Document background
The IT Master Services Agreement (MSA) is a fundamental contractual framework used when establishing a long-term IT services relationship between a service provider and a client organization. This document, governed by Indian law, sets out the overarching terms and conditions that will apply to all IT services provided, while allowing for specific services to be detailed in individual service orders. It is particularly important in the Indian context due to specific regulatory requirements under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and related data protection rules. The MSA covers crucial elements such as service levels, pricing mechanisms, intellectual property rights, data protection obligations, and risk allocation, while ensuring compliance with Indian regulatory requirements. It is typically used when organizations plan to engage in multiple IT service arrangements over time and need a consistent governing framework that can accommodate various service types while maintaining standardized terms for key aspects like liability, confidentiality, and dispute resolution.
