Analytics/Analysis

One thing that many of us learned during the pandemic is that human beings are social and need interaction with others. Despite the quick pivot of doing business, and life virtually, many people are anxious to get back in the saddle of in-person meetings and conferences.

With the increasing reliance on technology, and the raise in cyber threats to your privacy and information we need to be more attuned to safeguarding our computers, phones, tablets, pc’s and more. 

By: Gary Audin

Everyone is concerend, threatened, and frightened about their IT and network resources being comprised. Every day we learn about new threats to SMBs, enteprises, MSPs, VARs, governments, and other organizations. The Cyber & Infrastruture Security Agency (CISA), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, publishes guidance and recommendations relating to security issues.

As an MSP many of you are providing your customers cybersecurity, and have a mission of staying ahead of the bad guys (easier said than done).  With all of the current threats that have presented themselves over the years,  Kaseya (2018), ConnectWise (2019), Webroot (2019), Ninja (2019), and SolarWinds many MSPs are wondering what is next. 

In the world of technology there is a constant shift in networking best practices, applications, infrastructure, security, and so much more.  With these constant shifts it is understandable that you the MSP are always working to better your clients needs, and shifting to meet their needs to stay as a trusted business advisor.  With these shifts it is important to stay ahead of the game and be knowledgeable to stay competitive in the ever changing technology landscape.

By Gary Audin

Questions for the business CIO when a business considers a MSP. Does the business have all the resources that it needs? Is it having trouble finding them? Can it afford the IT salaries?

There are no shortages of lessons learned coming out of the pandemic.  In addition to the economic, health, and working from home we all faced new challenges around every corner during the last year.  As many of us found ways to navigate our new  lives, many of us also took a look in the mirror and asked ourselves what are we doing, do we love it, are we over stressed, and so many other questions. 

Building a  successful IT team is a hard task, and although many of us look for technical skills relationship building skills are just as important  . For success in a career in IT, there are  two separate and distinct skill sets are required. First you must have top notch technical skills, but you must also have the ability to work with people.  Don Crawley joins us to chat about how we  can divide people into one of four quadrants on a four-quadrant model:

MSPs have spent the last year scrambling to adapt to the ever changing environment around them.  While helping clients get set up to work from home, managing their own offices, and trying to keep everyone around them healthy it has been a year to remember.  With things looking up and many people currently vaccinated 2021 will be the year of transition. 

Hi Ho SMB Nation friends and family.

I recently teamed with Janet Waxman at Leading Indicators and the Waxman Partner Panel to created the “MSP Products and Services: Panel Results” study that you can load HERE (summary results). One nugget you will read about is:  “Challenges that partners face in transitioning to MSPs include adopting a new business model, overcoming clients’ resistance to the managed services model, competition with other MSPs, and technology issues.”

For most of us 2020 was tough, not only personally but professionally as well.  With many businesses working from home, and making daily changing decisions about their business, it took a toll on many owners and CEO’s.    Although 2020 came with it’s challenges 2021 is looking better.   

When it comes to cybersecurity and MSPs, these ransomware attacks just became more real!   In May 2021, the Colonial Pipeline suffered a massive ransomware attack reportedly by the criminal hacking group Darkside.  This attack shutdown one of the largest pipeline operators in the US that provides roughly 45% of the East Coast's fuel, including gasoline, diesel, home heating oil, jet fuel, and military supplies.