The MSP Zone mspalliance

State and local governments are under attack like never before. Drive by cyber-attacks are crippling already overwhelmed governments and creating unnecessary financial and political pressure on these organizations.

The source of these attacks and the methods being used is not in dispute. What is not being discussed, is the solution. So, I am going to present a very simple, immediately available solution to any governmental employee out there listening to this podcast: managed service providers!

Now, I know what you're going to say. I thought MSPs added risk to our cybersecurity. That is simply not true. It has never been true. In fact, it is a falsehood propagated by inept cybersecurity insurance companies who can't figure out how to quantify their own cyber risk, so they blame the only visible party in the equation, the MSP.

Now, you may be also saying, well why would I use an MSP when they are being sued by their clients for failing to prevent cyberattacks? Well, again, that's a falsehood being
propagated by uneducated people in the media and elsewhere, who just don't know what they are talking about. 

MSPs do not practice reactive or break/fix services. The oxymoronic phrase "reactive IT management" does not make sense because you cannot manage IT in a reactive
mode. Only proactive services (i.e., managed services can truly "manage IT." Recent headlines claiming MSPs being sued by their clients are really reactive or break/fix IT companies…not MSPs!

Finally, MSPs are the only organization capable of addressing the systemic issue here; the lack of consistently applied policies, procedures, and controls, designed to
radically reduce (not eliminate) the chance of a cyberattack being successful.

I commonly get questions related to MSP documentation. When is a good time to start? I only need documentation for when I get certified, right? I'm going to get to that, only later on when I'm established. 

 

The truth is, MSP documentation should start early in your practice; ideally, during the planning stages before you've started to deliver services. Here are some helpful tips so you can better understand why MSP documentation is so important, what is involved, and when you should start. 

 

Why is MSP documentation so important? 

 

MSP Documentation


Policies - HR, legal, 
Procedures/process
Controls

 

When should you start documenting?

FUD: what does it mean? Should you use it in your MSP practice? And, is there a risk to using FUD style tactics? Fear uncertainty and doubt, otherwise known as FUD, may have been created by IBM sales professionals in the 1970s, but it certainly is still being used today by many sales and marketing professionals beyond IBM.

Niraj Tolia, CEO of Alcion, enters the MSP Zone.

The deployment of AI in MSP backup tools addresses several critical challenges in the managed services industry. By integrating AI, MSPs can automate routine and repetitive tasks, such as system monitoring, patch management, and backups, which significantly reduces human error, enhances efficiency, and optimizes resource allocation. This automation leads to cost savings and improved service delivery, which is essential in a competitive market where talent is scarce and operational efficiency is paramount.

The adoption of AI was driven both by MSPs' desire to stay ahead of technological advancements and by internal motivations to improve service quality and reliability. AI has made a substantial positive impact on MSPs and their service delivery by enabling proactive issue resolution.

Niraj discusses his thoughts around AI in data backup, what MSPs need in a modern-day backup solution, why he decided to enter the legacy MSP backup marketplace, and how AI will empower MSPs to succeed.

In the evolving landscape of IT services, the distinction between Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and other IT service models, like break/fix or security consultancy, has become increasingly important. 

 

MSPs offer a comprehensive suite of services that manage and assume the responsibility of a defined set of day-to-day management services for their clients, proactively and under a subscription model. This is in contrast to break/fix services that operate reactively, or security consultants who may focus solely on specific aspects like penetration testing. 

 

The confusion arises when companies misrepresent their services as managed services, which can lead to a misunderstanding of the value and scope of what an MSP truly offers. It's crucial for businesses to recognize the signs of a genuine MSP, such as a proactive approach to IT management, a broad range of services beyond just security, and a partnership mentality rather than an adversarial one. 

 

Understanding these differences can help businesses make informed decisions when choosing an IT service provider that aligns with their needs.

I had the opportunity to play golf with an executive who shared some very insightful perspectives about risk, cyber insurance, and MSPs. The interaction was completely by accident but the information I got was invaluable.