So, it's officially 2015 and we are now ready to begin a new year with new opportunities. What will those opportunities look like? Will we have challenges to face in 2015? Let's examine some predictions about what we should expect in the coming year.
Security
2014 taught us a lot about security and how important it is. In 2015, security will spill over into the end-user community as more non-technical users will be aware of security and how vulnerable they are to cyber attacks and other threats. 2015 should be a year of education and action. MSPs should see vastly different opportunities to deliver security solutions to customers who may have previously thought security was an afterthought.
Show us your credentials
We've been saying this for a long time but 2015 could be the year that changes everything when it comes to certifications. As customers become more aware of how MSPs and cloud providers are integral to successful IT operations, providers will need to be ready to provide essential "proof" that they are a) technically proficient and capable of delivering the solutions, b) trustworthy to take on the responsibility of managing IT for the customer, and c) a health corporate entity, so that the customer will know the MSP is financially sound and will be available to deliver their solutions.
The days of just saying you can handle work are now officially gone. MSPs need to prove their capabilities. Tools like the MSP/Cloud Verify Program will lead the way for helping MSPs demonstrate their capabilities to customers.
Print Invasion
No, managed print isn't going to make a sudden comeback in 2015. However, MSPs may be seeing competition from a new group this year...office supply stores. Despite Staples and Best Buy selling their managed services divisions in 2014, many office supply companies are looking to get into managed services in a big way, and buying their way into the profession is looking like the best and fastest method.
These office supply companies are fitting into an eerily familiar pattern; they've been in business for a few decades, they are well run businesses, they have a large and diverse customer base, and they have little IT management capabilities to offer. In 2000, VARs underwent a massive migration towards managed services where we saw many of them experience difficulties with the business management of a managed services practice. Most of the last decade was spent helping VARs who became MSPs deal with the business issues they were facing, not the technical issues.
