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 impact on the way cyber criminals view their target landscape and it influences the way they devise t...
Jun 03, 2022•32 min
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 excellent customer service. Highlights: What is the role of the PSA? Does the existing PSA solution addr...
May 31, 2022•35 min
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. Even the best MSPs need the active participation of the individual to combat cybercrime. Inky CEO ...
May 26, 2022•29 min
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. MSPZone Reading Material: https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2022/05/18/cybersecurity-playe...
May 24, 2022•27 min
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 on a theme with very different business, technical, and privacy outcomes depending on which one you c...
May 19, 2022•28 min
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 precursors of ransomware and discuss solutions. Highlights: Why do we see so much ransomware? Do MSPs...
May 17, 2022•30 min
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 efficient in your movements. That's what we discuss on today's episode. Highlights: Who is Devolutions? Wh...
May 12, 2022•28 min
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 offers his perspectives on a variety of topics. Highlights: New high-margin monthly recurring revenue str...
May 09, 2022•30 min
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 problem with existing cybersecurity talent MSPZone Guest: Brian Stoner, Stellar Cyber
May 05, 2022•32 min
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 number of MSPs throughout the world. I am talking about cyber insurance. Specifically, I’m talking abou...
May 03, 2022•37 min
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 in ransomware incidents by quarter in 2021 Evolution of the "super-MSP" Ransomware operator tactics 2022 pr...
Apr 28, 2022•34 min
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 of seriousness. Highlights: MSP tool selection philosophies Questions to ask your MSP tool vendor Inte...
Apr 26, 2022•27 min
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 guide newer MSP organizations navigate the often complicated world of managed services. This series w...
Apr 21, 2022•31 min
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 did the deal take place? Will vendor consolidation drive or stifle innovation? How do other MSPs feel about...
Apr 19, 2022•37 min
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 FBI retired, and Corey Munson from PC Matic, as they discuss this important topic. Highlights: We need ...
Apr 14, 2022•31 min
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 be questions and speculations about how this acquisition will impact the global MSP market. This is to...
Apr 12, 2022•38 min
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 should a smaller MSP organization do? Highlights: The role of the modern MSP compliance officer Advice ...
Apr 07, 2022•31 min
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 rates, and how he got his MSP cyber insurance premium to actually lower in 2022. Join MSP owner Karl Spri...
Apr 05, 2022•30 min
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 Insurance Update M&A and Growth Update This episode is sponsored by: Aparavi Data Intelligence Software &...
Mar 31, 2022•31 min
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 cyber underworld. MSPZone Reading Material: https://www.connectwise.com/company/press/releases/connect...
Mar 29, 2022•28 min
WOM: Medium It has been a longstanding issue at the MSPAlliance that we have standards for the MSP profession. While this may have been a philosophical issue early on, it is no longer merely an academic matter. Today, standards matter. The UK government is now taking matters into their own hands regarding MSP standards and practices. Why does this matter? Because the UK (and many other governments) are now acting without the benefit of any working knowledge about MSPs, and doing so believing the...
Mar 17, 2022•32 min
WOM: Medium The increase of cyber consultants has produced a lot of confusion and not always positive outcomes. But, there is one positive outcome we can point to: general awareness of cybersecurity issues has become more central to our daily discussion as a society. A recent story about misconfiguration of ServiceNow instances is a great example of how cybersecurity and managed services are very close, and yet sometimes quite far apart. MSPZone Reading Material: https://threatpost.com/most-serv...
Mar 15, 2022•28 min
Weaver Outrage Meter (WOM): Medium MSPs have been dealing with scarcity of technical and security talent for many years. The global pandemic and the more recent inflationary pressures have contributed to MSPs paying much higher wages than in previous years. This trend may be coming to an end. I don't want to suggest that we are entering a phase of wage deflation, but, it seems to me that we have peaked when it comes to the excesses in hiring MSP and technical talent. Let me explain. Highlights: ...
Mar 10, 2022•32 min
In the early days of the managed services profession we saw an incredible amount of misinformation about the role of the MSP. In fact, this was one of the chief reasons the MSPAlliance was created, to address and correct that misinformation. Today, history seems to be repeating itself. Just like when outsourcing and offshoring were confused with managed services, we are seeing similar confusion and damaging beliefs being shared by a growing number of people around MSPs. Never fear, though. We wi...
Mar 08, 2022•37 min
Weaver Outrage Meter (WOM): Low The importance of cyber insurance should be obvious to most people today. The fact that cyber insurance coverage is being denied to an increasing number of organizations should be 1) a wake up call and 2) an opportunity for MSPs to have important conversations with their clients. There are some simple yet effective techniques you can employ right now to generate new sales and marketing opportunities, all related to cyber insurance. Highlights: Lack of information ...
Mar 03, 2022•26 min
WOM (Weaver Outrage Meter): Medium Aside from the obvious additional "S", the inclusion of security in MSP is both incorrect and misleading. Looking at the historical evolution of the MSP profession, managed security has been baked into managed IT services from the very early days. What has changed? MSSPs are now the rage and there is an active campaign taking place to disrupt existing managed services philosophy. We will examine the leading causes behind this MSP vs. MSSP battle, and offer opin...
Mar 01, 2022•36 min
If you were paying attention during the early and mid 2000s you heard the phrase, “trusted advisor” used quite extensively. Today, some might have you believe that MSPs have lost that trusted advisor status with their clients. I don’t know if this is true, but it does deserve further investigation. Highlights: Trusted Advisor History Impact of Non-MSP “trusted advisors” How do we solve the trusted advisor dilemma?
Feb 24, 2022•32 min
Outrage Level - Low A really interesting article about a recent study from CrowdStrike. The premise of the article is that while cyber-attacks surged last year, 62% of those attacks did not involve malware. What does this mean? It means that old-fashioned intrusion methods are still very much alive and well today. It also means that we should not rely exclusively on malware intrusion defense technologies. Layered approaches to cybersecurity for MSP and customers alike are what is required. MSPs ...
Feb 22, 2022•27 min
It's that time of year again…MSPWorld! This episode will focus on all the things that I am excited to see at the upcoming MSPWorld conference. Speakers, sessions, sponsors, and topics I anticipate will be on everyone's mind. Highlights: Overview of sessions Review of this year's sponsors Analysis of MSP topics This episode is sponsored by PCMatic: PCMatic.com/MSP
Feb 17, 2022•29 min
MSPs and customers alike are instrumental in the global fight against cyber attacks. Nobody can win by themselves; both groups are crucial to winning this fight. This episode will explore what lessons we have learned in the past 12 months regarding the global cybersecurity war and what methodologies are being successfully employed to reduce the attack surface for cyber threats. Highlights: Stopping threats before they cause damage Understanding the source of the attack; similar to even correlati...
Feb 15, 2022•31 min
