The fastest-growing MSPs tend to offer more services than slower-growing counterparts, including offerings around cloud and 24-7 network operations center (NOC) coverage, according to a new survey of 920 MSPs conducted by Kaseya.

Faster-growing firms also tend to charge more, the report states.

Kaseya’s MSP Global Pricing Survey 2017, released this week, found strong growth in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) among MSPs, with 44 percent reporting three-year average MRR growth rates of 10 percent or more.

MSPs surveyed also said the top IT problems in the new year include meeting growing cybersecurity risks and challenges of cloud adoption and migration.

CompTIA AMM keynote: Innovation expert and chief disruptor at Autodesk Tom Wujec will be the keynote speaker at the CompTIA Annual Member Meeting, scheduled for March 21-23 in Chicago.

The event is free for CompTIA Premier members, or $350 for non-members in a package that includes a one-year membership.

Microsoft ends pay-as-you-go Azure: New buyers of Microsoft Azure cloud services will no longer be able to buy directly from the vendor under the Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA), beginning on Feb. 1, the company announced in a blog this week.

The volume-licensing program allowed for “pay-as-you-go” pricing.

Instead, first-time Azure service buyers will be directed to partners in the Cloud Solution Provider program, for “value-added” support.

The change does not affect customers already paying for Azure services through the MPSA.

College pays ransom for data: Los Angeles Valley College last week week announced that it paid the equivalent of $28,000 in untraceable Bitcoin to secure the release of hundreds of thousands of files, the school’s website said.

The ransomware attack was detected within hours on Dec. 30, but had already disrupted essential computer networks, email and voicemail.

LAVC paid the ransom by tapping the college district’s cybersecurity insurance policy, officials said.

Speaking of ransomware: A new survey by security firm Radware found that ransomware capers are now the most common form of cyberattack.

The company’s Global Application & Network Security Report 2016-17 found that ransom was the motive behind 41 percent of attacks carried out against the companies surveyed, followed by insider threats (27 percent). 

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