In an update from our previous episode on the CARES Act, The MSP Zone speaks with Courtney LaLone, principal with Bernard Robinson & Company, on how the program is doing and whether MSPs should seek out funding. In this episode we discuss the following: 2nd tranche of funding for the PPP program Which banks are more likely to fund PPP applications Forgiveness planning for MSPs Cash flow planning for Spring and Summer MSP Zone Guest: Courtney LaLone, principal with Bernard Robinson & Comp...
May 04, 2020•26 min
The MSP Zone talks with Stephen Sweett, president of Buchanan Technologies, an MSP with headquarters in Grapevine, TX, about the shift to remote work, the growth of their MSP help desk, and the outlook for MSPs in the next few months. One of the discussion points includes the potential for MSPs to see shorter term contracts with clients, not because of weak demand for managed services, but because of a lack of knowledge concerning what IT needs they will have beyond a year from now. MSP Zone Gue...
Apr 30, 2020•21 min
This is not your father's RMM tool. The phrase could be the unofficial tagline for Augmentt, a new company with deep ties to N-able. In this episode of the MSP Zone, Derik Belair, CEO of Augmentt, discusses his deep experience in RMM software companies such as N-able and SolarWinds, and describes how monitoring and management of SaaS applications demands a new breed of MSP tools. Belair offers his opinions on the last twenty years of the managed services profession and where we are headed in the...
Apr 23, 2020•30 min
There are many ways an MSP can serve its customers. Education and training are a few examples of services which will have meaningful benefits to the clients and to the MSP. Security training and education can be important tools for the MSP to service existing clients and win new ones. In this episode of the MSP Zone, we talk to cybersecurity expert Craig Taylor from CyberHoot about his top three cybersecurity training topics he believes all MSPs should be offering to customers. The MSP Zone Gues...
Apr 22, 2020•31 min
MSPs have been using contracts for many years to structure and codify their managed services relationships with clients. One of the tools MSPs have been using quite effectively in the last 10-15 years is the master service agreement (MSA). As MSAs have been more frequently employed in managed services relationships, there is undeniable change occurring in the MSP profession and specifically how MSA are being implemented during the sales process. MSP use of quoting tools, proposal generation, and...
Apr 21, 2020•27 min
John Burgess, president of Mainstream Technologies, discusses the impact of COVID-19 and how he and other MSPs are doing. Inevitably, the economic recovery from quarantine will begin and we discuss this eventuality as well, and how MSPs should be positioned for success. MSP Zone Guest: John Burgess, president of Mainstream Technologies
Apr 20, 2020•25 min
MSPs are facing a lot of change in the next few months. As MSPs are handling an increase in IT support requests by many clients, there could be a coming shake up within the break/fix community as these organizations struggle with cash flow and clients facing their own uncertain futures. One of the possible outcomes of this pandemic is that wages for managed services employees could be going down as more unemployed IT (and non-IT) workers are laid off or furloughed. MSP Zone speaks with Peter Kuj...
Apr 16, 2020•30 min
Winning managed services deals means beginning with education. Education of clients and prospects is what will create the indelible bond and proverbial "trusted advisor" relationship between client and MSP. Listen as we discuss: whether MSPs can afford to not be involved in security how MSPs can win more business through educating prospects what the future cybersecurity landscape will look like for MSPs The MSP Zone guests include: Tim Martin, Neoscope Craig Taylor, Cyberhoot
Apr 14, 2020•30 min
PC Matic vice president Corey Munson talks to The MSP Zone about working remotely, how their MSP partners are doing in the fight against cybercrime, and what the economic recovery for MSPs and their clients will look like.
Apr 13, 2020•22 min
MSPAlliance Insights sits down (virtually) with RainTech owner Andrew Jahnke. RainTech is an MSP based in Colorado specializing in healthcare. Andrew shares his perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic, how it has impacted his MSP practice, how healthcare clients are dealing with the quarantine, and the optimistic predictions of what the recovery will look like for MSPs.
Apr 09, 2020•24 min
As millions of people all over the United States (and the world) fight this pandemic of COVID-19, the Federal government passed legislation designed to infuse the US market with liquidity. The CARES Act was signed into law last week and will be going into effect April 3, 2020. What is the CARES Act, what does it offer, and should MSPs (in the United States) take advantage? All good questions...MSPAlliance has the answers.
Apr 02, 2020•28 min
MSPs are facing a new challenge and opportunity as thousands of small and medium sized businesses are coming to grips with how to rapidly adopt a remote work model. Nearly the entire planet right now is trying to figure this out. For MSPs, this presents a great opportunity to collaborate with clients (existing and new) on creating new, secure, remote work environments.
Mar 19, 2020•10 min
As the world economies shift rapidly towards remote work environments for the short term, new challenges emerge for businesses and organizations. Remote workers suddenly expected to work productively from remote locations, often with little training on the technologies, systems, and procedures needed to do so effectively. At the same time, organizations are struggling with how to deploy and enable remote workers so they maintain the same levels of productivity, safety, and security compared to p...
Mar 16, 2020•11 min
MSPAlliance Insights discusses coronavirus and its impact on global business. We also discuss how MSPs can protect themselves (and their clients) against these global pandemics through business continuity planning, documentation, and training.
Feb 25, 2020•8 min
Most everyone acknowledges the human talent shortage within the managed services profession. This human capital shortage is not new, and it shows no signs of going away. So, what are growth-minded MSP owners and operators to do? Here are two available (although not necessarily simple) strategies for overcoming the human capital shortage so you can take your MSP practice to the next level of success.
Feb 11, 2020•9 min
As the new reports of attacks on MSPs have increased, the MSPAlliance has mostly remained silent. Beyond internal industry communications and programs to improve cybersecurity measures (something we have been doing for 20 years), we have not taken direct issue with any of these news accounts.
Feb 07, 2020•11 min
