Why Cisco for your Managed Service Practice?

I know we have not always gotten it right with Managed Service Providers (MSPs) or the Small and Medium Business (SMB) community they support and so we have been spending time with the MSP community, listening, learning and taking in your feedback. Our “listening campaign” began in early 2018, when I organized an MSP Advisory Group in N. America consisting of ~15 very capable MSP’s. The objective behind the MSP Advisory Group was to dig in and truly understand the needs of the broader MSP community and have this group help us understand the macro and micro challenges MSPs face as they build, manage and grow their practices.

One of my first insights from the MSP Advisory Group was the reality that it takes much more than industry-leading technology solutions to create a successful, profitable managed service practice. We heard over and over that a strong foundation of business acumen and discipline are just as critical, if not more, than the technology. Why? As markets become saturated with more and more VAR’s and break/fix providers moving into the managed services space, we heard how imperative it is that MSP’s can deliver differentiated value-added services, drive more operational efficiencies into their practice and establish strategic relationships with their respective customers.

So, the team took these insights to heart and took action. In November of 2018, we launched MSP University with ConnectWise. Since we are not experts in the field of MSP business model evolution, we teamed up with renowned MSP guru Gary Pica of TruMethods to develop the “MSP Supercharger Course.” Gary has put together a series of topics that walks MSPs of all maturities through the MSP Framework, Technology Standards & Alignment, as well as Packaging and Pricing. Gary transforms years of experience in the MSP community into tangible, practical business practices that are being used by today’s most successful MSP.

These resources are free to anyone interested in taking their MSP practice to the next level. We hope they will inspire and help you on your journey.

We want to continue the conversation with you and understand how Cisco can help MSPs accelerate their success. For those of you attending ConnectWise IT Nation Explore June 13-15 in Orlando, FL, please swing by the Cisco booth (#107) and breakout sessions and say hello. You will have a big decision to make at 2 pm on Friday the 14th. Will you be spending the hour listening to Umbrella superstar Larry Guthrie talk about Malicious Cryptomining or security guru Mike Sweatt diving into the security powerhouse Meraki hides beneath its beautiful exterior?

Can’t make it to IT Nation, we have you covered.  Check back here as I share my experiences with the MSP community and how we are working together to bring the tools, technology, and training together to create a profitable partnership.

Cheers! Marc