What is the true cost of slow, outdated workstations and laptops?  A Techaisle report on the effect of aging hardware estimates that an average of 42 hours annually are lost when a PC needs repair. Repair and upgrade costs can sometimes amount to hundreds or even thousands.  Add in the cost of slow servers, and the problem gets worse.  According to a 2018 Microsoft study, a PC beyond 4 years of age: Runs slower and is 2.7x more likely to require maintenance Costs a user approximately 112 hours of productivity Total cost of ownership is approximately $2,636 per user per asset Th ..read more

Conversations between an MSP and their client are foundational to a successful business relationship. But with so much to manage, the dialogue between the two can break down, causing confusion and slowing down service.  Communication can be hard when it comes to multi-layer projects with complex aspects, or working with clients who aren’t tech-savvy.  Identifying what your clients care about, and how best to talk to them, will take your business a long way without having to change much. The key to keeping people engaged and informed is to simplify the information.  With a few ti ..read more

One of the biggest trends in the MSP industry is offering compliance services.  Of course, MSPs are trying to develop the service while still being profitable and driving revenue growth. Cybersecurity compliance services can be a big win in this regard, but MSPs need to develop the right approach. So where should they start? Before jumping into compliance, MSPs need to understand the most relevant cybersecurity frameworks.  These frameworks are the guidelines used to ensure data security is meeting the standards.  By using these frameworks to measure a business’ data security, t ..read more

You’ve decided to offer compliance as a service, but how do you incorporate it into your MSP’s business plan?  As the importance of cybersecurity compliance increases, MSPs are trying to find the best way to build it into their business. But what’s the right pricing strategy? How do you set fair rates for this new service? That’s why we’ve broken this topic down to four key elements to consider when developing pricing strategies for compliance.  Define the scope Examine risk and reporting Value added services Types of pricing models Define the scope To start, MSPs need to define th ..read more

The need for businesses to become compliant with specific cybersecurity standards is becoming increasingly important in nearly every industry. MSPs and clients are looking to reduce the risk of cyber attacks, avoid regulatory fines, and build trust with customers.  In ScalePad’s 2024 MSP Trends Report, Compliance as a Service was the number one service MSPs were looking to add in the upcoming year. MSPs across the industry are realizing that compliance is no longer an option anymore. It’s a must-have. But how can MSPs get started on offering compliance as part of their service? Let’s walk ..read more

You never want to see a client uninterested in meeting with your MSP. Yawns, glancing at the clock, shifting in their seat, all bad signs for client engagement.  But for so many MSPs working with clients who aren’t tech savvy, this is exactly the type of disengaged behavior that needs to be remedied to move the client, and the MSP, forward. That’s why it’s so important to focus on client meetings to make sure everyone understands and is engaged, whether they’re Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) or more frequent meetings. By presenting metrics that really matter to their business goals, MS ..read more

For many MSPs across the industry, disposing of assets at the end of their lifespan can take too much time and money. Often, disposal is not incorporated into the assert lifecycle plans and left to be done manually by the MSP staff.  Spending hours collecting the inventory and drilling hard drives to destroy data is simply not a good use of your time. Instead, MSPs need a way to streamline the process and turn it into new revenue. With a disposal plan, you can monetize disposal for clients, streamlining the process and improving revenue at the same time.  Let’s dig into a few ways yo ..read more

Data security has become one of the top priorities for business owners today. But while it is easy to talk about, becoming secure can take a lot of work. For businesses seeking data security, cyber liability insurance keeps them covered.  But qualifying for insurance is becoming more difficult. To get clients insured, MSPs are addressing one of the major factors in data protection: compliance. Keeping a client compliant with security frameworks can make qualifying for insurance easier.  Why do MSPs Need Cyber Security Insurance? As cyber attacks become more prevalent, MSPs of all siz ..read more

The security of backups is a constant factor MSPs need to manage in their support for clients.  But simply backing it up isn’t going to provide enough security. You need a consistent, safe strategy. Similar to insurance, backup security is something you hope to never use, but always need to have. Taking steps to secure the safety of backups can take a lot of time and effort. But all the work is immediately worth it once an MSP needs to restore data that has been lost. Across the MSP industry, the 3-2-1 backup rule has been used to cover the different risks associated with keeping backups ..read more

The security of backups is a constant factor MSPs need to manage in their support for clients.  But simply backing it up isn’t going to provide enough security. You need a consistent, safe strategy. Similar to insurance, backup security is something you hope to never use, but always need to have. Taking steps to secure the safety of backups can take a lot of time and effort. But all the work is immediately worth it once an MSP needs to restore data that has been lost. Across the MSP industry, the 3-2-1 backup rule has been used to cover the different risks associated with keeping backups ..read more