Candid conversations with industry veterans, compliance experts, and MSP leaders.
Hosted by Charles Weaver
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It's time for the annual managed services year in review. 2020 will be a historic year, not just because we had a global pandemic. The managed services profession achieved some significant milestones this year. We will examine a few of the highlights in this year-end review of 2020. MSPs Rose to the Challenge in 2020 The pandemic caused a major separation between professional MSPs and other IT providers Regulation of IT is now upon us Managed services contracts went through some changes this yea
MSP regulation is upon us. But, could there be unintended consequences not foreseen by the regulators and legislators passing such laws? Today, we talk to a Louisiana based MSP to get his thoughts on what impact MSP regulation may have on managed service providers. Landon Futch - Essential Solutions, LLC Will the laws & regulations actually make MSPs and their clients safer? Is MSP regulation an excuse for poor client cyber hygiene? Will new security laws force better IT security behavior am
If you are wanting to accelerate your steps towards offering managed security, you have a few options, including build or partner. Today’s episode discusses some of the pros and cons of both the build and partner methods. MSP Zone Guest: Brian Stoner, Stellar Cyber Program Highlights What are some of the common MSSP challenges? Should MSPs build or partner? Has Work From Home disrupted the legacy managed security deliverable? What is a SOC? Is it just a NOC with a SIEM?
As we near the end of 2020, a year that has brought significant global change to everyone, we also look at the ways how this year has impacted the managed services profession and the customers relying on MSPs. While COVID-19 brought undeniable change, it also brought opportunities to use change as a way to survive and improve upon outdated and even inefficient business practices. This is especially true in IT management. Program Highlights: The evolution of networks in the age of Covid and remot
A conversation with Ampersand, a managed services provider based in Alaska about their journey throughout the pandemic, meeting the needs of their clients, and in general about being an MSP in the last frontier. This episode brought to you by: RapidFire Tools
Is the MSP profession ready for the channel? Of course it is, you might say. But, we are talking about the reselling of managed services as a channel. Can this strategy be accomplished effectively and safely? What are some of the steps you should take if you are considering such a strategy? What are the legal risks? Is there a primary MSP relationship which should be established? How do you update your agreements? If you are the “channel partner” MSP, how do you adapt? MSP Zone Guest: Rob Scott,
Passwords play such an important role in our society and our cybersecurity, we just can't talk about them enough. Today's episode features LogMeIn, creators of LastPass, in a discussion concerning password management for MSPs and password management for customers. MSP Zone Guest: Rebecca Stone, LogMeIn This episode is brought to you by Dell Expert Network
When many people are uncertain about the outcome of the recent political elections, there is some certainty in the world. Specifically, there is some good news for managed service providers, regardless of who wins the elections. Future of managed services is very positive, regardless of who wins the political races. There appears to be bipartisan support for general data privacy and security protections, so expect that to continue regardless of political race outcomes. MSPs must lead with securi
Last week's initial public offering (IPO) for Datto has broader consequences for the global managed services profession. Most of these consequences are good. Let's examine what some of them are. Datto IPO brings further attention (in a good way) to the global managed services market It highlights the strength, vibrancy, and lucrativeness of being in the managed services business. It will force more transparency and data around the managed services profession, particularly when it comes to analys
Is there an MSP standard of care? Standards of care exist in other professions like medical, legal, etc. But, do they exist in the managed services profession? In today's episode, we will examine the concept of the MSP standard of care, when it would apply, and address ways MSPs can articulate what their standard of care is so clients are aware and educated. Episode Highlights: Best practices is not the minimum standard of care Avoid being measured by a common law standard by developing a contra
The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control recently issued and advisory bulletin on the potential sanctions risks of making ransomware payments. Payments to certain individuals, organizations, and even regions, may trigger a US sanction against you, possibly exposing you to further criminal and civil action. Today's episode discusses ways MSPs can approach ransomware (both internally and on behalf of clients) and we offer specific ways you can protect your MSP practice. Episod
COVID-19 has been disruptive for many businesses, including some MSPs. Some businesses, however, have reacted better than others to the global pandemic; this also includes MSPs. Backup software company Altaro conducted a study of MSPs asking them a variety of questions about the economy, the state of managed services, and the future. Here are some of the highlights of our discussion with David and Stephen, the co-founders of Altaro. More than 75% of MSPs said remote working is the best revenue-g
MSPs are responsible for their own actions, but should they be responsible for the external service providers (i.e., vendors) they bring to their customers? This episode discusses this complicated question and makes the complex easy to understand. Episode highlights: Customers must be held liable for actions they take impacting their data privacy and security. Co-managed services doesn’t mean the MSP indemnifies the client against all scenarios MSPs are not responsible for their vendors. If the
MSPs have been reporting all year a similar story across many market verticals and geographies. In today's episode, we speak with Chris McHale of SPK and Associates about her clients (many of theme engineering firms) and how they have been doing throughout the pandemic. Specifically, we discuss how engineering firms, who rely on applications requiring intensive resources, are shifting to work from home while remaining secure and productive by leveraging cloud infrastructure. MSP Zone Guest: Chri
Our interview with an MSP focusing heavily on the healthcare market offers some valuable insights into how that sector has done throughout the pandemic. Highlights: Pandemic has forced positive changes within a stagnant medical industry Internal IT for small and mid-sized medical practices not equipped for this new pandemic model Reallocation of IT resources to focus on core IT competencies and strategic goals Data security amongst smaller medical firms will need to be addressed Healthcare firms
It used to be that MSPs would manage servers, desktops, firewalls, and other business and infrastructure objects for their clients. Many still do. Yet, as software as a service (SaaS) continues to proliferate in today's changing business environment, MSPs need to be able to managed SaaS platforms as effectively as they did the servers and desktops of yesterday. Gavin Garbutt of Augmentt talks about his experiences with N-able, how the MSP profession has changed, and what MSPs need to do in order
Managed Service Provider Ensono recently conducted a study of end-user organizations who reported some interested results related to IT spending and prioritization. Digital transformation, for a majority of respondents, could be behind the growth in managed services adoption. 43% of IT decision makers feel their relationship with business leaders has improved since the start of the pandemic 1 in 3 have been given more scope to define IT spend 1 in 3 organizations are looking to increase IT budge
How do you achieve safe cyber hygiene with your managed services customers. How about your contracts? Managed services contracts are one of several effective ways you can influence your customers to adopt safe and secure cyber hygiene practices (not to mention protecting your managed services practice). MSP Zone Guest: Rob Scott, Scott & Scott LLP
One of the biggest misconception or myths MSPs have about certifications and audits is that if the MSP does not host the data, there is no need to examine the MSP. This is false! MSPs have remote access to a lot of information belonging to clients. Regardless of where the data and systems are hosted, the MSPs still control those systems. This is why the question comes up. Episode Highlights 1) Remote access. Limiting administrator access. MFA. Password management. 2) Ransomware attack vectors. 3
Not every cyber attack involves a data breach . Some network breaches do not involve the loss of personally identifiable data. Understanding the distinction between security and privacy incidents will matter greatly as you decide how you should respond, both within your MSP practice and on behalf of your clients. Highlights: Security vs Privacy Incidents Post-Breach Action Items MSP vs. Clients Data Breach Disclosure Best Practices MSP Zone Guest: Rob Scott, Scott & Scott , LLP
Long time MSPAlliance member and practicing MSP Jim Van of Logicomm sits down with The MSP Zone and discusses MSP regulation, the ongoing maturity of the MSP profession, and how his MSP practice actually experienced growth during the pandemic. MSP Zone Guest: Jim Van, CEO of Logicomm
2020 has been a challenging year, particularly so for break/fix, reactive IT providers. What is the best strategy and recommendation for these providers as we pass the mid-way point of 2020? Let's take a look. Highlights: 1) Change your business model now 2) Re-evaluate your clients now. If they are mostly break/fix or reactive clients, they will not serve you well in the long term. 3) Develop a plan for changing your IT service delivery, as quickly as possible. 4) Use MSP Verify as template for
Stock market volatility, election year uncertainty, and pandemic effects still being felt, all lead investors to pull out of equity markets and put their money into private equity as a place to realize healthy financial returns. This could mean big changes for the MSP professional community. Plus, we analyze the Datto IPO update, and its potential impact on other RMM platform companies. Episode Highlights: Private Equity Continues Its Focus on Managed Services Datto IPO Update Impact on RMM/MSP
Several notable insurance companies have publicly stepped back from insuring MSPs. What does this mean for the managed services profession and how can insurance companies better understand MSPs and their critical role in protecting against cyber attacks? Program Highlights: Are insurance companies really taking losses from MSPs or "other" types of IT provider? Are end-user organizations better with MSPs or without MSPs? How can insurance companies better assess MSP (and end-user) risk to arrive
Adoption of month-to-month managed services agreements may be on the rise, but what will this do to MSP valuations? The answer may surprise you. Monthly a multi-year agreements have their place in the managed services sales tool kit. How they are used should depend on your sales and service objectives. Multi-year agreements, however should not be used solely for the purposes of increasing the value of your MSP business. Highlights: Historical review of month-to-month agreements Are multi-year ag
Listen to our discussion with Corey Munson, vice president of PC Matic as he shares his perspectives on remote working, how MSPs are doing in the fight against cybercrime, and what the economic recovery may look like.