston with statewide reach. For DFW buyers who want a partner on the ground here, that distinction matters.
Does Topping publish an SLA?
Yes. P1 gets a 15-minute response with an engineer within one hour, P2 30 minutes, P3 four business hours, and a service credit if we miss a committed response. We did not find a publicly published SLA from Centre, so confirm their terms directly during evaluation.
Does Topping serve the same mid-market Centre targets?
Yes. We serve roughly 10 to 500 seats, which overlaps Centre's 50–500-employee mid-market focus, while also supporting smaller North Texas businesses that larger firms sometimes pass on.
Is Topping vendor-neutral?
Yes. We source and recommend based on what fits your environment and budget, free of a fixed partner tier. Centre maintains a strong named-vendor partner stack; both approaches are valid, so consider which fits how you want procurement handled.
Can Topping handle compliance like SOC 2 or CMMC?
Yes. We map practical paths through SOC 2, CMMC, NIST 800-171, HIPAA, and PCI with the documentation auditors expect, run alongside the managed IT and security that keep the controls operating.
Related
Not sure we're the right fit? A short call will tell you.
Book a no-pressure 30-minute fit call. We'll give you a straight answer on whether Topping is right for your situation, and if someone else is the better fit, we'll point you their way.