Month: January 2021
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...