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.

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
Windows 11
Windows 11 migration push begins in earnest

Windows 11 migration push begins in earnest

Now that Windows 10 is no longer being officially supported for free by Microsoft, the pace at which organizations are expected to upgrade PCs that are optimized for artificial intelligence (AI) applications is set to dramatically increase. AI PC market...

/ October 30, 2025
managed services
Global momentum in managed services growth

Global momentum in managed services growth

A report from Information Services Group (ISG) finds that billing for managed services valued over $5 million in the Americas grew by 22 percent in the third quarter. However, the global market declined by 2 percent, primarily due to delays...

/ October 23, 2025
cybersecurity
Survey finds organizations looking to MSPs for AI cybersecurity expertise

Survey finds organizations looking to MSPs for AI cybersecurity expertise

A survey of over 3,880 business and technology leaders conducted by PwC finds that artificial intelligence (AI) is now the top cybersecurity technology that organizations are looking to managed service providers (MSPs) to help implement. According to the survey, 38...

/ October 16, 2025