Category: Better Business

Best practices for managing a remote workforce during an emergency

Best practices for managing a remote workforce during an emergency

The idea of promoting remote work has gained traction across businesses of all sizes. It provides flexibility to colleagues and creates a workforce without limits to city, state, or country. Offering this option to employees is a nice perk and...

/ March 18, 2020 / 6 Comments
MSPs need to help clients update business continuity plans ASAP

MSPs need to help clients update business continuity plans ASAP

Managed service providers (MSPs) have a lot more to share than they realize when it comes to teaching organizations how to work remotely. Beyond providing secure connectivity, many MSPs tend to have large amounts of expertise in maintaining business continuity...

/ March 18, 2020
Ask an MSP Expert: How should my MSP go about offering health insurance to my employees?

Ask an MSP Expert: How should my MSP go about offering health insurance to my employees?

Q: My MSP is rapidly growing. When should I start offering my technician and office staff health insurance and what are the best ways to start exploring my options? As an MSP, you are accustomed to answering questions about patching...

/ March 17, 2020
Ask an MSP Expert: What are some common HIPAA missteps and how can my MSP avoid them?

Ask an MSP Expert: What are some common HIPAA missteps and how can my MSP avoid them?

Q: My MSP partners with clients that frequently work with sensitive medical data that falls under HIPAA protections. How can my MSP ensure that this data remains protected and that our clients are not subjected to penalties from HIPAA? Despite...

/ March 10, 2020
The new way to look at managed services

The new way to look at managed services

Have any of these thoughts about your MSP business recently crossed your mind? “I’m not able to charge a rate that serves my business well.” “I’m absorbing all the security risks for my client without increasing the cost.” “I’m unable...

/ March 5, 2020
How to structure your MSP alliances with other technology companies

How to structure your MSP alliances with other technology companies

I recently wrote an article for SmarterMSP on why your MSP should build strategic alliances, which received a lot of good feedback. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) were intrigued at the concept of building strategic alliances (or “buddying up”) with other...

/ March 3, 2020 / 13 Comments
MSP Metric: Customer lifetime value (LTV)

MSP Metric: Customer lifetime value (LTV)

As providers of various SaaS products, MSPs sometimes feel “stuck in the middle,” providing the sales and front-line support for such products in exchange for a considerably small margin. We rely heavily on these products and I have always wondered...

/ February 25, 2020
Survey identifies data protection as top service being delivered by third-parties

Survey identifies data protection as top service being delivered by third-parties

A survey of 110 IT decision-makers based in the U.S. suggests that the reliance on third-party IT services is starting to increase as IT becomes more complex. Conducted by US Signal, a provider of data center services, the survey finds...

/ February 20, 2020
Ask an MSP Expert: How can my MSP keep up with the regulatory landscape for data protection?

Ask an MSP Expert: How can my MSP keep up with the regulatory landscape for data protection?

Q: The regulatory landscape is continually changing, and I know that the price for inadvertently running afoul of a data law can be steep. What are the best ways to stay on top of the rapidly changing regulatory landscape for...

/ February 17, 2020
How to become your vendor’s favourite MSP partner

How to become your vendor’s favourite MSP partner

When I’m helping IT Solution Providers and Managed Service Providers (MSPs), I often ask them the question, “What is your relationship like with your vendor partners?” They often look at me blankly or reply, “What relationship?” If you want to...

/ February 17, 2020