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 consequences, both to their own organizations, but also for their customers. Highlights: MSP vs Break/...
Oct 28, 2022•34 min
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 expectations be from doing a risk assessment? Put your feet up and take a listen as we explore the wor...
Oct 20, 2022•33 min
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 some of the historical data around governments working with MSPs and it's especially important to underst...
Oct 18, 2022•25 min
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 (historically and even through to today) has not solely been about security. MSPs help their clients in a gre...
Oct 13, 2022•29 min
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 an MSP agrees to have a managed services client who does not receive security from the MSP. We will dis...
Oct 11, 2022•27 min
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 services (here is ours), take a listen to this episode and come to your own conclusions about what MSP and m...
Oct 06, 2022•26 min
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 services does not work
Oct 03, 2022•29 min
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 Provider) to do? The following recommendations may help you strike a balanced approach to your managed...
Sep 27, 2022•25 min
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 cease to have value. MSPs are facing this same threat but from a new direction, the cybersecurity vendor. ...
Sep 21, 2022•32 min
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 already have. Highlights: Current state of MSP documentation Benefits of documentation in an MSP practiceS...
Sep 15, 2022•36 min
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 about the M&A world which may be new to many of you. These tips will be very helpful for you, rega...
Sep 12, 2022•36 min
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 importantly how the MSP business model stands apart from all other IT channel companies. Highlights: Ove...
Sep 06, 2022•31 min
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?
Aug 31, 2022•37 min
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 it will decrease manual steps, avoid costly sales missteps, and align customer and MSP goals. Highlig...
Aug 22, 2022•30 min
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 relationships with a goal towards helping the client improve their interaction with the MSP, including...
Aug 16, 2022•33 min
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
Aug 11, 2022•36 min
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 infrastructure costs related to data centers. No, this isn't your typical move everything to the cloud discuss...
Aug 09, 2022•33 min
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 in order for remote workers to become fully equipped and enabled to remain productivity within thei...
Aug 04, 2022•32 min
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 financial and economic times. Highlights: How leveraged is your MSP practice on break/fix and VAR revenue? ...
Aug 02, 2022•26 min
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 challenge comes with the integration. Curiously, MSPAlliance has become involved again in M&A, but t...
Jul 27, 2022•33 min
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 the MSP Zone. We talk about a variety of topics related to the Datto acquisition, the future of Kaseya...
Jul 19, 2022•39 min
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 Layoffs: US Startups And Tech Companies With Job Cuts In 2022 (crunchbase.com) Managed Services Mar...
Jul 13, 2022•30 min
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 quickly to a ransomware attack to minimize down-time and exposure. Highlights: Create a cyber inciden...
Jul 07, 2022•34 min
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 cyber crime, for example? We will examine the break/fix provider, in detail, and provide some guidanc...
Jul 06, 2022•26 min
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 Garbutt
Jun 29, 2022•33 min
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. Highlights: MSP cyber insurance mistakes How can insurance companies improve their risk portfolio underwr...
Jun 23, 2022•35 min
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 freedom to use those licenses, there is bound to be friction. MSP and Microsoft partner Jean Prejean...
Jun 21, 2022•32 min
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 Tomeo as we discuss the history of managed backup, how it has changed, and what MSPs need to be doing t...
Jun 16, 2022•28 min
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 to share her opinions on the value of data assessments, data managed services, and the role MSPs ca...
Jun 09, 2022•28 min
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 certainly something every break/fix company needs to address. Michael Crean from Solutions Granted enters...
Jun 06, 2022•37 min
