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.

Survey: Kubernetes growth unlocks new MSP opportunities

Survey: Kubernetes growth unlocks new MSP opportunities

A global survey of 628 IT professionals shows that internal IT teams are increasingly struggling to manage cloud‑native applications running on Kubernetes clusters—creating new opportunities for managed service providers (MSPs). Steady Kubernetes adoption puts pressure on IT teams Conducted by...

/ January 29, 2026
Report shows slower MSP contract growth heading into 2026

Report shows slower MSP contract growth heading into 2026

The latest report from the Information Services Group (ISG) finds that global demand for managed services slowed in the fourth quarter, marking the second consecutive quarter of year-over-year decline in the value of large contracts. Contract growth shows signs of...

/ January 23, 2026
Report: Global managed services market to exceed $1 trillion by 2035

Report: Global managed services market to exceed $1 trillion by 2035

A new report from Market Research Future (MRFR) projects that the managed services market in North America will grow at a CAGR of 7.18 percent between 2025 and 2035, reaching $419.7 billion, up from $209.9 billion in 2025. Globally, the...

/ January 15, 2026
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