https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • SDN/SD-WAN
    • Cloud
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Telephony/UC/Collaboration
    • Cable
    • Mobility & Wireless
    • Fiber/Ethernet
    • Data Centers
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • IoT
    • Desktop
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Analytics
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Channel Research
    • Business Models
    • Distribution
    • Master Agents
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Best Practices
    • Vertical Markets
    • Regulation & Compliance
    • Diversity & Inclusion
  • MSSP Insider
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • Apply Now
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • From the Industry
    • Reports/Digital Issues
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Channel Educational Series
  • EMEA
  • Channel Chatter
    • Back
    • People on the Move
    • New/Changing Channel Programs
    • New Products & Services
    • Industry Honors
    • Channel Convergence
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Advisory Boards
    • Industry Organizations
    • Our Sponsors
    • Content Resources
  • Awards
    • Back
    • 2021 MSP 501
    • Circle of Excellence
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
    • Industry Events
  • DE&I
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • SDN/SD-WAN
    • Cloud
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Telephony/UC/Collaboration
    • Cable
    • Mobility & Wireless
    • Fiber/Ethernet
    • Data Centers
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • IoT
    • Desktop
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Analytics
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Channel Research
    • Business Models
    • Distribution
    • Master Agents
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Best Practices
    • Vertical Markets
    • Regulation & Compliance
    • Diversity & Inclusion
  • MSSP Insider
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • Apply Now
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • From the Industry
    • Reports/Digital Issues
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Channel Educational Series
  • EMEA
  • Channel Chatter
    • Back
    • People on the Move
    • New/Changing Channel Programs
    • New Products & Services
    • Industry Honors
    • Channel Convergence
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Advisory Boards
    • Industry Organizations
    • Our Sponsors
    • Content Resources
  • Awards
    • Back
    • 2021 MSP 501
    • Circle of Excellence
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
    • Industry Events
  • DE&I
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Agents
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • Channel Partners Events
 Channel Futures

Best Practices


Shutterstock

Four, 4

4 Keys to Sustainable Growth for MSPs a Year Into COVID-19

  • Written by Hunter Willis
  • April 1, 2021
Develop service offerings, be a strategic partner and help clients maximize investments.
AvePoint's Hunter Willis

Hunter Willis

According to a recent McKinsey study, the pandemic advanced the digitization of internal operations by three to four years. And as we saw last March, many businesses were able to adapt so quickly because of the help of managed service providers handling digital transformation and migration efforts.

But as more organizations complete their cloud transitions, MSPs need to take stock of future revenue opportunities to continue the type of growth they’ve seen this year.

The good news for MSPs (and for those who like working from home) is that the distributed, digital workforce is here to stay. In fact, nearly a quarter of businesses have already suggested they will be remote for the next five years, meaning that the MSP market, which today relies primarily on selling and reselling software, has the potential to continue to scale and grow.

MSPs can also take to heart that, despite millions of dollars in advertising that would say otherwise, life in the cloud isn’t a worry-free nirvana. In fact, depending on how quickly and diligently organizations accelerated their digital transformations during the height of work-from-home orders, there may be quite the mess to clean up.

Here are some recommendations for how MSPs can charter an effective path forward, given all that has transpired in the last year.

Move Quickly, But Don’t Hurry

MSPs would be wise to heed the advice “Be quick, but don’t hurry,” from Coach John Wooden, who led his UCLA Bruins to 10 national championships (seven in a row) over 12 years, was named national coach of the year six times and taught far more than basketball skills.

Organizations moved to the cloud at a rapid pace as they struggled to accommodate staff suddenly working remotely. For example, Microsoft Teams added more than 75 million daily active users since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now clients want to maximize their investments and use all the services collaboration platforms such as Microsoft 365 have to offer. As the IT professional, you know that it’s never as simple as just rolling the ball out and letting the team figure it out on the court. Before a service can be used effectively, you must think through security, backup, compliance and other critical items. The customer might not anticipate these issues, but they expect you to do the heavy lifting.

Find the right pace so you’re leveraging partners and solutions that enable your customers to adopt quickly, but don’t compromise by being in a hurry and leaving key workloads unsupported or out of compliance.

Focus on Differentiators and Services

There’s no denying the fierce competition within the MSP market. Ask yourself: what makes your services stand out and who is your ideal customer?

For example, Microsoft has become the platform of choice within the digital collaboration space. Earning and highlighting industry credentials and certifications which show your expertise within the ecosystem can be an advantage. Even still, there are plenty of MSPs proficient in all things Microsoft. You have to dig deeper and find your niche within the already very niche MSP industry. Suppose you just earned a unique data privacy certification or you …

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
Tags: MSPs Best Practices Business Models Cloud Strategy

Related


  • dump truck
    First VMware, Now Dell Might Offload Boomi Cloud Business
    Michael Dell reportedly is focused on trimming down his company.
  • Man at computer with security icons
    AT&T Cybersecurity Tackles Endpoint Security, Expanding Edge
    Also, the carrier's cybersecurity subsidiary honored its top channel partners.
  • Hacker looking at computer
    Biden Administration Issues Russian Sanctions in Response to SolarWinds Hack, Election Interference
    This isn't the first time the United States has sanctioned Russia for malicious cyber activity.
  • remote work
    Annual MSP Benchmark Survey Reveals Remote Work Still a Top Challenge
    In a year when hundreds of millions of jobs shifted to remote work practically overnight, the transition hasn’t always been smooth.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Zerto Unveils New Platforms, Names Top Resellers, MSPs
  • Ixia, HP, AT&T Vet Joins TPx Leadership Team, 'Understands Channel Conflict'
  • Druva Hits $2 Billion Valuation in Big Win for Cloud Data Protection Sector
  • Diversity of Thought Is Essential for the Channel's Future

Galleries

View all

M&A Roundup: Tech Data, RingCentral, Telarus, Datto, More

April 20, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

Annual MSP Benchmark Survey Reveals Remote Work Still a Top Challenge

April 20, 2021

Why Digital Transformation Is the ‘Invisible Hand’ of Our Time

April 19, 2021

SD-WAN Supports More Purposeful Shift to Cloud

April 16, 2021

Webinars

View all

What to Look For: 2021 Threat Report

April 22, 2021

Health Care and SD-WAN: A Seller’s Guide

April 27, 2021

How MSPs Can Leverage SOCaaS to Improve Security & Grow Revenue

May 4, 2021

White Papers

View all

Hacker Personas: A Deeper Look into Cybercrime

April 20, 2021

Carbonite Data Protection and Cyber Resilience

April 15, 2021

Top Tips: How Resellers Can Leverage Rackspace to Enhance Customer’s Cyber Security Protection with Microsoft 365 Security

March 30, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

MSP Summit

November 1, 2021 - November 2, 2021

Channel Evolution Europe

November 30, 2021 - December 1, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

5 Reasons Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Is Important

Five9 Shares Insights on Implementing a DE&I Strategy

April 13, 2021

FASTCHAT: How Fortinet Reduces Complexity Through Networking, Security

March 31, 2021

Strong Customer Experience Needs Strong Partner Experience

December 22, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

.@AppSmartcom touted its platform at its #AppSmartUnleash event. dlvr.it/Ry5SSF https://t.co/RQdXFffe9N

April 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@digicert Security Summit highlights growth, innovation amid #COVID19. dlvr.it/Ry5SNP https://t.co/g1yFRHHjKa

April 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

Congrats to @CatSolazzo on her new #marketing gig at @Tech_Data. The channel knows her well from #IBM.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

April 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@OtavaLLC unveils #partnerprogram enhancements. #cloud dlvr.it/Ry4g4t https://t.co/D9dUuezdn9

April 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

#MSP business is still strong & growing @KaseyaCorp 2021 benchmark survey #digitaltransformation #remotework… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

April 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

Our M&A roundup includes massive @Synnex-@Tech_Data merger, @McAfee's enterprise unit sale and @Telarus' acquisitio… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

April 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

Join the Allies of the Channel Council, Xposure Inclusion & Diversity Council, and @AllianceofCW on Thursday at 2 p… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

April 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@salesforce revives Data Recovery Service it retired last year as @AvePoint launches #Salesforce #CloudBackup.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

April 20, 2021

MSSP Insider

Business advice for MSSPs and news from the broader security channel.

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Galleries

Educational slide shows and images from live events.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Events
  • Telecoms.com
  • MSP 501
  • Black Hat
  • IoT World Today
  • Omdia

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X