The MSP Zone

This episode presents a tale of two MSPs. Not actual MSPs, but two types of MSPs as viewed through the lens of two news stories presenting MSPs and how customers view them. We also examine this tale of two MSPs through the lens of cyber insurance and how insurance companies may be getting it completely wrong when it comes to underwriting and assessing risk in the managed services profession. Highl...

WOM: Low MSPs play a unique role in the acquisition of technology and delivery of managed services to customers. Unlike VARs, MSPs do not always resell a technology to customers. For many MSPs, they acquire licenses from a vendor and use that technology to service customers utilizing a managed services agreement. Between vendors who want maximum predictability of revenue and MSPs who want maximum...

Episode brought to you by Dell Expert Network Is backup dead? Short answer is no. But, if you haven't' changed your approach to backup in the last 10 years, you are likely missing a lot of opportunities to help your clients reach their full potential for disaster recovery, cyber attach prevention, and many other business benefits all relating to backing up data. Join my discussion with Charlie Tom...

Data is everything. MSPs protect it, customers value it, and cyber criminals want to steal it. But, not all data is the same. Certain data is worthy of more protection and management, and other data has less of a value. In short, data must be managed. But, to manage data effectively, you need to understand it first. Which brings us to data assessments. Amanda Regnerus of Aparavi enters the MSPZone...

Break/fix companies (or companies that provide reactive IT services) must address the security question: both internal security and the security services they provide to customers. Whether it is the struggle to become a proactive managed service provider or just the pace at which security threats and solutions have been evolving, the issue of security is a real element to becoming an MSP and certa...

The skills and people gap is impacting everyone, everywhere! Customer organizations already facing staffing shortages have even more difficulties filling IT and cyber related positions. So, how do we solve this problem? Join Chris Hass and me as we discuss a new, modernized, and distributed workforce and its impact on staffing, security, and productivity. These trends also have had a significant i...

What is the customer experience within the managed services profession? Our profession talks a lot about service delivery with a predominant focus on the technical. And, for good reason. However, it is important we not forget the customer experience. We address that issue in this episode. We examine the role of the traditional PSA/ticketing platforms and whether they are sufficient to deliver exce...

Fighting cybercrime may require policies, procedures, technology, and the know-how to put it all together in a cohesive manner, but the individual also has an important role to play which cannot be discounted. Individual people must be aware of the threats facing them, their organization, and cannot be lulled into a false sense of security just because they have an MSP or an internal IT department...

WOM Level: Low Lots of economic data coming out in recent weeks about signals of an impending recession. Let's really take a look at how a recession might impact MSPs globally and what you may want to do to prepare you practice (and clients) for such an event. We will also examine the recent CISA guidance for MSPs and offer some analysis on what practicing MSPs need to know about staying safe. MSP...

Cloud computing is one of those terms that gets used a lot, often by people who have no real idea as to what it means. This is understandable given how ubiquitous cloud computing has become over the last decade. While cloud computing has brought technology into the mainstream, it also is a term which needs clarification and definition. Cloud computing, hybrid, public, private, are all variations o...

There’s a stark contrast to how the threat of Ransomware is perceived by MSPs vs SMBs. MSPs have long understood cyber, business, and IT risks that face their customers. Customers, on the other hand, can have a slightly wider range of experience and understanding when it comes to cyber risks. Why is that? Join us in this podcast as we uncover the reasons why this discrepancy exists, disclose the p...

Access management has been a managed service offering for customers for many years. Today, the issue of internal access management has now become mainstream for MSPs of all sizes. How users gain access to internal MSP systems and networks is just as important as it is for managed services customers. But, being secure about your user onboarding and offboarding does not mean you can't also be effici...

In today’s connected and security conscious world, customers are looking to MSPs to provide them with backup and recovery services that will help safeguard their organization against ransomware, user errors, and other evolving threats to their business operations and reputation. These same benefits also hold true for the MSPs themselves. Steve Rodin, CEO of Storagepipe enters the MSPZone and offer...

Brian Stoner from Stellar Cyber joins MSPZone to discuss the future of cybersecurity talent within the managed services profession. We discuss the relationship with Boise State, how that connection came to be, and how this could be a template for future cybersecurity talent cultivation all over the world.   Highlights:   Are we still in a cybersecurity talent drought?   Boise State connection  The...

WOM: Low It does not happen a lot where an approach to selling and marketing managed services can actually apply to a large selection of MSP verticals. But, I think we have one for you today.   Based on actual conversations with MSPs who are using this approach successfully, and an equal number of MSPs who are not doing it but could benefit from it, I believe this approach will work for the vast n...

Raffy Marty, the ConnectWise general manager, cybersecurity, drops by the MSPZone to brief us on their latest MSP Threat Report. As the role of RMM vendors becomes more critical to the ongoing security of the global MSP community, companies such as ConnectWise are increasing their efforts to educate and equip their MSP partners with information and technologies.     Highlights:   10-15% increase i...

In part 2 of our MSP best practices series, we look at the selection of tools during the initial stages of creating an MSP practice. The right tools are critical to your success in delivering managed services.   Armed with a thorough business plan, selecting the appropriate hardware and software technologies can become easier, although it should still be a process you undertake with a high degree...

So you want to become an MSP. Maybe you are already an MSP and just want to get better. The managed services profession is an exciting, vibrant, and important community serving tens of thousands of customer organizations all over the world.   Being a great MSP takes practice, patience, and a good amount of planning. That’s why we decided to create this series of short, instructional videos to help...

Now that we have had some time to digest the news about Kaseya buying Datto, it is time to get the MSP on the street perspective. Travis Springer of Sagiss, joins MSPZone and shares his thoughts on the deal, the likely reaction from MSPs and vendors alike, and ultimately whether the deal will be good, bad, or neutral for the managed services profession.     Highlights:   Analysis of the deal  Why...

Are we winning or losing the ongoing war against cybercrime? Today's guests have an answer. You may not like the answer, but it does reflect two professional opinions from people who know a lot about the cybersecurity war.   More importantly, our guests understand what it takes to win that war and the role MSPs will play in achieving that victory.   Join Scott Augenbaum - Supervisory Special Agent...

The big 4 become the big 3. Yesterday, Datto announced that it is going to be purchased by Kaseya. The deal has huge potential for the global MSP marketplace and we will analyze what those outcomes might be in this podcast.   What is impressive is to see a company like Kaseya who less than a year ago suffered a significant cyber attack rebound and pull off a deal like this one. There are bound to...

Mature (i.e., larger sized) managed service organizations often will have a chief compliance officer (or team) dedicate to maintaining proper internal compliance for the company. These compliance individuals play an important role in the company. For smaller MSP organizations, however, having a compliance officer may not be feasible.   Yet, compliance impacts large and small MSPs alike. So, what s...

WOM: Low   MSPs have been seeing increases in their cyber insurance premiums for several years now. As cyber threats and attacks continue to increase, paying more to get and maintain cyber insurance has been a reality for MSPs across the globe. But, there is hope.   One MSP business owner joins MSPZone and talks about his past several years of experience with his insurance broker, his increasing r...

WOM: Low I had the opportunity to speak to a lot of MSPs at MSPWorld last week and, as usual, learned a lot. While there were a lot of topics on the agenda, there are always standout issues which seem to take on a life and momentum of their own. That’s exactly what happened this time.   Here are some of my highlights and takeaways from MSPWorld.    Highlights:  MSPAlliance Peer Groups  Cyber Insur...

MSPs are not alone in the ongoing fight against cybersecurity. On this episode of MSPZone, we speak with Raffael Marty, general manager, cybersecurity, with ConnectWise.   Raffael discusses some of the latest announcements from the company concerning Intel, how ConnectWise is helping MSPs face the persistent issue of cyber attacks, and what MSPs need to do in order to remain one step ahead of the...