MSP 501 Profile: Guardian Computer on What Vendors Should Do, But Don’t

Company Name: Guardian Computer 

Company MSP 501 Rank: 126 

CEO: John Prejean

Headquartered: New Orleans, LA 

Primary Services:

• Networking
• Security
• Cloud 

Twitter: @guardian_comp

MSP 501 partner Guardian Computer is no newcomer to the channel. But for many businesses – and particularly partner businesses – the pandemic is taking a new toll on operations.

MSPs like Guardian Computer witness the challenges their customers and employees face as the pandemic rages on. They’re also recipients of the opportunity to be able to help customer business stay afloat.

Guardian Computer’s John Prejean

However, even veteran businesses like Guardian need the help of their technology partners. Here, CEO John Prejean talks about the trials and tribulations of being on the front lines this year, working on one hand with vendor partners, and on the other, with customers.

Channel Futures: What new opportunities and challenges came with the COVID-19 pandemic? 

JP: The use of remote working and conferencing has increased dramatically in the last few months. The technologies behind these digital practices have been lifesavers for many businesses. But transitioning to a virtual environment brings both opportunities and challenges for IT.

We have had the opportunity to configure new remote access solutions that are flexible, reliable and secure. This has included network configuration, security, cloud management and help desk support.

As workers establish new remote work setups at home, many have required assistance establishing reliable, secure networks and endpoints. So we secure their computer networks and the network connections to computers, phones, tablets, servers, databases and more.

The lines between the customer’s personal and professional lives have become blurred. More people are working on personal computers and smartphones, opening companies up to additional risks. Mobile devices, in particular, may be more susceptible to phishing schemes and mobile-specific malware.

As more organizations transition to a remote workforce, many are becoming increasingly reliant on cloud computing. Keeping company information, files and data in the cloud makes it easier for employees to access and share these items remotely.

However, hackers are taking advantage of these migrations to the cloud. If an attacker can infiltrate a company cloud, they gain access to valuable information, as well as new opportunities to impersonate users within the company. It’s critical for organizations to address the potential threats by establishing proper cloud security and employee protocols.

CF: What is one thing you wish vendors would do that they don’t? 

JP: Like the rest of us, many vendors have been slammed throughout the pandemic. It’s been a challenge to keep supply chains up and running. But I wish more vendors would make customer communication and support a priority, despite these unprecedented challenges. This would enable all of us to keep our operations running as smoothly as possible.

Unfortunately, disruptions and delays in the supply chain can have far-reaching consequences. A slowdown in production can lead to …