Cybersecurity predictions for 2021
Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic pretty much dominated everything, which created many challenges for MSPs. What does 2021 hold in the realm of cybersecurity? Unfortunately, perhaps more of the same, according to Hussain Aldawood, Director of Cybersecurity, for Saudi Arabia-based...
Demand for managed services shows signs of recovery
A report published this week by the technology research and advisory firm Information Services Group (ISG) shows global demand for managed services began to recover in the fourth quarter of 2020. In that quarter, annual contract value for managed services...
MSPs to face cybersecurity challenges in 2021
Many people hope that, by the end of 2021, we will look back on this year with fonder memories than the previous one. However, we shouldn’t overlook potential peril for MSPs and other cybersecurity stakeholders. Last year, we witnessed an...
The benefits of an MSSP
The managed security service provider (MSSP) business is currently a fast-growing one, thanks to the evolving threats to cybersecurity. Hackers are improving their ability to infiltrate networks, and business leaders that didn’t consider cybersecurity previously are looking for ways to...
Sales & Marketing
How can AI help MSPs hone their digital marketing strategy?
Current global climates are posing new challenges to MSP providers, with a recent IEEE survey indicating that CIOs and CTOs will be called upon to deal with a plethora of new circumstances in 2021. Some of the biggest challenges include...
Is your MSP website hurting your sales efforts?
As the CEO of Tech Pro Marketing, not too long ago I had the opportunity to complete a detailed study of all of the MSP websites we have under management. It was a very interesting experience for me, as some...
Ask an MSP Expert: An overlooked MSP marketing tool
Q: I want to grow my MSP business, but most marketing tactics appear to be outside of my budget. Do you have any ideas? MSPs have many tools at their disposal to generate new business: word-of-mouth, conferences, websites, trade shows,...
Security
Tech Time Warp: SQL Slammer reveals a harsh truth
Network admins the world over had a bad weekend in late January 2003. That’s when the SQL Slammer took the world by storm and, in the process, reminded everyone of a harsh truth: A security patch does no good if...
MSPs, MDM and the post-pandemic normal
As COVID-19 vaccines roll out, visions of busy cubicles begin to seem less distant. But the return to full office buildings will only happen gradually and probably not noticeably until the third quarter. Even then, as companies realize savings and...
Good security is about controlling what you can control
Last year was a terrible year in so many respects, so it’s not overly surprising that there were a number of historic hacks. Some of these were so vast and so all-encompassing, it could make you feel like you can’t...
Better Business
Ask an MSP Expert: Why don’t customers see value in my services?
Q: I do my best to keep my managed services customers happy, but I am not seeing the long-term client retention that I’d like to. How can I be more effective at showing my customers that our relationship is worth...
The difference between analytics and business intelligence
Many MSPs may not realize this, but with “actionable insights” they can strike GOLD! It’s only a matter of presenting the right data, at the right time, to the right people with the right device. Having insights that are actionable means that you...
MSPs enter 2021 holding their own
A single-digit increase in the percentage of IT budgets being allocated to managed services in 2021 may give managed service providers (MSPs) cause for concern, but within the context of larger IT spending patterns it would appear MSPs are holding...
Tech Insight
Disgruntled remote workers create opportunities for MSPs
It’s not uncommon for managed service providers (MSPs) to find themselves trying to navigate widely divergent perceptions of how well IT services are being delivered, and the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have pushed various camps within organizations to even further...
Tech Time Warp: Wikipedia launches as a side project to Nupedia
Still not a solid entry in a bibliography, Wikipedia is a highly useful place to find answers to your pressing questions—and it’s definitely a mainstay of contemporary life. The website at the top of your search results was launched January...
How do I track technicians’ work without creating mistrust?
Q: My technicians monitor massive amounts of sensitive data and have access to multiple high-security clearance networks. How can I track them without creating an atmosphere of mistrust? MSP technicians are the guardians of the galaxy when it comes to...