The MSP Zone

The MSP Channel Explained

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:
Overview of the IT channel
What makes MSPs different?
Why you would want an MSP compared to a reseller
MSP channel best practices

What is a Managed Service Provider?

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?

MSP Best Practices Series #3: The Service Catalog

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.
Highlights:
Service catalog explained
How to create your service catalog
Benefits of service catalog: legal
sales/marketing
service delivery

When Cybersecurity Consultants Attack MSP Customers

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 their cybersecurity posture.
This would be a fantastic thing if it were true. Unfortunately, this scenario is far from the truth.
Cybersecurity consultants, when evaluated on the basis of their actual interactions with end-users, often create conflicting and harmful results, typically cleaned up by the MSP.
Highlights:
Primary care MSPs
Identifying scope of cyber consultants
Coordinating with MSPs

An Interview with MSP Channel Veteran, Stephan Tallent

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

Saving Money with Managed Services

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 discussion. We will discuss server and data center consolidation tactics that can have real cost saving benefits to customers.
 
Highlights:
Cost cutting for data centers
Sustainability
Threat footprint reduction (by having fewer servers)
The role of the MSP in helping clients reduce their power footprint
 
MSP Zone Guest: Justin Current, Sirvis

A Discussion Around Remote Work Productivity

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 their organizations.
Highlights:
Expanding your workforce
Business/operational continuity
Maintaining and growing productivity in remote work environments
SMS and similar tools for communication 
MSP Zone Guest: Corey Jones, NUSO

The MSP Path Through a Recession

 
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?
What is your revenue sequence?
Your recession may be very different from your customers

M&A Integration Advice for MSPs

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 this time through the lens of MSP Verify and the role of process and controls.
 
Highlights:
Integration planning
Controls and process strategy…do you have one?
Best advice for MSPs contemplating one or multiple MSP acquisitions

An Interview with Fred Voccola, CEO of Kaseya

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 and the MSP market, as well as last year's July 4th cyber incident which has caused a lot of industry chatter. 
Don't miss this episode!
MSP Zone Guest: Fred Voccola, CEO of Kaseya