Steve Dunmall , Managing Director, Total IT
“I don’t think any MSP owner can ever stop worrying about security, workloads and talent shortages.
1. Security: “The ever-evolving landscape, having to ensure our business and our clients’ businesses are protected. It’s getting increasingly harder as the workforce spreads out, though a proactive security training session for all new starters should now be on top of MSPs’ lists. Although very time-consuming, one-on-one personalised security awareness will save countless hours, or even days recovering from an attack.
2. Increased workloads: “I think a lot of companies have had it fairly easy over the last year, so its only natural that as workloads pick up again it can seem to be busier. And there’s a sudden rush for requests of new team members to cope. However, make sure these new additions are really needed, as you may simply be going back to a pre-COVID state of workload, and we just need to mentor our team to fit it all in again. But if your turnover is spiking and project numbers are increasing, then maybe it’s time for some new hires. Or partnering may help if its only a short term spike.
3. Talent shortage: “This is a big problem for the U.K. market for sure; finding A players with good technical skills is harder and harder. In fact, we find the talent pool so exhausted that we actually advertise for first-, second- or third-line roles 12 months a year! We are continually interviewing every month, and when we come across a gem, we make an offer even if we don’t yet need that person, only because we know we will. And like they say about London buses, when you need one, you’re sitting around waiting for one to show up, but when you don’t, three come right past you!”
