Empowering clients with HIPAA-compliant WFH policies
For MSPs supporting the myriad businesses under HIPAA’s purview, the pandemic forcibly accelerated work-from-home policies that were, for many, already on the roadmap. Any forward-looking organization had anticipated future expansion of remote work practices. But the pandemic meant implementing such...
Tomorrow’s cybersecurity at today’s colleges
University students in 2021 have a worldview of cybersecurity that has been shaped by the pandemic and forged by immersion in technology from cradle to college. Smarter MSP recently caught up with Bilal Shebaro, an associate professor in the Department of...
World Backup Day should focus on the recovery experience
The annual arrival of World Backup Day on the day before April Fool’s Day may not get the level of recognition it deserves, but it does provide a useful construct for managed service providers (MSPs) to draw attention to an...
Ask an MSP Expert: How can I successfully migrate my RMM tool?
Q: We want to switch our RMM tool, but I am worried about how this would impact my customers and my technicians. What should I watch out for to ensure a successful migration? Switching an RMM can be a daunting...
Sales & Marketing
3 sales questions your MSP should be asking prospects
In my work with MSP business owners, the one topic that seems to cause leaders more consternation than any other is sales meetings. I can understand why! Many MSP owners, like myself, started their businesses off the back of their...
Marketing CMMC compliance services as an MSP
In my 18 years as an IT support company executive, I’ve learned a lot about the client’s needs. I can rattle off solutions to common problems and give you a laundry list of ways to proactively move your business forward....
Sell or wallow: Which sales path will you choose?
You have heard me talk about the importance of MSPs adding new monthly recurring revenue (MRR) for more than a decade. Adding customers at the right price is key to becoming a World Class MSP. This strategy is more important...
Security
A conversation about ransomware in 2021
The year 2021 continues to see a surge in ransomware as the world’s cyber ecosystem begins to ease into a post-pandemic phase. The education and healthcare sectors remain particularly vulnerable to ransomware as hackers attempt to squeeze more out of...
Ask an MSP Expert: How can I meet evolving cloud security needs?
Q: Many of my SMB customers have adopted cloud solutions as a result of their shift to operating with a remote workforce. How can my MSP maintain strong cloud security while keeping pace with this shift? According to a recent...
Tech Time Warp: Melissa virus opens eyes to risks of cybercrime
In 1999, the internet seemed like a more innocent place. Few of us were aware of the risks associated with logging on. But then the Melissa virus came along and opened our eyes. Reportedly named after a Florida stripper, the...
Better Business
Calling all MSPs: Get Involved in Global MSP Day 2021!
Three years ago, Barracuda, a leading provider of cloud-enabled security solutions, created the world’s first MSP Day, a movement designed to build an interactive, connected, and collaborative community of IT managed service providers. The founding purpose of MSP Day was...
MSPs need to get ahead of coming IT rebellion
A survey of 1,003 individuals, published this week by Eagle Hill Consulting, confirms what most managed service providers (MSPs) have long known in their hearts: more than three quarters (78 percent) respondents said technology makes their job harder. Most IT...
Barracuda is a finalist for Best Customer Service in the 2021 SC Awards
We’re excited to share that Barracuda has been recognized as an Excellence Award finalist in the Best Customer Service category for the 2021 SC Awards. Finalists are recognized for outstanding leadership and providing superior security products to the cybersecurity industry. Winners...
Tech Insight
Pioneers in Tech: Elizabeth “Jake” Feinler’s domain names
The use of .com, .edu, .org, etc., is so commonplace you might not have contemplated its origin story. But someone had to make sense of what became the internet—and that someone is Elizabeth “Jake” Feinler, who managed the internet’s host...
Tech Time Warp: Remembering Microsoft’s Z80 SoftCard
Microsoft’s recent success with the Surface doesn’t change the fact the tech giant is primarily known for software. After all, Windows and Microsoft Office are ubiquitous in corporate life. But don’t let these juggernauts erase memories of the Z80 SoftCard,...
Q&A: How to drive efficiency with Barracuda RMM
You may have seen that last week, Barracuda unveiled a new name for its security-centric RMM platform. Formerly known as Barracuda Managed Workplace, it will be called Barracuda RMM moving forward. This change is an exciting step as we continue...