Richard Tubb's Blog, page 28
October 2, 2023
Inside Team Tubb | January-June 2023
We are delighted to introduce the newest addition to our media experience – the Inside Team Tubb Vlog Series!
This is your bi-monthly pass to the inner workings at tubblog.co.uk and beyond, where the incredible members of Team Tubb will be your personal guides.
We’re pulling back the curtains on what it takes to run a media company that’s focused on making a positive impact on MSPs, Vendors, and the entire IT industry. Get ready for a sneak peek into international travels, content creation, social media campaigns, expert interviews, webinars, attending conferences, socializing, and an eternal quest for knowledge.
So, grab a cuppa and join us for a whirlwind blend of business adventure, creativity, and a whole lot of heart!
🎬 Welcome to the first episode of the ‘Inside Team Tubb’ video series for 2023! We are excited to share with you our adventures and give you an inside look at the start of the year.
Come along for the ride as we take you through a whistle-top tour of webinars, public speaking, team meetings, content planning, socialising, and international locations.
And that’s not all, we’ve also got a surprising inclusion of the World of Dr Who! You don’t want to miss this.
🛰️ We are excited to share with you more adventures and behind-the-scenes moments from the members of Team Tubb, and as you’ve guessed we are continuing with our Dr Who theme.
Looking back at March and April 2023, it is all about meaningful human interactions, meeting old friends and making new connections, producing numerous video interviews and launching new content series on tubblog.co.uk.
And there are a couple of extra surprises for you, an exciting look at the build of Richard’s new media studio and a quick visit to South Africa!
👽 And this concludes our little foray into the world of Dr Who. But don’t worry, we will have a brand new theme for our next Inside Team Tubb vlog!
So press play and see for yourself the completed media studio, more travels, interviews with experts and everyone hard at work from virtual strategy sessions to high-impact content 😉
Add your questions and requests for future episodes of ‘Inside Team Tubb’ in the comments section. We would love to surprise you from time to time with content you want to see.
Speaking of Dr Who, we want to know about your Dr Who memories. Share your favourite moments and your love for the iconic tv show.
⁉️ Finally, we want you to help us predict what’s next for Richard Tubb in episode 4.
Based on the ending, where will his adventures take him next? Let us know in the comments below.
The post Inside Team Tubb | January-June 2023 appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
October 1, 2023
TubbTalk 136: How to Solve Hardware Headaches for MSPs and Their Clients
In this episode, Richard Tubb speaks to Dave Tilly, CEO of DaaS Portal.
Dave is revolutionising the way DaaS (device as a service) is delivered in the MSP space, and he tells Richard how he’s going about it.
Dave shares his background and experience in the tech and MSP space, and explains why his DaaS solution came about because of both an obvious need, and through conversations with Pax8.
An Interview with Dave TillyWhat is Device as a Service?There’s an assumption at the moment that any service described as an ‘aaS’ involves a monthly subscription, which is happening with DaaS. However, those offering Device as a Service in that way is buying hardware and paring it with a licence.
Dave says that in the beginning that’s not so bad. But you have to sort out the lease paperwork and all the other admin. And over time, your clients start adding hardware. Then you have to sort out more lease contracts until it becomes unmanageable. That’s the conventional DaaS offering.
How DaaS Portal Help MSPs to Manage HardwareMost MSPs will be familiar with the struggle of trying to source hardware for clients. They make a request and you have to go back to them for more details. Then it’s sent to procurement who get a price from distribution. And that’s not all!
The information needs to go to the salesperson, entered into the quoting tool and await customer approval. There could be some haggling or chasing, then the hardware is ordered and shipped. This all takes a really long time.
So, DaaS Portal turn that entire process into an under-a-minute web form for the customer. They ask for a device, the MSP chooses the right hardware from a list, choose a bundle and give the customer address. And we do the rest.
The DaaS Portal Experience for MSPsThe process described above can sometimes take so long that the client goes elsewhere and manages to find the same device at a cheaper price. This causes a headache for the MSP, because there’s a cost to all of these interactions and product searches.
Dave explains: “We wanted to bring a truly zero-touch experience to the MSP. They’re completely abstract and don’t deal with the devices, the peripherals and so on.
“Because let’s be honest – you don’t want your highly-skilled engineers opening boxes, faffing with cables and plugging things in. That’s a waste of resources. So we’ve come up with the simplest, cleanest solution that’s cost-effective.”
Client Self-Service on DaaS PortalDave said that they’ll be offering this as an option soon. “It needs to be easy for the customer to say: “HR says we’ve got a new starter and they need some equipment”, and for them to order what they need.
“They can either log on and do it themselves, or the MSP can do it for them in less than a minute. The main thing is that the process is quick, easy and painless for all involved.”
He adds that the ideal situation for the MSPs is to have standardisation across the board. “So the exact same laptop and so on. They’d normally have the job of finding the hardware each time a request comes in, but we’ll do it for them. And that way they don’t even have to think about which pieces of equipment are needed for each role.”
What Happens if a Client Defaults on Their DaaS AgreementSurprisingly, defaults aren’t a big concern for DaaS Portal. Dave explains: “The biggest challenge we set out to solve was the lease agreement. So when people sign up, the MSP’s clients come into the portal and we log all of their information. Job roles, hardware requirements etc.
“But they only sign once. They don’t have to keep generating leases for every single order. Because we do some clever stuff at the back end. There’s a legal framework in place so lenders are happy with what we do. So fundamentally it’s a lease type product at the back end. If the client defaults, the MSP and DaaS still get paid.”
How DaaS Portal Help MSPs to Explain DaaS to ClientsDave acknowledges that DaaS might be hard for some MSP clients to understand. So, DaaS Portal provide co-branded marketing material. And the MSP can share it with their customers.
“We have some core messages there. For instance, we talk about culture. You wouldn’t hire someone in a senior role and give them a second-hand laptop. That would damage the client company’s reputation.
“And the other thing we help with is show why holding on to hardware for too long is a false economy. We use simple maths to show that waiting until it’s broken will lead to downtime and loss of income.
“We can also break it down to show the compounding impact over time of an older laptop taking longer to boot up. 30 seconds a day over two years, for instance, really mounts up. Explaining all of this means that DaaS suddenly makes more sense.”
How to Connect With Dave TillyDaaS PortalFollow DaaS Portal on LinkedInConnect with Dave Tilley on LinkedInEmail the Head of Business Development, James HughesHow to Connect With MeSubscribe to TubbTalk RSS feedSubscribe, rate and review TubbTalk in iTunesSubscribe and rate TubbTalk on SpotifyFollow TubbTalk on iHeartRadioFollow @tubblog on TwitterMentioned in This EpisodePax8Microsoft InTuneCloud NexusPodcast (with Scott Riley): How to Build a Successful Cloud Solution ProviderPodcast (with Scott Riley): Microsoft Stack and Why MSPs May Consider an Alt Service DeskBook: Simon Sinek: Start With WhyEcolgiYou Might Also be Interested inDoes Your MSP Suffer Headaches Providing Hardware to Clients?Why the Internet of Things is an Opportunity for MSPsPodcast: SaaS Management and Security: What MSPs Should Know to SucceedThe post TubbTalk 136: How to Solve Hardware Headaches for MSPs and Their Clients appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
September 29, 2023
International Podcast Day: 5 MSP Podcasts We Love, Besides TubbTalk
International Podcast Day takes place each year on the 30th of September.
Many of us are already aware of the power of podcasts as a great medium for learning more about a subject.
Therefore, we’ve rounded up 5 of our favourite podcasts aimed at Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT business owners.
We hope you find our selections engaging and entertaining, and that they provide value to you and your business.
International Podcast Day began in 2014, in the United States as a national awareness day. It was only in 2015 that the day was rebranded as an international day of recognition.
A podcast is a form of serialised audio content presented in a downloadable format or a streamed broadcast. It’s regularly produced and centred around a theme. In the case of the podcasts we’ve selected, the theme is around IT service business owners and MSPs.
Podcasts are a great medium for learning conversational topics, and trends in IT services are no exception.
Before we give you our round-up, we hope that you’ve already discovered our own podcast, TubbTalk: The Podcast for IT Consultants, and we hope you’re an avid listener. However, if you haven’t, and you’re new to podcasts in general — then this a great place to start!
As for the other podcasts we’ve picked below, we’re ranking them in no particular order, as they each offer something unique. Whether that’s the subjects they cover, style and format or how regularly they’re produced.
Paul Green hosts a regular podcast for MSPs that is all about the subject of marketing. 
He is also a regular speaker at MSP events, and is a former newspaper reporter and radio presenter.
The podcast is usually around 30 minutes long, and is a feature segment followed by a guest interview. Past interviewees have included: Mark Copeman, Fiona Challis and Nick Rubright.
He has recorded over 195 episodes of his podcast, covering topics such as:
Marketing Cloud Solutions to ProspectsHow to Market Cybersecurity Without Leveraging FearWhy You Must Give Up Your Break/Fix HabitThe MSP Marketing KPIs That MatterYou can get Paul Green’s MSP Marketing podcast on:
Amazon MusicSpotifyAppleYouTube
The MSP Finance Team are Daniel Welling and Adam Morris, and they co-host the It’s a Numbers Game podcast.
The series aims to help MSP owners learn and understand how to build and maintain a financially healthy MSP business. The hosts do this by showing them the tips and tricks, as well as the dos and don’ts. What to adopt and what to avoid.
Daniel is a former MSP owner himself and Adam is a former IT consultant and business coach. They founded MSP Finance Team together in 2021.
The podcast has produced over 25 episodes, each with a duration of between 20 and 30 minutes each. The format covers a particular subject with a guest expert. Some of the experts on the show already include: Trevor Cornbill, Ben Spector and Paul Fuge.
Subjects discussed so far:
3 Tips to Give Your Future SelfInsuring Your ProfitsHow Much to Budget for Sales and Marketing3 Clauses to Include in Your MSP ContractsYou can get the It’s a Numbers Game Podcast on:
SpotifyApple
Hosted by Ian Luckett and sometimes co-hosted by Stuart Warwick, the IT Experts Podcast aims to help MSP owners to unlock their potential.
The series tackles various topics in ways that hope to coach, educate and motivate IT business entrepreneurs. By using a blend of advice and interviews with IT business leaders, the podcast looks to inspire and build confidence in business owners. And give them the tools they need to better run their businesses.
The podcast has been running for over 140 episodes and can vary in length from 15 minutes up to 35 minutes, depending on the topic.
Previous guests have included: David Duffett, Dave Sutton and Phylip Morgan.
Some of the topics featured are:
Daring to DelegateThe 4 Tools Every MSP Needs to Manage Their PipelineHow to Claim R&D Tax Relief as an MSPMaximising Your OpportunitiesSubscribe to this podcast on:
AppleSpotifyAndroid
The SMB Community podcast is a podcast aimed at IT consultants and managed service providers who operate in the service of small and medium-sized businesses.
The podcast has up-to three co-hosts, those being James Kernan, Karl Palachuk and Amy Babinchak, with episodes mostly ranging between 30 and 45 minutes.
They sometimes switch the format between interviews and debates, but they always serve their insights with lots of humour, keeping it educational and entertaining. The podcast has been running for over ten years now, and they’ve covered such topics as:
Human Risk ManagementCloud Strategy for SMBsMergers and AcquisitionsSocial Media Marketing and Brand AwarenessPrevious guests have included Jennifer Bleam, Toby Nangle and Dave Seibert.
You can listen to the back catalogue of episodes on:
SpotifyAppleAmazon
Todd Kane is the host of the Evolved Radio podcast, a show where he interviews technology experts, industry thought leaders and business entrepreneurs. They look at evolving trends in business and technology.
Episodes can vary in length, but are mostly around 30-40 minute mark, with the odd or or two as long as an hour.
Todd has spoken to guests such as: Alex Dow, Emily Glass and Steve Petryschuk.
The podcast has recently reached its landmark 100th episode, and has covered subjects including:
How to Price Your MSP OfferingUsing LinkedIn for Lead GenerationThe Science of ServiceDigital EntrepreneurshipEvolved Radio can be found on:
SpotifyApple
Aside from those that made our list of 5 above, here are some more MSP podcasts you should subscribe to if you have the time.
Tate Talks – A half-hourly offbeat fireside chat with MSP expert Chris Tate, which has just finished its fourth seasonVendor Blender / Business Insights – Two great podcasts from 18IT’s Paul Croker aimed at vendors and business owners respectivelySuperPod – A collection of podcasts hosted by SuperOps.ai where MSP experts talk about subjects relating to the seasonal topicThe Rocket MSP Podcast – Steve Taylor‘s podcast features interviews and discussions about everything from current trends to best practice
International Podcast Day 2023 ConclusionCelebrating International Podcast Day couldn’t be easier.
If there’s a podcast you love that you think others may enjoy, then share it. Many people feel that they don’t have time to listen to podcasts, so why not also share how you listen to them. Perhaps you listen on your commute to work, down the gym, in the bath or shower?
Maybe you could take this opportunity to start listening to a new podcast? There are podcasts for many different subjects and areas of interest. We’ve listed MSP podcasts here, but there are loads of great podcasts about other subjects you might be interested in. Including: entertainment, health and wellbeing, sport, politics, travel and lots more besides.
Have you discovered a podcast you think we’d enjoy? It could be an MSP podcast, or something to do with wellbeing or business ownership, or perhaps it’s just an entertaining podcast you’ve heard recently that you think we might like here at Team Tubb. Please let us know in the comments – we’d love to hear from you!
The post International Podcast Day: 5 MSP Podcasts We Love, Besides TubbTalk appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
September 28, 2023
Modern Strategies to Recruit the Best Technical Staff for Your Business
Since the Great Resignation at the start of the decade, hiring and retaining technical staff has become much more difficult for businesses. The post-lockdown workforce faced a shift in priorities, which gave both employer or employee little time to react and adapt.
The rise in demand for technical and digitally-skilled workers is good news for those with desirable skills.
Therefore, businesses are becoming more creative and engaging in selecting potential candidates for their job vacancies.
It stands to reason that this high demand has made retention a potential issue as well. So, what are the best strategies for keeping good staff in the wake of this high demand?
In this article, we take a look at some of the interesting and innovative ways businesses are rising to these challenges.
It’s well-known that there is still a talent war going on in the technical services sector.
The job market is ripe with opportunities, but lacking the numbers when it comes to ideal candidates. This shortfall has created a situation where employers can’t always find the kind of staff they want for their businesses. Inevitably they sometimes have to settle for an individual who is not a good fit.
Part of this is due to a rise in digital transformation, which was expedited following worldwide COVID lockdowns. Businesses rapidly changed the way they work, thanks to technology that allowed them to work from anywhere.
Now, smartphones, the Cloud and greater connectivity have given businesses greater reach to provide their services, and also allowed better collaboration over vast distances.
This has also allowed businesses to recruit teams and individuals from much further afield than before, allowing them to work remotely, all over the world. And while this comes with its own challenges, it means that finding potential candidates to fill roles in your business has become even more difficult.
According to recruitment experts Indeed, 86% of hiring teams say it’s hard to find technical talent. So, what can be done to make sure you’re finding and enticing the right staff for your workforce in such a crowded market?
There are a number of reasons why recruitment has become a headache for employers in recent times. The market has been both buoyant and unpredictable for many, and while growth has been apparent for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), it has been difficult to fill many technical roles.
Some of the challenges in tech recruitment today, include:
Talent shortage – a skills focus on recruitment has come about partially following an increase in digital transformation demand
Attracting the right candidates – the shortage of talent has made finding suitable candidates much harder as well
Hiring within a tight timeframe – the average number of days it takes to find a suitable professional candidate increased to 47 days in 2023, according to PersonnelToday.com
Economic challenges – unpredictable economic factors can stymie growth, making recruiting top talent difficult for employers
Diversity and inclusion – not all the challenges are unwelcome. We need to embrace the future of the industry with more representation in the sector
The chart below, taken from TechTarget.com, highlights the most common IT skill types that face shortages.
Making Finding the Right People EasierAs we’ve already established, it’s a challenging task to recruit good people for your organisation. However, there are ways to make it easier for yourself if you’re willing to put in some extra effort.
Building Your BrandBuilding a brand that will attract the type of people you want for your business will make it much easier for you to recruit those people that are a good fit for you.
There is a difference between having a recognisable brand and having desirable brand values that may attract the kind of talent that want to work with you.
Showing strong community links, being accountable for your green policies and having a good company culture which fosters trust and accountability are all things that are good for your brand. Not only will having a strong brand attract customers to your door, but also it can attract good staff too.
Technical Incentives and TrainingWhile we’re talking specifically about attracting technical talent, you are going to want to be adopting the best and most exciting tools available for your business, in line with current technical trends. 
If you’re running a number of end-of-line technologies, rather than state-of-the-art hardware and applications, you might miss out on attracting the sort of dynamic go-getters that want to be more hands-on with up-to-date tech.
Furthermore, if you’re able to provide your new starters with training on new software and technology, you’re more likely to attract engineers who want to develop their skills. This means they’re more likely to stay and develop within your business.
Looking for the Right AttitudeWhile a certain level of aptitude is always desirable, often it’s the right attitude and soft skills that might be considered a better fit for your team. This is especially true in customer-facing technical roles.
For entry-level roles, you can often encourage employees with the right attitude to upskill and develop over time.
For more specialised roles, you might want to attract the type of person who is curious, and eager to solve problems.
Whatever the role, it’s worth taking the time to see if they’re a good fit for your brand and business culture. Will they be able to grow and contribute positively to your business?
Also, aside from higher pay and more responsibility, modern workforces are interested in a better work/life balance and to feel valued by their employer. Tapping into this and offering better perks is how you attract people who don’t suit a traditional 9-to-5.
How Tech Tools are Helping Businesses to Find Great Technical StaffOne of the good things to come out of the pandemic was the boost in use of video communication tools. Video calling apps like Microsoft Teams, Zoom and others have become widespread everyday means of communication. This means the recruitment process doesn’t have to use your office boardroom (at least at the early stages of recruitment).
Furthermore, aptitude tests are better than ever. AI-driven assessment tools can check coding quality for critical thinking, as well as accuracy. This gives employers a more-rounded view of who they’re recruiting.
If you’re a savvy user of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, you could ask it to design job adverts, interview questions and interpret the results to select the best candidate for you. Although you might need to invest a bit of time to practice and tweak the variables before using it with real applicant data. Furthermore, you should be aware of the risks of using chatbots to run your recruitment engine, if this is your preference.
There are lots of recruitment software tools out there. Here are a few examples:
PinpointPinpoint is a web-based applicant tracking system that uses a customisable website to showcase your job vacancies. Once visitors apply, the system handles the recruitment workflow, interviews, offers, etc. You can create talent pools, candidate scorecards and view analytics dashboards too.
GrayscaleWhen it comes to bulk hiring, Grayscale have developed a text recruiting platform to leverage the power of text messaging to engage, pool, invite to interview, hire and onboard. It cleverly automates a lot of the hard work, and allows you to manage the process for multiple recruitment campaigns through a single dashboard.
Team TailorSimilar to Pinpoint, Team Tailor is an applicant tracking system with clever automation and an attractive employer branded careers website. Smart trigger automation helps save time, and there’s a product aimed at smaller businesses too.
Test GorillaIf you need to carry out candidate aptitude tests, then Test Gorilla has a vast library of tests that can be customised to suit what you’re looking for. Then, break down candidate results in detailed analysis reports that lets you compare your candidates to help you find the most suitable.
Aside from recruitment agencies and attending in-person job fairs, there are other places you can go to to find your next hire.
On Social MediaIf you’re an active business on social media then this a great place to generate interest in any job vacancies you may have. Social media is a great place to grow your business’s online brand, and announce that ‘you’re hiring.’
On LinkedIn you can add any vacancies you have right from your profile page. It will add a little green banner to your profile picture if you’re hiring as well, to let people know that you are open to enquiries about available roles.
YouTube and Instagram are both visual platforms and allow you to post videos that detail the job, as well as the company they’ll be working for.
Within Your Own NetworkOne the best places to look for talent could be within your own network of peers.
There may be a number of different reasons why your peers may know of good people to hire, but are unable to hire them themselves. Or perhaps, a good member of staff is moving out of the area and needs to change company.
Whatever the case, it’s always worth asking your network if they know anyone who might be suitable. It will also build stronger links if you ask for help, and later offer a way of helping in return.
Look to Other Industries for Transferable SkillsWhere the number of ideal candidates in the pool are scarce, it’s often a good tactic to look for candidates further afield with useful transferable skills.
Even seemingly ideal candidates can fail to live up to expectations if they are not a good fit for your business culture or if they lack the interpersonal skills needed to fulfil their potential. Simply having the knowledge and aptitude required to do the job is not enough if you want to hire for the long term.
There are a number of benefits to hiring from other industries. For example, applicants new to the industry have a fresh perspective on things, and they won’t be set in their ways about how to approach their work. However, they may need more hands-on training before they can be effective in their roles.
Another thing you can do as an employer is to level-up your recruitment process.
There are several ways you can up your recruiting game in a crowded market. From streamlining and refining your recruitment processes, to personalising the contact you have with potential candidates and making sure they’re a good fit for your brand.
You can even use AI or specialist recruitment software to analyse a prospect’s suitability, or create a pool of formerly unsuccessful candidates and leavers to invite to apply for future vacancies.
It can’t hurt to have a decent specialist recruiter in your network too. Not only will they be in a position to identify potential applicants, but they’ll be able to offer you advice on how to attract the sort of talent you’re looking for.
As both business professionals and members of the IT community, we thrive on our adaptability, and the arena of technical talent acquisition is no different.
Approaching recruitment in a different way will set your business apart from the competition. If you are open an honest about what candidates can expect from you as an employer, and what your brand is about, it can draw the right people to your business.
There’s no panacea for a shortage of technical staff, but you can be creative about who you choose to onboard and develop in your business.
And while you may be in competition with your IT peers, they can be a good source to turn to if you’re looking to recruit for a particular role. They can also help you in other ways, such as recommending software or drafting job role specifications.
Whatever the route you decide to take, the skills gap is not going away any time soon.
What tricks or tactics do you use to find good staff for your business? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
The post Modern Strategies to Recruit the Best Technical Staff for Your Business appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
September 26, 2023
SuperSummit Virtual: Strategies for Successful MSP Growth and Scale
Wherever you are on your business journey, it’s good to have support. So the SuperSummit Virtual, brought to you by SuperOps, will help whether you’re starting or building MSP growth. Join us virtually (and for free!) on 11 October (3pm BST/10am EST) to learn the strategies that work!
The SuperSummit will feature presentations from industry veterans and today’s MSP owners, covering topics such as:
Sales and marketing strategiesScaling your teamFinancesSEOWebsite designAnd yours truly will also be appearing on the virtual stage! My talk, on “Building a Compelling MSP Brand Story” will encourage you to think carefully about your brand and the message that you put out, and support your MSP growth. So make sure you have pen and paper, because I want you to be inspired!
Plus, you could win $200! Just refer three friends, and if they register and attend, you’ll be entered into the draw. There will be five lucky winners.
How to Register for the EventThe event takes place on Wednesday 11 October at 3pm BST (10am EST)
Click here and register for the session.
Will There be a Recording of the Event?This event will be recorded and made available to view on-demand.
Click here and register to be notified when the recording is available.
Achieve MSP Growth With SuperOps’ SuperSummitHow does a day of virtual learning sound? The SuperOps SuperSummit promises to deliver, with 15 guest experts offering their advice on MSP growth and scale. But if that’s not enough, there will be plenty of peer networking opportunities, a vendor zone and the launch of a brand-new MSP community!
Are you ready to supercharge your MSP business growth? Let me know!
You Might Also be Interested inSuperSummit: Supercharge Your MSP’s SuccessPodcast: What Every MSP Should Know to Run and Grow a Successful MSP BusinessThe MSP SuperSummit: Road to One MillionThe post SuperSummit Virtual: Strategies for Successful MSP Growth and Scale appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
September 20, 2023
How the CompTIA ChannelCon Event Helps MSPs to Build the Impossible
For our latest Tubblog Travelogue, Community Manager Stephen McCormick interviewed Richard Tubb 
and James Steel of Akamai Linode to share their learnings from CompTIA’s ChannelCon23.
The focus? How MSPs can build the impossible.
For those not familiar with CompTIA, think of it as forward-thinking and innovative trade association for the IT industry. Their flagship event in Las Vegas had people from all over the world in attendance.
James said it’s unlike any other event he’s been to. But despite being so big, it still retains a community feel.
Highlights for MSP Attendees Looking to Build the ImpossibleOn this fun and upbeat call, which you can listen to above, Richard and James shared their highlights with me and Pascal Fintoni.
The Oxygen Bar: James says: “It looks like a scientist’s lab. There are lots of boiling pots, all in different colours. You pick whether you want something to perk you up or helpl you to wind down. So, you sit on a stool, they put two prongs up your nose and you inhale pure oxygen!”Impossible Labs: Sustainability experts Impossible Labs talked about their project to support sufferers of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and their families, which was moving and inspiringMSP Focus: Tracy Pound (CompTIA Chair) delivered a really useful talk on marketing for MSPs, including lifetime value of client and how to attract and retain themTaking Action: Why MSPs should focus on their verticalThe Linode Dinner: Beers, food and darts with MSP industry legends Erick Simpson and Karl PalachuckAn Easy Way to Manage the Onboarding ProcessUptime Solutions explained that a good onboarding process leads to lifetime clients. James highlights their use of using emojis as a nice, easy way to check in with how they’re feeling.
“It’s quite possible that a customer will experience a problem at some point during the onboarding process. Because it’s a big adjustment for them. But if you can keep in touch with how they’re feeling, you reduce the risk of buyer’s remorse.”
James’ Top Conference TipsJames was attending the event to represent Akamai Linode, a cloud computing company with the world’s largest CDN. Their mission is to deliver great hosting across thousands of distributed sites. And to do so, they offer enterprise-grade security tools.
As a veteran conference goer, here are James’ top tips:
Do your researchHave a proper planIdentify who you want to talk to within the community, the exhibitors and the speakersPick the most relevant talks ahead of timeLook for collaboration opportunitiesIdentify podcast guests, or shows looking for guestsOvercoming Mental Health Challenges to Build the ImpossibleRichard explains: “I was invited to join a panel session called “Triumph Over Adversity”, and it proved to be a hugely emotional experience for all involved. I’ve alluded to my mental health challenges in the past, but this was an opportunity to share my story, hear others’ and offer support to the wider community.
“Each of the three panellists shared their coping strategies. And, we touched on the fact that we’re probably seen as high achievers by most people. But what they don’t see is that sometimes we go through hell. And sometimes, sadly, we struggle with suicidal thoughts.
“I was so nervous, because I had to give a lot of myself and show a lot of vulnerability. But the good news was, at the end of the session, a lot of us were crying. And we got a standing ovation. So many people came up to me afterwards to say thank you and what a difference it made to them. That was incredible.”
Test Your Las Vegas Knowledge!Just for fun, Pascal put together a quick quiz to test Richard, James and Stephen on their knowledge of Las Vegas. The questions are below, and you can hear the answers in the recording above. If you just want to hear the quiz (and find out how they did), skip to 24:45.
Las Vegas has a copy of the Eiffel Tower, which measures 165m. How tall is the original?The name ‘Las Vegas’ is Spanish. What is the English translation?James: What has Richard been getting up to in Vegas?!Can MSPs Build the Impossible?From what James and Richard reported back to us, I think there’s a real possibility that MSPs CAN build the impossible!
Were you at the CompTIA ChannelCon 2023 event too? Send us a voice recording with your highlights and we will add your comments to our next Team Tubb Travelogue.
You Might Also be Interested inMental Health Resources for MSP Business OwnersPodcast: Why MSPs Need to Embrace MarketingMyDocSafe: Secure Onboarding for Your Clients and EmployeesThe post How the CompTIA ChannelCon Event Helps MSPs to Build the Impossible appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
September 19, 2023
The Future of Technology at CompTIA EMEACon
I think we can all agree technology plays a pivotal role in every aspect of our lives. It transcends industry, 
size and geographical boundaries. So the 2023 CompTIA EMEA Member and Partner Conference (EMEACon) is aimed at exploring that. It’s taking place on 2-3 October in London.
The event offers technology businesses and technology training delivery partners a unique chance to gather in a vendor-neutral space. And, you can open new doors and ensure the technology industry’s future success.
Why Attend CompTIA EMEACon?Today’s tech companies are eager to invest in innovation, cybersecurity, growth and the future by:
Hiring skilled IT professionalsMaking strategic business decisionsImplementing solutions that address real customer challengesCompTIA EMEACon gives MSPs an opportunity to gain insights about the latest trends. Plus, grow your network of peers, hear from vendors and start planning for bigger and better things!
Triumph Over Adversity: Inspiring Stories of Overcoming ChallengesI’m delighted to speak at the CompTIA EMEACon this year. I’m the host of a panel session that I think will inspire you. We’ll bring together individuals who have faced and conquered life’s various challenges in the pursuit of overall wellness.
Our panellists, through their unique experiences and inspiring real-life stories, will motivate attendees to persevere and thrive despite life’s hurdles. Join us for this journey of resilience and triumph over adversity.
How to Register for the EventThe conference takes place on 2 and 3 October, starting at 7.30am.
Click here to register for the conference.
Will There be a Recording of the Event?The presentations will be recorded and made available to view on-demand.
Click here and register to be notified when the recording is available.
Prepare for What’s Next with Technology at the CompTIA EMEAConAs a forward-thinking MSP, you want to make sure you’re up to date with the latest trends in the industry. So attending the CompTIA EMEACon is a great way to do that.
Hear from expert speakersNetwork with peersLearn what’s coming nextChat with specially-selected exhibitorsSound good? Let me know if you’re going to be there so I can say hi!
You Might Also be Interested inPodcast: Who are CompTIA and How can They Help Your IT Business?How to Prove the Quality of your IT Business with CompTIA and Accredit UKWhat I learned about the MSP Industry at the CompTIA UK Channel EventThe post The Future of Technology at CompTIA EMEACon appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
September 18, 2023
5 Key Strategies to Tackle the MSP’s Ransomware Crisis Head-On
The turbulent cyberthreat landscape has many MSPs rethinking their strategies when it comes to cybersecurity. And in turn, this affects how they uplevel their MSP businesses. So what can you do?
Well, smart MSPs, such as MJ Flood, look for ways to turn cybersecurity challenges into opportunities. A leading technology solutions MSP in Ireland, they’ve recently adopted innovative technologies to elevate their security service offering.
And now you can learn how they successfully brought a new offering – Extended Detection and Response (XDR) – to market.
In an exclusive webinar, I spoke to James Finglas, Managing Director, MJ Flood Technology, to find out more. We were hosted by Merium Khalid, Director, SOC Offensive Security at Barracuda MSP.
What You’ll Learn to Help Uplevel Your MSP with XDRUnderstand and demonstrate the value and importance of visibility to an organisation’s security postureExpand their service portfolio without adding resourcesGenerate more opportunities and MRRExpand their market reachHow to Access the Recording of the SessionThis presentation was recorded and is available to view on-demand.
Click here to access the recording.
Learn How a New Offering Could Help You Uplevel Your MSPSo, how can business utilise new technologies to both uplevel their MSPs and support their clients in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats? A tool such as XDR might help. And you can hear how straight from the horse’s mouth with my webinar with MJ Flood and Barracuda!
Comment below to let me know how you’re dealing with cybersecurity in YOUR MSP.
You Might Also be Interested inPodcast: Why a Cybersecurity-First Service Mentality Keeps MSPs on Top of Cyber TrendsMSP Congress: How to Avoid the MSP Mistakes That People Often Make!Steve’s Tribal Dispatches #4: Nurturing a Security-Savvy MSPThe post 5 Key Strategies to Tackle the MSP’s Ransomware Crisis Head-On appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
Webinar: “Uplevel Your MSP Business” With BarracudaMSP
The turbulent cyberthreat landscape has many MSPs rethinking their strategies when it comes to cybersecurity. And in turn, this affects how they uplevel their MSP businesses. So what can you do?
Well, smart MSPs, such as MJ Flood, look for ways to turn cybersecurity challenges into opportunities. A leading technology solutions MSP in Ireland, they’ve recently adopted innovative technologies to elevate their security service offering.
And now you can learn how they successfully brought a new offering – Extended Detection and Response (XDR) – to market. Join me on Tuesday 26 September at 2pm BST for an exclusive webinar.
I’ll be speaking to James Finglas, Managing Director, MJ Flood Technology, to find out more. We’ll be hosted by Merium Khalid, Director, SOC Offensive Security at Barracuda MSP.
What You’ll Learn to Help Uplevel Your MSP with XDRUnderstand and demonstrate the value and importance of visibility to an organisation’s security postureExpand their service portfolio without adding resourcesGenerate more opportunities and MRRExpand their market reachHow to Register for the SessionOur webinar takes place on Tuesday 26 September at 3pm BST (10am EDT).
Click here to register for the session.
Will There be a Recording of the Session?This presentation will be recorded and made available to view on-demand.
Click here and register to be notified when the recording is available.
Learn How a New Offering Could Help You Uplevel Your MSPSo, how can business utilise new technologies to both uplevel their MSPs and support their clients in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats? A tool such as XDR might help. And you can hear how straight from the horse’s mouth with my webinar with MJ Flood and Barracuda!
Comment below to let me know how you’re dealing with cybersecurity in YOUR MSP.
You Might Also be Interested inPodcast: Why a Cybersecurity-First Service Mentality Keeps MSPs on Top of Cyber TrendsMSP Congress: How to Avoid the MSP Mistakes That People Often Make!Steve’s Tribal Dispatches #4: Nurturing a Security-Savvy MSPThe post Webinar: “Uplevel Your MSP Business” With BarracudaMSP appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
September 7, 2023
Tubbservatory Round-Up #20 – August 2023
Every week, Richard brings us five essential resources that Managed Service Provider (MSP) business owners should pay attention to in the IT industry. Welcome to the Tubbservatory – a weekly video broadcast that curates valuable articles, podcasts, and events exclusively for IT business owners like yourself. And guess what? Tubbservatory Round-Up #20 – August 2023 is here, packed with all the awesome episodes from August, expertly edited for your viewing pleasure. No worries about missing out because it’s all right here, ready for you to watch at your convenience.
This month’s topics are totally worth checking out. We’ve got quick summaries of each below, and you can find links to all the resources mentioned in the video at the end of this article. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the Tubbservatory Round-Up! Happy recapping!
This month’s topics include: Network Monitoring, Ransomware, Cybercrime, AI, and Outsourcing your Helpdesk.
Tubbservatory Round-Up #20: August – Week 1#1 Think You Know Ransomware?
If you’re a fan of high production docuseries on Netflix (other streaming platforms are available), then you’ll love this three-part documentary from cybersecurity experts Sophos.
Think You Know Ransomware? Takes a gripping look at the history of cybercrime. Defining the hunters and the hunted, and revealing the vulnerabilities and defence strategies that are being employed to combat this threat. This high-gloss series is definitely worth a watch.
#2 Announcing New Global Sites, New Cloud Computing Services, and Improved PerformanceLast month Blair Lyon, Akamai’s Head of Cloud Experience, announced some big updates to the cloud providers services and infrastructure.
Including five new cloud computing sites in Paris, Chicago, Seattle, Chennai & Washington D.C. Also revealed were new premium instances for better performance and simpler SKU management. As well as doubled object storage capacity.
All of this shows a big investment in true scalability for commercial cloud services on a global scale.
#3 Meta Releases Llama 2 LLM, Free for Commercial UseMeta has released a version 2 of its Llama large language model (LLM) under an open licence.
Although there are some caveats, reports John Leonard of Computing. Caveats include not being able to use it to train other AI models, for example.
Similar to ChatGPT4 and Bard, Llama 2 has been refined using reinforcement learning and human feedback, which helps stop it from overstepping boundaries.
#4 The AI future is Here – Make the Right Choices for Your MSP BusinessAnd speaking of AI, SuperOps’ Jayakumar Karumbasalam thinks we should be asking the right questions when deciding to adopt AI in our technology stacks.
Should AI be more than just a featured gimmick, or be something seamlessly built into the technology we adopt? And how transparent is the platform provider when it comes to data usage and privacy concerns?
It’s definitely food for thought.
#5 CompTIA EMEA Member & Partner Conference 2023Coming to London on the 2nd and 3rd of October is CompTIA’s EMEA Member and Partner conference. Bringing together all of the communities across Europe and the Middle Eastern regions.
This is two days packed with insightful speakers with plenty of networking opportunities.
Keep an eye out for this as registration opens shortly.
#1 SmarterMSP Website
A website I’d highly recommend to IT businesses is the excellent SmarterMSP.
The site is updated regularly with news, opinions and advice from the Managed Services industry — and I happen to be a regular contributor to SmarterMSP too.
#2 To Infinity with BeyondTo Infinity with Beyond! Three MSPs who attended the big Pax8 Beyond event in Denver have released a video sharing their experiences.
Scott Riley of Cloud Nexus, Dave Taylor of Amshire Solutions and Robert Gibbons of Cara Technology all share their takeaways from event in Denver Colorado. Takeaways that they’ve already put into practice in their own MSP in the three weeks since the event took place, and how has this experience impacted their business, (or WILL impact their business) in the next 12 months!
One to watch!
#3 Real Use Cases for Network MonitoringWith Network Monitoring becoming a growing area for MSPs, an article that caught my eye was the Real Use Cases for Network Monitoring by MSP owner Craig Sharp of Abussi.
Sharp writes on his experiences using Domotz to provide Network Monitoring solutions for his MSP client’s, and how they’ve proved to be highly beneficial to his business.
#4 I Hired and Fired My MSPA video that caught my eye was Heather Johnson of Gozynta on “I Hired and Fired My MSP.”
Through some fun storytelling, Johnson, walks through the process with the client of an MSP to better understand the selection process from the clients perspective.
#5 VISION ’23: Take your MSP from Good to Great!And finally, Vision ‘23 takes places on Aug 22-25th in Dallas, TX.
If you want to take your MSP business from good to great, then this event, organised by The 20 MSP, may be for you!
The event promises to provide insights on MSP growth, cybersecurity, M&A strategy, marketing, and more!
#1 Little Big Vets Podcast
A podcast that caught my ear recently was the Little Big Vets podcast. In this series, Nick Haley talks to former armed forces veterans who have started to run their own businesses. Taking on a different kind of challenge and using their skills to succeed.
There are some really inspiring stories in these episodes, so they’re well worth a listen.
#2 How Outsourcing Helpdesks can Improve MSPs’ Scaling EffortsWhen it comes to scaling-up your MSP business, securing the operational footholds and managing resources can be quite a challenge. In this latest article from Pax8, they explain how outsourcing your helpdesk can give you the room you need when you’re onboarding new clients.
While you focus your energies on where they’re needed, you can be adding value through strategic partnerships in a cost-efficient way, while maintaining the quality and scalability of your business.
#3 New Products & Powerful Platform Upgrades Empower MSPs with M365 SecurityRecent additions to the SkyKick cloud manager platform have introduced an intelligent new cloud backup and a revamped security manager, as well as some improvements to their migration suites.
This comes as part of their most significant update yet. Including smart insights and intelligent sync technology.
These improvements have been developed in response to adoption trends and customer feedback.
#4 5 Common Mistakes SMBs Should Avoid in Privileged Access ManagementOne of the responsibilities that SMBs share with their managed service providers is that of access management and password administration to their privileged accounts.
Leaving security gaps or failing to monitor access to these accounts properly could be disastrous, say CyberQP in this article for ChannelE2E. A robust PAM strategy can help MSPs avoid the 5 common mistakes and keep their client’s systems safe.
#5 The MSP Finance Team BTCC Brands Hatch 2023 MeetupOn Friday 6th October the MSP Finance Team are hosting another BTCC Meetup at Brands Hatch Circuit in Kent.
In association with Team EXCELR8, the day includes five 15 minute educational partner sessions, a Q+A with Tom Ingram, a garage and car tour and lots of MSP networking opportunities.
Register your spot today!
An interview that caught my attention was The Female CEO magazine speaking with Kerry Veitch of Reveela, a cutting-edge technology solutions provider for media industries worldwide.
Veitch talks about her experiences of being a female CEO in a male-focused industry, striking a balance between logic and creativity, and handling criticism.
This is an inspiring interview.
#2 Is Delegation a Better Term than Outsourcing?Now, outsourcing is a phrase that can provoke strong reactions from many in the Managed Services industry.
But Jason Kemsley of Uptime Solutions makes an interesting point in his latest article — what if we referred to delegated IT services rather than outsourcing?
Delegation implies a deliberate and strategic assignment of tasks to competent external partners, says Kemsley.
What do you think? Is outsourcing an outdated term?
#3 Microsoft Inspire 2023 RecapsIt’s been a busy Summer conference season for the MSP industry, and one of the biggest events was Microsoft Inspire 2023.
If you missed Inspire, then never fear — the team at Pax8 have put together some awesome recap videos and session summaries, plus Pax8 Microsoft experts answer your questions and share their key highlights and top takeaways.
#4 Elon Musk’s 10 Biggest Fails Since the Twitter TakeoverNow I’m not normally one to highlight the negative, but I’m not alone in shuddering at some of the changes that Elon Musk has made since acquiring social media platform Twitter.
Tom Allen of Computing Magazine spotlights Musk’s 10 biggest fails since the Twitter takeover, and to no surprise, it starts with the X rebranding.
I’m intrigued as to your Twitter thoughts since the Musk takeover. Leave a comment below!
#5 The Managed Services UK 2023 SummitAnd finally, London is the destination for the Managed Services Summit UK 2023 on September 13th.
Celebrating its 13th year, the event will feature presentations by leading independent industry speakers, a range of sessions exploring technical, sales and business issues by leading specialists in the sector, and extensive networking time to meet with potential business partners.
Registration is now open.
Links to the Resources Mentioned in this Round-Up
From Week 1SmarterMSPTo Infinity with BeyondReal Use Cases for Network MonitoringI Hired and Fired My MSPVISION ’23: Take your MSP from good to GREATMentioned in Week 2Think You Know Ransomware?Announcing New Global Sites, New Cloud Computing Services, and Improved PerformanceMeta releases Llama 2 LLM, free for commercial useThe AI future is here – make the right choices for your MSP businessCompTIA EMEA Member & Partner Conference 2023Week 3Little Big Vets PodcastHow Outsourcing Helpdesks can Improve MSPs’ Scaling EffortsNew Products & Powerful Platform Upgrades Empower MSPs with M365 Security5 Common Mistakes SMBs Should Avoid in Privileged Access ManagementThe MSP Finance Team BTCC Brands Hatch 2023 MeetupAnd Week 4Kerry Veitch, Co-Founder, Reveela.comIs Delegation a Better Term than Outsourcing?Microsoft Inspire 2023 RecapsElon Musk’s 10 Biggest Fails Since the Twitter TakeoverThe Managed Services UK 2023 Summit
And that’s a wrap for Tubbservatory Round-Up #20!
Got something incredible to share? Whether it’s an awesome tool or a mind-blowing resource, we want to hear all about it!
Drop it in the comments below, and let’s keep the knowledge flowing. Your input means the world to us!
The post Tubbservatory Round-Up #20 – August 2023 appeared first on Tubblog: The Hub for MSPs.
