The MSP Zone

Weaver Outrage Meter (Low) Sponsored by: Dell Expert Network As the economy continues to behave erratically, there are disturbing reports emerging about how the MSP sector may respond to this economic turbulence. MSPs will respond one way to economic  tough times, reactive or break/fix providers tend to react in a very different manner. How these different providers respond may have far reaching c...

Weaver Outrage Meter (Low)   Sponsored by: Dell Expert Network & VARC   Risk assessments. Sounds like a good thing to have. Everyone can universally agree that they are good to have. And yet, when you dig deeper, risk assessments can mean very different things to different people.   This episode we delve into the world of risk assessments. What are they? How can you perform them? What should your...

Our friend Corey Munson from PC Matic brought this study to our attention and it's a great piece that every MSP ought to read. The study, published by Deloitte and NASCIO, compares attitudes by state CIOs on a variety of topics from 2020 and 2022.   The report identifies a pretty significant increase in the number of state CIOs wanting to work with an MSP in 2022. But, it's important to unpack som...

Managed Service Providers (MSP) have been at the center of a global discussion around security.  There is nothing wrong with this discussion. In fact, it is a good thing that we have a conversation around data privacy, security, and the ways people and organizations can protect themselves against such threats (hint: working with an MSP should make you safer!). However, the role of the MSP (histori...

Weaver Outrage Meter (Low)   If you offer any form of managed security offering (or plan to in the near term), then listen up: you may want to stop up-selling customers on managed security. Sound provocative? It isn't.   Managed security ought to be (for the vast majority of MSPs and their clients) part of the standard managed services offering. Meaning, it should be the exception to the rule that...

Weaver Outrage Meter (Low)   Sponsored by: Dell Expert Network   The terms managed services and MSP have a particular meaning, both professionally through organizations like MSPAlliance, but also through the common usage. When those accepted terms begin to change to the point where they no longer have the same meaning, you can expect problems to occur.   Regardless of your definition of managed se...

Co-managed services is not new. In fact, it has been around since the beginning of the managed services profession. If you want to be completely honest, managed services began as a "co-managed" model with the MSP playing the critical outsourcing role but being directed by internal IT. Those days have changed. Highlights: Origins of co-managed services Co-managed services defined When co-managed se...

For the past several years, we have heard nothing but the perils of cybersecurity attacks, and the mounting difficulty in preparing for and defending against such attacks. That type of sustained pressure can lead to desensitization, apathy, and burnout.   But, in all seriousness, cybersecurity has never been more critical, and the stakes have never been higher. So, what is an MSP (Managed Service...

If you have ever considered or called yourself a "trusted advisor" then you may want to pay attention to this. The trusted advisor designation is under attack and is being threatened with the worst possible outcome, irrelevance.   The thing you have to understand is as trusted advisors, this naming designation is like a knife's edge, it must always be sharpened or else it will become dull and ceas...

Documentation is not a new topic amongst the MSP community, but it is something that most MSPs could be doing better. Today's discussion focuses on why documentation is important in an MSP practice, the benefits is brings to the MSP, the problems lack of documentation can produce, and last, we will offer some helpful tips on ways you can improve your MSP documentation using common tools you alread...

Weaver Outrage Meter (WOM): Low Are you looking for MSP acquisitions? Do you think you are ready? I come across a lot of MSPs who think they are ready do to acquisitions. In reality, few have given much thought to what is involved in the process and what it will really do to their MSP practice.   This episode will examine both sides of the M&A process (buyer and seller) and discuss some facts abou...

Weaver Outrage Meter (WOM): Low   Most people think of the IT channel as just some vast thoroughfare of companies all moving in the same general direction, all doing pretty much the same thing. Nothing could be further from the truth.   If you want to sell to MSPs, you should listen to this podcast. You will learn about the various types of channel companies, what makes them each unique, and most...

What is a managed service provider? It's a question I have been getting asked for decades. In fairness, it is an important question, as well as a difficult one to answer.   In this episode we will address the question from a variety of perspectives, attempting to create a workable definition everyone can use.   Highlights: Who is asking the question? Why do they want to know? What is an MSP?

Now that you have your business plan and the right tools, it is time to create your service catalog. Some of you may be wondering what the purpose of a service catalog is, but do not worry. We will explain everything.   The service catalog is an important, some say vital, component of your managed services practice and will help you improve efficiency, reduce risk, and close more deals, as much as...

When cybersecurity consultants attack. Just kidding. Well, sort of. Today, we address the issue of cybersecurity consultants and the impact (not always good) on managed services customers. These consultants, who are not in any way knowledgeable about managed services, or have  limited exposure about security issues and best practices, are actively inserting themselves into managed service client r...

MSP channel veteran Stephan Tallent, Stellar Cyber, drops into the MSP Zone to discuss a wide range of topics. We cover trends in hiring security analysts, bridging the MSP talent gap, adoption rates of XDR amongst MSPs and customers, and more.   Highlights: Good time to be an MSP? XDR or SASE Talent Gap   MSP Zone Guest: Stephan Tallent, Stellar Cyber

Is saving money a legitimate objective when engaging an MSP? Justin Current of Sirvis enters the MSP Zone to discuss the age old question, can MSPs save their clients money through managed services. This question has actually been around since the early days of managed services. You may be surprised but there are ways that MSPs can save their clients money, particularly when it comes to infrastruc...

While we may accept that remote work is here to stay (at least in some capacity), we must have a discussion around how remote workers should be working. Most of the discussion to date has been around securing the remote worker but little has been spent talking about productivity and communications. Corey Jones from NUSO joins the MSP Zone for an important discussion around changes which must occur...

According to the US gross domestic product (GDP) numbers we are in a recession. But, that doesn’t mean you have to panic. In fact, if you are an MSP, you might actually have a pretty good economic future, if you take the right steps.   The right steps will depend on your particular situation but there are some fundamentals every MSP ought to consider and prepare for when going into difficult finan...

Weaver Outrage Meter (WOM): Low   I used to do a lot of M&A work in a previous life…specifically for MSPs. I have some amount of perspective about MSP deals and what markers make for good ones and the characteristics attached to the bad deals.   Recently, M&A activity within the MSP profession has been significant, including record high valuations. As more MSPs are closing deals, the next challeng...

Kaseya now owns Datto. A purchase which cost them $6.2 billion. The big four are technically the big three, although every indication is that Datto will remain intact in many ways. And Kaseya arguably becomes the largest MSP software platform company in existence. That's a lot of responsibility.  Fred Voccola, the CEO of Kaseya and the man in charge of leading this MSP platform juggernaut enters t...

While managed services has enjoyed nearly two consecutive decades of strong growth, there have been peaks and valleys along the way. In this episode we examine the current economic climate facing the managed services profession.   Highlights: Demand for managed services MSP health Layoffs Startup investments Private Equity interest in managed services M&A activity   MSP Zone Reading Material: Tech...

Despite even the best security measures, none of us are immune from the menace of ransomware attacks. 2021 saw not only an increase in attacks, but more evolved ransomware variants that threaten data exfiltration and target MSPs.  If you want to be prepared, then you need to have a good protection and response plan in place. This session will cover important topics to help you prepare and respond...

If you have a dominant amount of your IT management practice coming from break/fix or reactive IT, then you should listen to this episode. Break/fix vs managed services used to be a business choice amongst IT entrepreneurs. Today, it is less of a choice and more of an imperative. What is the role of the modern day break/fix company? Do these tech firms have a legitimate role to play in combating c...

MSP software visionary Gavin Garbutt of Augmentt drops into the MSPZone to discuss the opportunity for MSPs to manage hybrid IT environments. Not sure what hybrid IT is? Not to worry. We’ll explain it for you and discuss new revenue opportunities for MSPs. Highlights: Managing Hybrid IT Shadow IT update Maximizing all of your IT staff Changes to the MSP service desk MSPZone Special Guest: Gavin Ga...