Feature Articles

31. Software Integration In The Federal Computing Environment: Change Meets Challenge 8/26/2021

    This April was "National Supply Chain Integrity Month," a designation by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Of the many points put forth in this awareness campaign, Christopher DeRusha, our nation's federal chief information security officer, specifies that agencies should "Strengthen Partnerships: Information exchange between government and industry on current threat information and security best practices is paramount."

32. 4 Keys To Managing A Successful Remote-First MSP Workforce 8/23/2021

    When the COVID era lockdowns began, many Managed Service Providers (MSPs) scrambled to adjust to a new reality for the foreseeable future. These companies had their primary operations focused on physical offices, and staff made their way to said offices daily. Remote workers were the exception, not the rule, and most firms probably didn’t have best practices established for virtual-only operations.

33. How Virtual Rooms Are Giving Remote Workers The Authentic Office Experience 8/19/2021

    After a year of so many virtual meetings, video and collaboration are second nature to most of us. However, even as employees get increasingly comfortable working from home, something still feels off. Team members miss the personal experience of working near colleagues and being connected to a larger organization. To address this, businesses can embrace the potential of “always-on” virtual rooms, which allow employees to feel like they’re just a cubicle away from coworkers — even those across the country. Due to their extended accessibility, as compared to ordinary virtual meetings, these always-on rooms can recapture the authentic “water cooler” experience remote workers are looking for.

34. 5 Growth Hacks For MSP Survival In 2021 8/19/2021

    It’s 2021 and the MSP market is ripe for growth. As an MSP business owner, you probably have goals of bringing your business to the next level but might not know where to start. Your growth strategy must align with the market to guide strategic implementations of forward-looking technologies. To support this effort, here are a few ways to streamline your business and grow your MSP practice by the end of this year.

35. Cutting The Loss – What To Do When Clients Won’t Address Cyber Risk 8/16/2021

    We live in a brave new world where cyber risk is everywhere we look. Armed with breach prevention tools such as anti-phishing campaigns, weekly/monthly/annual training and quizzes, dark web searches, the most outstandingly marketed endpoint security solutions, and firewalls that are said to be “intelligent” about scanning network traffic, we now have an arsenal of tools, and we are ready and even eager to deploy them. Yet, as the owner of a Managed Service Provider (MSP), I know first-hand that there are problems.

36. How MSPs Can Mitigate Microsoft 365 Outage Issues 8/12/2021

    Among emerging trends during and post-pandemic is our ever-increasing dependency on cloud services like Microsoft 365. With many still working from home, we are more reliant on these services than ever. Any outage, regardless of its cause, results in disruption to business operations. When outages happen on a regional or global scale, they can severely impact the way we live and work.

37. The Pandemic Was Stressful For MSPs: Here's How To Deal With What's Next 8/9/2021

    While the COVID-19 vaccine continues to roll out in the USA and around the world, “returning to normal” is far easier said than done. In fact, many MSP leaders and professionals find themselves facing the next wave of pandemic stress as the clients they serve return to “normal.”

38. Get Your House In Order: 6 Steps To Organize And Prepare Your Business For M&A 8/9/2021

    After a long time talking about it with your family and planning the perfect destination for your next stage in life, you are ready to sell your home. But plenty of work lies ahead before you can officially list it on the market. The process might involve professional cleaning services, minor repairs, and potentially even larger renovation projects to get your home “sell-ready” and realize the highest price. A good real estate agent will help you properly “stage” your property so potential buyers can see themselves living there.

39. Right To Repair Is A Data Center Priority, Too 8/9/2021

    New York Congressman Joe Morelle (D) introduced a historic bill that would help Americans fix their devices. The right to repair bill not only affects car and device manufacturers, but technology companies as a whole. In his announcement on the bill, Morell said, “This common-sense legislation will help make technology repairs more accessible and affordable for items from cell phones to laptops to farm equipment, finally giving individuals the autonomy they deserve.”

40. What Keeps MSPs Up At Night? 8/5/2021

    If you ask, dwindling loyalty, margins and workers are a recipe for many a sleepless night. But one way that MSPs can overcome these challenges is by delivering high-value, in-demand services that others cannot, such as cybersecurity. This can be easily introduced to any MSP portfolio by partnering with an MSSP.