Mike Vizard

All posts by Mike Vizard

Mike Vizard has covered IT for more than 25 years, and has edited or contributed to a number of tech publications including InfoWorld, eWeek, CRN, Baseline, ComputerWorld, TMCNet, and Digital Review. He currently blogs for IT Business Edge and contributes to CIOinsight, The Channel Insider, Programmableweb and Slashdot. Mike blogs about emerging cloud technology for Smarter MSP.

Mergers and acquisitions: Disruptions and opportunities for MSPs

Mergers and acquisitions: Disruptions and opportunities for MSPs

Few business events are as challenging as a merger or acquisition. Even with the best intentions, outcomes rarely align perfectly with expectations. For managed service providers (MSPs), these transactions can create significant uncertainty—but also open doors to new opportunities. Three...

/ January 8, 2026
Customer incentives: A proven catalyst for MSP growth

Customer incentives: A proven catalyst for MSP growth

Managed service providers (MSPs) have always cared about customer retention—but now IT vendors are putting real incentives behind it. Amazon Web Services (AWS), for example, is introducing two updates to its partner program next year that reward MSPs for keeping...

/ January 1, 2026
Cyberattack targets included MSPs in energy sector

Cyberattack targets included MSPs in energy sector

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has issued a stark reminder of just how dangerous and persistent cyberattacks targeting managed service providers (MSPs) can be—especially when those MSPs support critical industries. The cloud provider recently released new findings showing that a series...

/ December 25, 2025
Customer management incentive programs fuel MSP growth

Customer management incentive programs fuel MSP growth

Customer retention has always been a priority for managed service providers (MSPs), but IT vendors are now placing even greater emphasis on it—and backing that focus with financial incentives. Doubling down on customer retention Amazon Web Services (AWS), for example,...

/ December 18, 2025
The future of MSP success: Outcomes over offerings

The future of MSP success: Outcomes over offerings

A recent report from Guidehouse signals the dawn of a new era for managed services. By the end of 2025, fees and contracts will increasingly be tied to business outcomes rather than traditional service delivery. As this transition unfolds, expect...

/ December 11, 2025
AWS Insights: How profitability scales with services expertise

AWS Insights: How profitability scales with services expertise

A survey of 35 Amazon Web Services (AWS) partners reveals that services revenue per dollar of AWS-generated revenue varies widely, depending on the level of expertise and the breadth of services offered across the customer lifecycle. Key findings Conducted by...

/ December 4, 2025
Five trends MSPs can be thankful for in 2025

Five trends MSPs can be thankful for in 2025

While Thanksgiving has been a national holiday in the U.S. since 1863, the notion of setting aside a day to give thanks reaches as far back as 1623. Fast forward to 2025, and the tech landscape looks very different, but...

/ November 27, 2025
The AI shift: Is It time MSPs turned MIPs?

The AI shift: Is It time MSPs turned MIPs?

A Top Down Ventures report forecasts that next-generation managed service providers (MSPs) that are focused on outcomes driven by artificial intelligence (AI) agents, will enjoy 10 to 15 basis points of higher EBITA margins than their current average. The next...

/ November 20, 2025
AI-driven change demands faster innovation from MSPs

AI-driven change demands faster innovation from MSPs

Ingram Micro CEO Paul Bay is calling on managed service providers (MSPs) and other channel partners to become true business partners to their end customers. AI’s acceleration of change Speaking at the Ingram Micro ONE 2025 conference, Bay noted that...

/ November 13, 2025
MSSPs should brace for the AI-driven vulnerability wave

MSSPs should brace for the AI-driven vulnerability wave

Managed security service providers (MSSPs) prepare for a surge of application vulnerabilities—flaws that attackers are likely to exploit faster than ever. AI-generated code: The new normal A Sapio Research survey of 450 IT professionals in the U.S. and Europe found...

/ November 6, 2025