In the panels on last week’s Managed Services Summit Live (https://live.mshsummit.com/) the debate turned on the confidence shown by the industry so far in 2020 in dealing with the move to remote working and keeping its customers going forwards. Mark Chadwick from Fusion21 – a customer of MSP Aabyss – said that everything seen this year and the way the industry has supported its customers had been put in place for a while. “We’ve seen the shift to cloud, agile working and services over the years. It is the case that the industry has brought solutions to the market that would have taken years in a matter of months. Instead of me taking a year or two to think about where I want my business to be – without the luxury of time, the pandemic has brought a sharp focus on what is out there and how we can use it,” he told the online audience.
“We have a good relationship with the MSP and what we need to do which puts us in a good position.”
Kyle Torres at vendor Sophos agreed that MSPs and vendors have done an amazing job, but care is needed: “The solutions were all there and the MSPs that were flexible and agile in selecting solutions. Things are still changing and well done so far, but let us be careful.”
With a European perspective Sminder Balkhu from OVH Cloud said that they have seen a massive shift in how data has been used. “A number of concerns on transfer between Europe and the US has meant a number of initiatives from Europe on cloud. We are seeing how partners are surviving and doing well in this changed market.”
David Devine, also at OVH said that one big shift is the type of application being put in the cloud now is quite different – “more critical, more data sensitive and things are even more bespoke.” The criteria is different and gives a European alternative to the US giants.
The nature of the MSPs themselves may be changing: Alex Ford IT Glue indicated more new entrants: “We have seen a global move to more MSPs starting – a lot of one and two person businesses starting. Perhaps out of struggling larger firms or vertical market clients. Starting a business in a downturn may be seen as crazy, but some of the best business have done this -perhaps because the market need is there. Some larger MSPs are focusing on larger and more profitable customers”
Paola Carosella at Duo Security also reported change: “We have seen our existing MSPs looking at more services and additional products, products with more control of devices. We have seen no decline in security issues and a lot of interest from smaller customers.”
Sam Callaghan at ConnectWise: “Broadly speaking we are seeing MSP start-ups but nothing unusual – it has been the same for a while. Enterprises are outsourcing non-core competencies which has meant more work for MSPs. The market is certainly changing however.”
Andrew Allen at MSP Aabyss: “We have cross- vertical exposure – those customers with stronger planning are doing better, but even in hard-hit hospitality some have adapted and done well. The challenge is that most innovation has been client-led with customers coming to the managed services industry. This is not the right way to promote what we do. There is a huge part of this market which is served by MSPs without all the competencies; we are doing to see more opportunities from end-users recognising their shortcomings and this will help those MSPs who are able to offer better services.”
This debate, presentations and more are available at the site https://live.mshsummit.com/ from Nov 5
