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.

The cybersecurity gap is real—And MSPs are the solution

The cybersecurity gap is real—And MSPs are the solution

Despite frequent headlines about successful cyberattacks, many small businesses remain unprepared. Small business cybersecurity is still falling short in the face of growing threats. A survey of 1,000 small businesses with annual revenues of less than $100 million finds that...

/ July 17, 2025
Cloud
Cloud success: The critical role MSPs play

Cloud success: The critical role MSPs play

After more than a decade of using cloud computing services, many organizations are still struggling to justify a return on investment (ROI). A survey of 350 senior IT leaders in the U.S finds that more than three-quarters (78 percent) admit finding it...

/ July 10, 2025
AWS MSSPs
AWS sets higher standard for MSSP partners

AWS sets higher standard for MSSP partners

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is raising the bar for managed security services providers (MSSPs) by adding a range of specialized certification requirements. An update to the AWS MSSP Competency program introduces specific categories, including infrastructure security, workload security, application security,...

/ July 3, 2025
Navigating the landscape: KPMG reveals the key insights for MSPs

Navigating the landscape: KPMG reveals the key insights for MSPs

A new KPMG report highlights key insights into the evolution of the MSP landscape. There were key seven emerging trends and five universal challenges that are reshaping the industry. Emerging priorities for modern MSPs As the IT landscape continues to...

/ June 26, 2025
AI
Driving change: The role of AI agents in the channel ecosystem

Driving change: The role of AI agents in the channel ecosystem

A report published by the Futurum Group finds that artificial intelligence (AI) tools, applications, agents, and bots are being increasingly used to automate a range of tasks and processes across the channel, particularly in sales, finance, and partner management. AI...

/ June 19, 2025
cloud partnerships
Survey shows growing dependence on cloud partners

Survey shows growing dependence on cloud partners

A survey of 1,800 senior IT decision-makers finds that more than half (52 percent) of respondents said their organization relies on professional services for specific cloud-related needs, with 28 percent being heavily dependent on professional cloud partners for all aspects...

/ June 12, 2025
AI
Survey shows AI initiatives are boosting opportunities for MSPs

Survey shows AI initiatives are boosting opportunities for MSPs

A global survey of over 850 leaders of artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives conducted by The Futurum Group finds more than a quarter report their organization is wrestling with a skills shortage, with other challenges including legacy system integration (35 percent),...

/ June 5, 2025
2030 vision: The managed services market’s soaring to $730 billion

2030 vision: The managed services market’s soaring to $730 billion

The global managed services market size is projected to grow at a 14.1 percent compound annual growth rate over the next five years, reaching $731.1 billion by 2030, according to a market forecast from Grand View Research, Inc. According to...

/ May 29, 2025
The managed mobile services market is about to take off

The managed mobile services market is about to take off

There’s an old maxim that advises managed services providers (MSPs) to focus on tasks that the average IT organization either doesn’t do all that well or would simply rather not have to do at all. Mobile computing appears to be...

/ May 22, 2025
Federal IT reviews signal fresh MSP opportunities ahead

Federal IT reviews signal fresh MSP opportunities ahead

Federal IT contractors have been facing major changes recently as part of the government’s broader effort to reduce overall spending. Leading systems integrators such as Accenture and Booz Allen are reportedly being asked to identify billions of dollars in savings...

/ May 15, 2025