Two-factor authentication can solve the worst password problems
Small to medium-sized businesses often struggle with identity management because they lack the resources of big companies to implement enterprise solutions, but something as simple as two-factor authentication can help keep your company secure. Two-factor authentication simply means that after...
BYOD: The good and the bad
“As long as a smartphone is allowed into an organization, there is no way of controlling how an employee uses the technology.” – Dr. Matthew Warren Smarter MSP recently looked at some of the security concerns inherent with BYOD (Bring...
Block-time billing as a stepping stone to managed services
In my previous two articles, I’ve shared my thoughts on why should you move to the managed services model and also written on how to understand which of your existing clients will move to managed services. But for many IT...
Biggest cybersecurity challenge MSPs face today is pride and prejudice
A recent survey of 250 senior IT leaders suggests that when it comes to cybersecurity, organizations are reluctant to completely outsource the management of their security operations centers (SOCs). The State of SOAR Report 2018 survey was conducted by Virtual...
Sales & Marketing
Carrie Simpson: MSP sales and marketing; a little process goes a long way
All too often, communication between sales and marketing fails — which can lead to missed opportunities. Then the debate begins, are the leads bad or is the rep unskilled? Maybe neither, maybe both. In either case, a defined process and...
Brad Stoller: 3 Sales insights from the world of chess
From the outside, the mind of a grandmaster chess champion can seem superhuman. Playing against a seasoned chess player can feel like playing against a mind-reader. Your opponent across the table has an answer for every move you make, and...
Ask an MSP Expert: How can my MSP get the most value out of a tradeshow?
Q: My business is a new managed service provider and we are looking to get our name out there and make some connections in the industry. We’ve heard that a way to do this might be to attend some tradeshows....
Security
Threat hunting could be very good for managed services providers
In their zeal to be seen to be doing more about cybersecurity, vendors are increasingly embedding threat monitoring capabilities within a variety of applications to make it easier to hunt for malware. But even when vendors decide to make threat detection...
Single sign-on can simplify life for your employees
As you company collects cloud services, it can be a pain tracking logins. A good way to get around that problem is providing your users with a single sign-on. This is a delightful concept that gives your users a single...
Fileless attacks are lurking threats
You’ve installed all the latest antivirus programs and firewalls for your SMB clients, and their networks are safe and sound. When things are working well, a calm status quo makes everyone happy. Unfortunately, a placid surface doesn’t necessarily mean there’s...
Better Business
Ask an MSP Expert: How can we proactively plan for the next storm?
Q: Luckily, our area wasn’t affected by Hurricane Florence — but we might not be so lucky next time. What are some steps we can take to ensure that our SMBs have foolproof disaster recovery plans in place? Natural disasters...
Clive Longbottom: When selling MSP services is like selling a house
I’ll start with a bold statement: being an MSP salesperson is like being a real estate agent. Hold on – don’t stop reading: there is a reason for such a statement. Any real estate agent will tell you what a...
Ask an MSP Expert: Navigating the bid process for government clients
Q: My MSP has never gone after government business, I have wanted to, but I keep getting scared away by the whole bidding process. How complicated is it? An excellent MSP opportunity may be hiding in plain sight. Many MSPs...
Tech Insight
Tech Time Warp: RSA doesn’t stand for really secure authentication (but it should)
The encryption algorithm frequently used to make online shopping sprees secure celebrates two anniversaries this week — the issuing of its patent (Sept. 20, 1983) and the expiration of said patent 17 years later.
CompTIA’s Emerging Technology List is all about the Benjamins
The Internet of Things (IoT) has been identified as the top emerging opportunity for the channel by a community of solution providers set up by CompTIA, a non-profit industry association that focuses on emerging technologies.
MSPs need to promote more creative approaches to funding IT projects
With overall IT spending in many cases expected to be flat in 2019 managed service providers (MSPs) will need to find more creative ways to free up funding within IT budgets that all too often are not allocated in an...