Richard Tubb's Blog, page 6
April 18, 2025
SuperSummit is Back, Values-Driven Leadership, and Hornetsecurity Roadshow
Welcome back to the Tubbservatory, MSP friends! It’s Richard Tubb here, delighted to be back at the helm after Gudrun from TeamTubb did such a stellar job guiding you through last week’s MSP discoveries. Now, let’s dive into this week’s top 5 picks!
SuperOps is bringing their brilliant MSP SuperSummit to Manchester on 6th May 2025, with the theme “The MSP Revolution – Superpowering Growth with AI.” I’ll be there alongside some top MSP minds including Mark Copeman and Scott Riley. With its strict “No-Pitch” policy and community focus, this free event is not to be missed!
2. Thought-Provoking MSP Leadership BlogI’ve been rather enjoying Eric Rieger’s blog “Cogs and Consciousness” lately. His latest piece, “The Cost of (Not) Living Your Values,” brilliantly examines what happens when client relationships test your company values—something many of us MSP owners have grappled with at some point.
3. Security Tool for Sensitive Information SharingHere’s a smashing tool for your security toolkit: QuickForget.com lets you share sensitive information without putting all your eggs in one basket. Send usernames via email, passwords via QuickForget, and job done! They don’t set cookies or store your data, which is rather refreshing in today’s digital landscape.
Tubbservatory: The 18 April 2025 Weekly Video4. Yorkshire Cybersecurity CommunityFor my fellow Northern MSPs, YCSC (Yorkshire Cyber Security Cluster) is doing fantastic work connecting cyber professionals across the region. This non-profit network facilitates collaboration and partnership opportunities that could prove invaluable. Massive thanks to Mike Hudson for flagging this one!
5. Hornetsecurity Roadshow 2025Hornetsecurity‘s Roadshow is touring the UK and Ireland next spring, with stops in Edinburgh, Birmingham, London, Dublin, Manchester, and Bristol. Each event is hosted in a top distillery—cybersecurity discussions paired with a proper drink sounds like my kind of networking!
That’s your 5-a-week for the MSP industry!
I hope these resources prove valuable for your business. If you enjoyed this edition of the Tubbservatory, why not share it with a colleague who might benefit? And remember, I’d love to hear which of these resources you found most useful – drop me a comment below or send me a message.
Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other!
P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to my weekly MSP Insights email for more industry updates and resources. Sign up at http://tubb.co/nl.
April 14, 2025
SuperSummit Manchester 2025: Using AI for MSP Growth
Exciting news that the SuperSummit from SuperOps is back for 2025!
It’s a full day event in Manchester that promises to be high impact. The sole focus is on how to actually use AI in your business, and I’m delighted to be not only attending but also speaking. Oh, and it’s totally free! So put 6 May in your diary now! The venue is Hotel FootBall, Manchester.
What to Expect from the SuperSummit 2025This is the first ever time a SuperSummit has come to Manchester, and if you’ve not been to a SuperSummit before — you won’t want to miss out.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
AI trends you should keep an eye on (and those you should ignore)Practical tips on AI you can use right awayOne-on-one chats with folks who’ve been there, done thatA solid dose of beer, lunch, and banterExclusive offers and surprise goodiesNo vendor pitchesWhy Should You Attend SuperSummit 2025?AI isn’t going anywhere, we all know that. So instead of trying to avoid it, why not embrace it? Many of the MSPs I speak to tell me that AI is something that almost all their clients ask about. Your clients trust you as their expert partner, so you should be able to answer any questions confidently.
Here’s what SuperOps themselves have to say:
“As industries all over the world embrace the AI shift, we are sure MSPs like you have questions about the impact AI can have on you and your business.
The future is now, and it is AI-first, so MSPs like yours need to start leveraging the power of AI intentionally and mindfully to drive greater growth and profits. Join us to learn how you can lean into the AI shift to steer your MSP towards growth.”
Plus, there are some great speakers lined up:
Mark CopemanScott RileyNeil ShawPascal FintoniKimmah LewisAnd yours truly!So you know you’re learning from the best. And of course, there’ll be plenty of networking opportunities, lunch, an after-party and free flowing beer.
And if that’s not enough, if you refer your fellow MSPs you’ve got a chance of winning $200!
So what are you waiting for?! Seats are limited, so grab a ticket today.
You Might Also be Interested inSuperOps SuperSummit 2024: The MSP Blueprint for SuperGrowthPodcast: AI-Based Intelligent Alerting for MSPsPodcast: TubbTalk Travelogue: MSP Show and SuperOps SuperSummit 2024TubbTalk 179: Risk and the ROC Solution: What to Know for Growth
Matt Middleton-Leal is the Managing Director, EMEA North, of Qualys, a pioneering and disruptive cloud-based IT, security and compliance solutions provider.
An Interview With Matt Middleton-LealWhat MSPs are Missing About RiskWhen we hear the words ‘vulnerability’ or ‘risk’, says Matt, there’s a tendency for MSPs to just jump straight in with a solution. However, he suggests a different, more effective approach:
“Step back and say, ‘What are you trying to secure and why? What’s the inherent risk if you don’t secure it?’ Because they might not need a vulnerability management tool. Maybe they need a patching tool, or something completely different.
“When that happens, the MSP has missed the point and therefore an opportunity to sell their services and solve a pain point. So I always encourage people to step back and say ‘why’ and explore the benefit the client is looking for before you do anything else.”
Why Qualys Provide a ROC SolutionA few years ago, Qualys decided to introduce patching for CISOs so they could remediate risks. Matt explains: “And a lot of people laughed. They didn’t want to take responsibility for mediation of threats and vulnerabilities – they just wanted to report them.
“But we found that what we were doing up to that point wasn’t working. SOCs (security operations centres) were finding, triaging and solving incidents, but really by that point it’s too late.
“So a ROC (risk operations centre) is proactive. It measures the risk, communicates with the right stakeholders in the business about it and then solves the problem. It also give the CISO more data to report back to the CFO on where there are risks and how these are increasing business costs.”
The Opportunity for MSPs and MSSPs in Offering a ROCHaving a ROC is about bringing together multiple capabilities, integrating them and normalising the risk data. It’s not about the things that are traditionally done in the SOC, Matt says. He shares the four key service areas that Qualys have identified.
“We believe that the MSPs can build their business around cyber risk quantification advisory services. There’s high level consultancy to quantify the financial impact of risk. Then, there’s onboarding technologies to help clients manage it.
Thirdly, there’s ongoing risk monitoring services, and finally remediation services. These combined, with or without the use of Qualys technology, will help MSPs to help their clients to change the way they do business and get ahead of threats.”
How the ROC Approach can Reduce CISO BurnoutMatt acknowledges that CISOs are asked to do a lot, and it’s a challenge to afford enough staff, meaning those that are in a company work even harder. “So I think leveraging technology will make a massive difference.
“And to me, that’s through automation of repetitive tasks. It won’t solve all the problems, but it will reduce stress and remove pointless tasks for people. For instance, a lot of time is spent on patching, but the risk perspective is very low.
“Start looking for areas of low risk, high volume issues where you can start to remove the workload and allow people to focus on high risk items. If you measure through risk, this is straightforward. And it reduces overwhelm and makes people feel more valued and appreciated.”
How to Stay Ahead of the Cybersecurity CurveFor UK-based MSPs, it’s important to stay up to date with what the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is doing and the guidelines they produce, says Matt. Look into Cyber Essentials and the Plus version.
“However, what’s more important is that the NCSC then challenged MSPs by asking them to aim to patch high risk vulnerabilities on internal systems within seven days of detection and external ones within five days of detection.
“Now, these are just guidelines for the moment. But forward-looking MSPs and MSSPs should be thinking of how they can build their services and support offering to help their clients remediate or eliminate risks faster. We know that cybercriminals quickly exploit vulnerabilities, so adhering to the guidelines is key.”
How to Show Your Clients You’re Mitigating Risk for ThemThe easiest way to show how you’re protecting your clients comes down to KPIs (key performance indicators), says Matt. You should have an agreed set of deliverables and articulate how you’re progressing with them. He adds:
“Look for quick wins. Find partners who want to improve their business, agree those deliverables and give them the outcome they want. That’s not ‘I detected some malware’; it’s ‘I protected your system from getting hit by malware.
“Be clear about how you measure your KPI and communicate clearly and regularly with your clients so they know you’re being proactive. Always share when you’ve removed a risk and continually demonstrate your value.”
How to Connect With Matt Middleton-LealQualysLike Qualys on FacebookFollow Qualys on XFollow Qualys on LinkedInConnect with Matt on LinkedInHow to Connect With MeSubscribe to TubbTalk RSS feedSubscribe, rate, and review TubbTalk on iTunesSubscribe and rate TubbTalk on SpotifyFollow TubbTalk on iHeartRadioFollow @tubblog on TwitterMentioned in This EpisodeBook: Richard Seiersen: How to Measure Anything in Cybersecurity RiskUK government agency: National Cyber Security CentreCertification: Cyber EssentialsYou Might Also be Interested inComplement Your Cybersecurity Strategy With Security Awareness TrainingUnderstanding Deep Fake Technology: Why it’s a Risk to Your BusinessPodcast: Cybersecurity, Phishing and Automated Human Risk Management for MSPsApril 11, 2025
Hornetsecurity x Altospam, Daniel Priestley, & UK Cyber Bill
Hello there, MSP community! Gudrun Lauret here. Richard has kindly given me the keys to the Tubbservatory this week to keep an eye out for the best resources in the Managed Service Provider space that can help your IT business grow. So, let’s dive into this week’s top 5 picks!
Big news this week as Hornetsecurity announces their acquisition of Altospam, a leading French email security provider. This strategic move will enable Hornetsecurity to further extend its position as a European cybersecurity champion.
Hornetsecurity is known for providing a comprehensive suite of solutions for Microsoft 365 via one convenient platform, while Altospam brings their expertise in email cybersecurity solutions through their products for securing professional emails. This acquisition perfectly complements Hornetsecurity’s strategy to provide European-built cybersecurity solutions to businesses worldwide.
Learn more about the acquisition.
2. Becoming Oversubscribed with Daniel PriestleyOver on TubbTalk, we’ve just published an interview with author and entrepreneur Daniel Priestley. This episode is absolutely jam-packed with value for MSPs looking to stand out in a competitive market.
Daniel explains his process for becoming oversubscribed as an MSP by increasing demand so it exceeds supply. That way, you have clients queuing up to work with you! He also shares insights on becoming a key person of influence in your industry by leveraging social media to build your personal brand.
3. UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill UpdateFriend of Tubblog and owner of Bondgate IT, Damien Harrison, recently shared an important article from The Register regarding the UK government’s Cyber Security and Resilience (CSR) Bill, expected to enter Parliament later this year.
The technology secretary outlined what the bill sets out, including daily fines of £100,000 for MSPs failing to act against specific threats. This would apply if an MSP failed to patch against a widely exploited vulnerability within a time frame specified by a government order and was subsequently hit by attacks.
This legislation will have significant implications for MSPs in the UK, making it essential to stay informed about these new requirements.
Tubbservatory: The 11 April 2025 Weekly Video4. Microsoft Turns 50: Looking Back and AheadVideo of the week, and well worth 15 seconds of your time, is former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer repeatedly chanting ‘developers’ at an event in 1999. But what’s even more interesting is the story around this nostalgic clip.
According to Computer Weekly, Microsoft is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It’s quite remarkable to reflect on the changes in personal computing since the company’s founding in 1975. And Microsoft isn’t resting on its laurels – Windows 11 will launch in October, and the current CEO has big plans to position the company as a leading AI business.
People are also eagerly watching how Microsoft will continue to revolutionise LinkedIn, which it acquired in 2016. Even if your MSP doesn’t heavily rely on Microsoft products, this tech giant is definitely one to keep an eye on for the next 50 years!
Watch the video and learn more.
5. UpLift Live: Building Your LinkedIn PresenceYou might have seen online that I was at UpLift Live last week, the UK’s only conference that focuses solely on LinkedIn. Now, if you’re thinking, “Yeah, but I’m an MSP. Why should I bother with a marketing event?” then you’ve just answered your own question!
As Daniel Priestley recommended in our podcast feature above, using social media to build your personal brand is crucial if you want to grow your MSP. The good news is, you don’t have to do much to start seeing results. While LinkedIn has one billion members, only 1% of users post weekly – and those users generate 9 billion impressions per week.
So, do you think you could manage just 4 posts per month? If you’re stuck for ideas or want to maximise your LinkedIn impact, then UpLift Live 2026 might be the perfect event for you!
That’s all for this week’s Tubbservatory.
Thanks to Richard for trusting me with the keys to the Tubbservatory this week. It’s been a genuine pleasure sharing these MSP resources with you all. The Tubbservatory will be back in Richard’s capable hands next week, and I know he has some brilliant insights lined up for you!
Until we meet again, wishing you all continued success with your MSP businesses.
Cheers, Gudrun
April 4, 2025
Redstor Entra ID Backup, GTIA State of the Channel 2025, and Huntress EMEA Roadshow
Hey there, MSP community! Richard Tubb here, coming to you from the Tubbservatory with a roundup of innovative resources that can revolutionise the way you run your IT business. Let’s dive into this week’s top 5 picks!
In the world of managed service providers (MSPs), ensuring the security of client data is paramount. That’s why I’m highlighting Redstor’s Entra ID Backup. With Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) becoming a go-to for MSPs, Redstor offers a robust solution for safeguarding your clients’ data.
This platform doesn’t just perform backups; it ensures resilience by securing every critical Entra ID element—user configurations, attributes, roles, and relationships. This means businesses can recover swiftly from disruptions.
*Learn more.*
2. GTIA State of the Channel 2025 ReportThe GTIA State of the Channel 2025 report is hot off the press, revealing key trends shaping our industry. Notably, 53% of MSPs anticipate significant AI-related revenue growth in 2025. However, workforce skill challenges remain, with four in 10 channel firms struggling to find skilled workers. This report is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to stay ahead in the channel.
3. Evolved Radio Podcast with Todd Kane and Gerwai ToddA podcast that caught my ear is Evolved Radio hosted by Todd Kane, with guest Gerwai Todd of TimeZest and PIA. Kane and Todd delve into the transformative role of AI technology in ticket management, highlighting its ability to automate and streamline service desk operations. This is well worth a listen.
Tubbservatory: The 4 April 2025 Weekly Video4. Team: Getting Things Done with Others by David Allen and Edward LamontA book I find myself recommending a lot is “Team: Getting Things Done with Others” by David Allen and Edward Lamont. This groundbreaking book about how to harness the power of collaboration and work most effectively in groups is a must-read for all MSP businesses.
*Get the book.*
For our European MSPs, the Huntress EMEA Roadshow is a must-attend event. Kicking off at the iconic Carlsberg Brewery in Copenhagen on April 10, 2025, and heading to Amsterdam on May 20, this is your chance to engage with cybersecurity experts from Huntress. It’s not just about learning—it’s also an opportunity to network over a beer!
*Register for Copenhagen.* and *Register for Amsterdam.*
These resources are just a glimpse into the wealth of tools available to elevate your MSP business. As you explore these opportunities, remember the importance of supporting your local businesses. They’re the heartbeat of our communities, and your support can drive their growth and resilience.
Before I sign off, I’d love to hear your thoughts: How do you plan to integrate these resources into your business strategy? What local businesses in your area have made a significant impact on your work? Let’s keep the conversation going!
See you next week!
P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to my weekly MSP Insights email for more industry updates and resources. Sign up at http://tubb.co/nl.
April 3, 2025
Cybersecurity in 2025: Huntress Reveal Threats to Beware
You may be aware that Huntress have recently published their Cyber Threat Report 2025, and it makes for interesting reading. Based on data gathered over the last 12 months, the cybersecurity experts have produced a valuable analysis of the threats managed service providers (MSPs) and IT professionals need to know about.
The report starts with a detailed examination of the 2024 threat landscape, followed by a look at the risks to specific industries:
• Healthcare
• Technology
• Education
• Government
• Manufacturing
Then, there is a breakdown of specific threat types:
• Ransomware
• Attacker tools and techniques
• Exploit-driven campaigns
• MITRE and ATT&CK phases
• Phishing
• Identity threats
And a breakdown of hacker activity, looking specifically at timeframes. The report itself is almost 80 pages long, and definitely worth getting yourself a copy. Here, we share a few key highlights to give you an idea of what’s included and what to be aware of.
1. There has been a proliferation in what are known as RATs – remote access trojans. These are multi-stage backdoor with advanced capabilities. Worryingly, Huntress says: “As the malware market gets more competitive, the developers of RATs will add more complex features.
2. Remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools are increasingly targeted by malware. By gaining access through a tool and blending in, the hackers are able to be persistent with their attacks.
3. Ransomware strategies, perhaps not surprisingly, are also changing. Cybercriminals are moving away from encryption to concentrate more on data theft and extortion.
4. We’re also introduced to the concept of ‘living off the land techniques’. These are highly sophisticated and involve focusing on admin tools such as LOLBins and Sysinternal Suite.
5. Finally, phishing techniques continue to evolve and become ever more sophisticated. QR codes, brand impersonation and image-based content were all issues in 2024.
In the past two years, there have been several significant ransomware attacks, targeting companies around the globe. Huntress reports that 54% of ransomware attacks were linked to RansomHub, Lynx and Akira.
The report goes on to highlight the differences in how ransomware groups conducted their attacks. “Time-to-ransom (TTR) analysis revealed that groups like Akira deployed ransomware within six hours of initial access, favouring quick, high-impact attacks.”
Others were slower, and “the number of malicious actions before ransomware deployment also varied, with extortion-focused groups performing more extensive reconnaissance, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration compared to groups prioritising rapid encryption.”
Ransomware criminals operate in groups, and while law enforcement have been successful in disbanding some, the members simply move to a new home. One group that Huntress highlights MSPs beware of is BlackSuit (aka Royal).
This group aggressively targeted business workforces throughout the world in 2024. They’re growing, so MSPs can expect to likely see more sophisticated attacks and methods coming from them.
Microsoft 365 environments were attacked more frequently in 2024, and these attacks were also more sophisticated. While Huntress have introduced attacker-in-the middle (AitM) detection, MSPs need to beware of the dangers.
Criminals used plugins, tools, unauthorised geolocations and restricted VPNs to attempt to compromise cloud structure. The increase in cloud attacks is almost certainly due to the increasing numbers of organisations using the cloud.
Of the eight categories of identity threat highlighted by Huntress, the two biggest were VPN rule violation and inbox rule modification. The first of these is where the cybercriminal abuses the VPN to “conceal their real IP address or try to bypass geolocation fencing rules to access data.”
And the second requires the attacker to access M365 accounts to use modified inbox rules to siphon off email information. Mostly this was done by moving content to the RSS feeds folder or the conversation history folder. Sometimes they’d even mark emails as ‘read’ to fool the user.
Huntress are able to find out almost in real time about potential email threats by speaking to students taking part in their Security Awareness Training (SAT). This not only enabled them to identify the typical attack methods, but to see how many types there are (285 distinct groups).
The report highlights eight notable phishing themes from 2024, with the two biggest being e-signature impersonation and image-based content. It also shows that fake thread/reply chains are becoming more common.
We learn that e-signature impersonation isn’t about your email signature, but about digital requests for your signature, via tools such as Docusign or Adobe. There are two methods for malicious acts here.
The first is by creating ‘fake graphical emails that look as if they’re from the e-signature provider.’ The second, more sophisticated approach is using the provider itself to host either a malicious document or document linked to a malicious site.
And image-based content attacks are cleverly designed to “bypass text-based spam filters and send an image which is hyperlinked to a malicious landing page. The image in its entirety is linked, and is the only element in the email,” which explains why the recipient ends up clicking.
What do you think? Have you got a copy of the report? What have you observed in your own MSP in the last 12 months and what’s a priority for your clients? Let us know in the comments.
April 2, 2025
Travelogue: UpLift Live 2025
Time for another Team Tubb Travelogue! This time, Lenka Koppova catches up with Richard Tubb and James Steel of Salesbuildr, who are in Birmingham for UpLift Live 2025, a conference focused entirely on LinkedIn. They were also briefly joined by a special guest, so listen in to find out who!
Grab a cup of your favourite tea or coffee, relax and join them for a fun conversation about the highlights from this big event.
Richard says he really liked the supportive community. About 40% of the attendees are LinkedIn professionals, and the rest are people who use LinkedIn to market their business. It’s good that not all of the delegates are trainers.
James shared how much he appreciated the advice on using LinkedIn for different things – you don’t have to be professional and business-like all the time. You can share personal updates, you can use long-form videos to get your message across and you can be yourself and succeed on LinkedIn.
Also Mentioned in the PodcastLive sketch notes and subtitles throughout the dayDedicated WhatsApp group for all attendees – available straight after registrationLinkedIn group for all attendeesVariety of topics covered during the eventAnd of course, the Travelogue quiz!What is the TubbTalk Travelogue?These are ad-hoc, bonus episodes of our regular TubbTalk podcast, recorded live at an event. A member of TeamTubb calls Richard for an on-the-ground update on what they’ve learned and their highlights from the day.
Listen to the Travelogue from UpLift Live 2025What to Know About UpLift Live 2025UpLift Live is the UK’s first and only conference dedicated solely to mastering LinkedIn. Attendees learn how to transform their LinkedIn strategy while networking with other business owners and entrepreneurs, and hear from expert speakers on all aspects of LinkedIn.
Both Richard and James commended the high calibre of the speakers, the tactical nature of the presentations and the warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The hosts are:
John Espirian, a technical copywriter and Linkedin speaker and trainerGus Bhandal, marketing expert and LinkedIn trainerJeremy Freeman, a content writerYou Might Also be Interested inWhy Modern MSPs Should Embrace all Kinds of Networking GroupsPodcast: Leveraging LinkedIn for MSPsWhy Consistent Content Marketing is Key for MSP Sales SuccessTubbservatory Round-Up #39 – March 2025
A new month means new opportunities to drive your MSP forward. For 39 editions now, the Tubbservatory has been your go-to source for the latest tools, insights, and strategies tailored for IT Managed Service Providers.
This March 2025 edition is no exception. Whether it’s actionable advice to optimise your operations or links to cutting-edge podcasts that challenge the status quo, the Tubbservatory Round-Up delivers resources curated with one goal in mind: your growth.
→ Dive into a list of must-read articles that explore the evolving MSP landscape
→ Discover podcasts featuring thought leaders who share strategies you can implement right now
→ Get a front-row seat to key industry events that shape the future of IT services
Leadership in the MSP world is about staying ahead, and this collection equips you to do just that. Don’t miss out on this month’s insights—check out the full resource list linked below!
We’re also tackling burnout management – something we can all relate to – and diving into data protection, AI, podcasts, IT Nation Europe, social media and mental health.
Tubbservatory Round-Up #39: March – Week 1#1 Cloud Backup and Recovery for MSPs and VARsAs an MSP, you need fast, reliable, and hassle-free data protection. So a solution that has caught my eye is Redstor’s cloud-first backup with InstantData that lets you recover files and systems instantly—no hardware required.
The Redstor solution is purpose built for MSPs, with a multi-tenant dashboard, so you can manage all your clients in one place.
With setup taking less than 60 seconds, and built-in AI-powered malware detection to stop threats before they spread, Redstor is definitely worth looking at for MSPs.
#2 Why Choose One AI Tool When You Can Have Them All?On the subject of AI, a superb tool we’ve started using within Team Tubb is Magai.
For a single-subscription, Magai gives you and your team access to all the top AI platforms including ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini Pro and more.
As well as being a huge cost-saver, Magai allows you to share prompts and personas among your team.
Thanks to Mike Allton for the recommendation. I highly recommend Magai!
#3 Tate Talks – The MSP PodcastCongratulations to the hardest-working man in the channel, Chris Tate, on reaching 50 episodes of his MSP podcast, Tate Talks!
In episode 50, Scott Tyson of Sophos turned the tables on industry veteran Tate, interviewing Chris about his history within the MSP space.
If you’ve not yet listened to Tate Talks, this is a great episode to check out!
#4 Recommended Books for MSPsHow can you guarantee that your company delivers great service, has a great culture, and still manages to stay profitable?
I’d recommend MSPs read “The Absolutely Unbreakable Rules of Service Delivery: How to Manage Your Business to Maximize Customer Service, Profit, and Employee Culture” by MSP legend, Karl Palachuk.
#5 IT Nation Connect Europe 2025: The MSP Community Event You Don’t Want to MissNext week sees the huge IT Nation Europe 2025 event come to London from 10-12th March.
Promising to be one of top events on the European MSP calendar, keynoted by Daniel Priestley, and attended by the industries top MSPs and experts, Team Tubb will be on-hand to bring you all the news, information and interviews from the three days.
I’m told there are just a handful of tickets left at the time I recorded this video, so grab yourself a ticket using the code TUBB25 for a discount, and we’ll see you in London!
Working Smarter, Not Harder, is a key to business success. But what exactly does that mean for Managed Service Providers?
Well, MSP experts Amy Babinchak and Paul Schnakenburg have just released “The MSP Playbook to Working Harder, Not Smarter”.
Covering everything from MSP efficiency, onboarding new clients, to monitoring, maintenance and vendor management, this is a superb read for MSPs. The best part? This eBook is provided free of charge, thanks to Cybersecurity experts Hornetsecurity.
#2 AgoraPulse – Inbox Zero for Social MediaTalking of working smarter, not harder, if you’re struggling to keep up with all those social media channels, then here’s a tool I highly recommend.
AgoraPulse is a social media dashboard that I refer to as “Inbox Zero for Social Media”.
We use AgoraPulse within Team Tubb, and it has revolutionised the way we deal with social media.
#3 Need to Know PodcastIf your MSP works with SharePoint, Microsoft 365, Azure, Mobility and Productivity, then check out the Need To Know Podcast by Robert Crane.
Crane is one of the industries most knowledgeable people on all things Microsoft, so I’d highly recommend checking this podcast out.
#4 Recommended Books for MSPsIf you’ve ever been curious about working with VAs — Virtual Assistants — then here’s a book I’d recommend.
“Virtual Freedom” is a guide to on ‘How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business’. Written by business legend Chris Ducker, this book is a goldmine for MSPs.
#5 Zune Digital Coffee Table BookA fun one for my fellow geeks of a certain age. Remember the Microsoft Zune? If you owned this Microsoft rival to the iPod, as I did, then you’ll get a kick out of this Zune Digital Coffee Table Book by Peter Bull.
Available as a free download, Zunepedia is your unofficial photographic guide to the Zune, devices, hardware and services.
With recruitment being front of mind for many MSPs in 2025, have you considered the hidden cost of hiring?
As well as the salary for a new member of staff, MSPs need to consider insurance, holiday, sick-pay, learning and development costs, and much more.
If you find that all a bit overwhelming, then I’d highly recommend taking a look at Uptime’s latest eBook on staff augmentation.
This eBook contains some great ideas on how your MSP might reduce your recruitment headaches.
#2 Soft Skills for Engineers & IT Support TechniciansIf you’re looking to give your service desk a boost, then you may want to check out “Helpdesk Habits: Soft Skills for Engineers & IT Support Technicians”.
The course is hosted by MSP expert Mark Copeman, and is a customer service training program and certification, specifically developed for solo IT pros, MSPs and corporate service desks.
It’s perfect for onboarding recruits or transforming teams with room for improvement.
#3 How to Build a Powerful Networking Learning LabAnd talking of learning, a video that caught my eye is the awesome Tom Lawrance sharing “How to Build A Powerful Networking Learning Lab”. From VLAN’s to emulating client networks, this video is a powerful guide!
#4 Recommended Books for MSPsIf you’re feeling a little bit frazzled with business and life, then a book I’d highly recommend is “Struggle: The Surprising Truth, Beauty and Opportunity Hidden in Life’s Sh*ttier Moments”.
In this book, author Grace Marshall, a renowned productivity expert, takes us beyond getting stuff done to helpful advice on dealing with the ups and downs of life.
#5 Beyond Amsterdam 2025Mark 5-7th October 2025 in your calendar, as Pax8 Beyond EMEA 2025 comes to Amsterdam in the Netherlands! Last year’s Pax8 Beyond EMEA was one of, if not the best, MSP event I’ve personally attended, so I can’t recommend this years event highly enough.
The word is already out, with 50% of tickets already being legitimately sold, so don’t hesitate — buy your ticket now, and I’ll see you in Amsterdam!
We kick off this week with the much-anticipated Huntress 2025 Cyber Threat Report.
Huntress’ industry-leading Security Operation Centre (SOC) sees all manner of activity from cybercriminals, and this report shines a light on what MSPs need to know to protect their clients this year.
Two headlines from the report that caught my eye:-
Infostealers thrived, accounting for a staggering 24% of incidents. Right behind them were malicious scripts at 22%, mainly due to their ability to dodge detection and automate attacks.
And secondly, healthcare and education are preferred targets, with tech, manufacturing, and government not far behind.
But that’s only the beginning. I’d encourage you to download the “2025 Cyber Threat Report” now — it’s a free download — and arm yourself with the knowledge to defend against whatever 2025 throws your way.
And talking of reports, if you’ve ever wondered how your MSP compares to other MSPs in the market, now’s your chance.
SuperOps have launched the 2025 MSP Growth Blueprint, a survey offering data-driven strategies for success.
Complete the survey, and assess your MSP’s potential for 2025 and compare your growth with industry peers.
#3 The Ultimate MSP Growth GuideA resource I’ve been really impressed with is The MSP Buyer’s Guide from MSP coaching experts Ian Luckett & Stuart Warwick of the MSP Growth Hub.
Running an MSP isn’t just about providing IT support—it’s about scaling strategically, making the right investments, and building a business that works for you.
This guide provides all manner of strategies and advice, and it’s hard to believe Ian and Stuart are giving it away for free. Thanks chaps!
#4 MSP Influencer Podcast by Joey PinzNow, a podcast that caught my ear is the MSP Influencer Show from Joey Pinz.
Pinz interviews some top names from the managed services space, so if you’re interested in the business of being an MSP, you should check out his show.
#5 Huntress RoadshowAnd finally, we mentioned Huntress at the top of the Tubbservatory. Well, Scottish MSPs, here’s your chance to meet the Huntress experts in person!
Huntress’ UK Roadshow rolls into the OGV Taproom in Aberdeen, Scotland on Tue 8th April.
Huntress’ live events have built an amazing reputation for quality, so go ahead and register now!
Links to the Resources Mentioned in this Round-Up
From Week 1Cloud Backup and Recovery for MSPs and VARsWhy Choose One AI Tool When You Can Have Them All?Tate Talks – The MSP PodcastRecommended Books for MSPsIT Nation Connect Europe 2025: The MSP Community Event You Don’t Want to MissMentioned in Week 2AgoraPulse – Inbox Zero for Social MediaNeed to Know podcastRecommended Books for MSPsZune Digital Coffee Table BookWeek 3MSP Outsourcing: Staff AugmentationSoft Skills for Engineers & IT Support TechniciansHow to Build a Powerful Networking Learning LabRecommended Books for MSPsBeyond Amsterdam 2025 And Week 4Huntress 2025 Cyber Threat Report2025 Growth Blueprint for MSPsThe Ultimate MSP Growth GuideMSP Influencer Podcast by Joey PinzHuntress Roadshow
There are countless ways for MSPs to grow, develop, and maintain an edge. Have something to share? Share it in the comments below. Articles, tools, or clever tips—anything you think others can learn from, feel free to post it here. We must keep this up; your ideas are much appreciated!
March 31, 2025
TubbTalk 178: How to Become a Key Person of Influence
Daniel Priestley is a worldwide renowned entrepreneur, international speaker, and best-selling author, an expert in business growth, personal branding, and entrepreneurship. He shares his advice on how to become a key person of influence.
Daniel’s the author of several books which provide actionable strategies for entrepreneurs looking to stand out, attract opportunities, and scale. He’s helped thousands of business owners and thought leaders position themselves as industry influencers.
An Interview With Daniel PriestleyHow to be Oversubscribed as an MSPWhen you’re in a position where demand exceeds supply, you create rising prices and profitability, says Daniel. When the opposite is the case, there are losses and falling prices. And yet so many business owners work hard to ramp up supply.
“So every time you’re working with a client, you’re supplying something. And if you if you don’t have corresponding excess demand, you’re dropping the price without knowing it. This is why so many MSP owners get frustrated.
“They know they provide value, but they’re not profitable because they don’t have excess demand. If you only had capacity to work with 10 clients and you had 100 people lined up, you could just double your prices. But MSPs don’t think like that, so I encourage them to spend some time ramping up demand.”
How to Become a Key Person of InfluenceYou have to do what works, says Daniel, whatever that looks like for you. “LinkedIn recently released some statistics that said if al things are equal, a personal brand is 20 times more effective than a business brand. If you posted daily from each one, your personal brand would hit 20,000 followers while your business brand has only 1,000.
“You know there’s a critical mass of people you have to reach to be successful, you want to do it efficiently and quickly. So you have to work with human behaviour. People love people; they sign up to work with an MSP because they like the team and the founder.
“And that means that your customers have to buy into your expertise and thought leadership, and they have to trust you. To do that in a sustainable and scalable way, leverage social media so people get to know you.”
Where MSPs Should Focus Their EffortsOf course, as a busy managed services owner, you don’t have time to try lots of different things to raise your profile and become oversubscribed. So if you only do one thing, Daniel says, then that should be publishing.
“You’re sitting on case studies, stories and examples of great work you’ve done, but you don’t tell anyone about it. And by ‘publishing’, I mean putting it out into the public domain. So often I ask MSPs what projects they’ve worked on and they say, ‘not much.’ Then I ask them to give me some examples and they have loads of amazing ones.
“You’re an expert, you know what you’re talking about and you can deliver, but you don’t tell anyone. So I suggest looking at the last five years and find something special you did. Then, talk about it step by step to show how you got the results. Repeat the process, and share these on LinkedIn and in lead magnets.”
How to use Vendor Relationships to Become a Key Person of InfluenceIf you work with some big name vendors, then tell people, says Daniel. “Tell them you partner with global companies. They won’t know that lots of other MSPs do too. It shows that you have some status.
“Remember that even the biggest businesses are made up of people. So when you go to conferences, make a point of talking to the people who work for these global organisations. Speak to them at exhibitor stands. Go with the intention of making the most of your partnership.
“Speak to them and ask, ‘What could I be doing that I’m not doing at the moment?’ They’ll be thrilled that you ask. They’ll have all sorts of things in their partner programme that MSPs don’t know about, so they’ll guide you to utilise them better.”
How to use a Personal Brand to Grow an MSP That Doesn’t Rely on YouStrangely enough, the more you lean into having a personal brand, the less people expect you to be the person delivering all the work. Daniel gives the example of George Clooney being the face of Nespresso Coffee:
“Nobody expects George to be in the shop when you go to buy coffee. And you don’t expect to see Richard Branson on a Virgin flight. You understand that they represent the brand. So the bigger your brand, the less involved people think you are.
“And when you talk about your business, make reference to your team as much as you can. Say ‘we’, ‘my team’ and ‘my opinions’. Educate people to expect to hear from a team member (who you present as the expert in whatever they need help with) and they’ll soon accept it.”
How You can be a Key Person of Influence as a Service Based BusinessDaniel coaches and supports all kinds of businesses, including MSPs, to use the key person of influence approach to transform their business. Even if you’re service-based, it will work for you.
“I worked with a guy called Francis Rodino, who’s recently published a book called ‘Lead Machines’. He’s been running a marketing-focused MSP for a while, providing assets, systems and automations.
“By writing the book, he’s gone from word-of-mouth customers to being on stage in front of three or 400 people and building his social media following, and he gets more inbound queries than ever. He just took the knowledge he had and put it in front of people to demonstrate that he’s the expert.”
How to Connect With Daniel PriestleyDaniel’s websiteFollow Daniel on XLike Daniel on FacebookConnect with Daniel on LinkedInHow to Connect With MeSubscribe to TubbTalk RSS feedSubscribe, rate, and review TubbTalk on iTunesSubscribe and rate TubbTalk on SpotifyFollow TubbTalk on iHeartRadioFollow @tubblog on TwitterMentioned in This EpisodeMSP community event: IT Nation ConnectBook: Daniel Priestley: Key Person of InfluenceBook: Daniel Priestley: OversubscribedBook: Daniel Priestley: Entrepreneur RevolutionPocast: Diary of a CEOPodcast: The Joe Rogan ExperienceIT management software: ConnectWiseMarketing conference: AtomiconBusiness conference: Start Up WeekBook: Francis Rodino: Leads MachineBook: Peter Thiel: Zero to OneBook: Ray Dalio: PrinciplesBook: Brent Schlender: Becoming Steve JobsBook: Andre Agassi: Open (autobiography)Podcast: Peter Kujawa of ConnectWiseMSP conference: IT Nation EvolveIT Nation Community Director, EMEA: Dan ScottEntrepreneur: Stephen BartlettAuthor and podcast host: Jay ShettyYou Might Also be Interested inPodcast: How to Grow Your Business in an MSP Community Like IT Nation12 Ways to Attract More Profitable Clients to Your BusinessIT Nation Connect Europe 25: The Highlights MSPs Need
March 28, 2025
Huntress 2025 Cyber Threat Report, SuperOps MSP Growth Blueprint, and The MSP Buyer’s Guide
Hey there, MSP community! Richard Tubb here, coming to you from the Tubbservatory with a roundup of innovative resources that can revolutionise the way you run your IT business. Let’s dive into this week’s top 5 picks!
We kick off this week with the much-anticipated Huntress 2025 Cyber Threat Report. Huntress’s industry-leading Security Operation Center (SOC) sees all manner of activity from cybercriminals, and this report shines a light on what MSPs need to know to protect their clients this year.
Two headlines that caught my eye: infostealers thrived, accounting for a staggering 24% of incidents, and healthcare and education are preferred targets. Download the free report now and arm yourself with the knowledge to defend against whatever 2025 throws your way.
2. SuperOps 2025 MSP Growth BlueprintIf you’ve ever wondered how your MSP compares to others in the market, now’s your chance. SuperOps has launched the 2025 MSP Growth Blueprint, a survey offering data-driven strategies for success. Complete the survey to assess your MSP’s potential for 2025 and compare your growth with industry peers.
3. The MSP Buyer’s Guide by Ian Luckett & Stuart WarwickA resource I’ve been really impressed with is The MSP Buyer’s Guide from MSP coaching experts Ian Luckett & Stuart Warwick of the MSP Growth Hub. Running an MSP isn’t just about providing IT support.
It’s about scaling strategically, making the right investments, and building a business that works for you. This guide provides all manner of strategies and advice, and it’s hard to believe Ian and Stuart are giving it away for free. Thanks, chaps!
Tubbservatory: The 28 March 2025 Weekly Video4. MSP Influencer Podcast by Joey Pinz
A podcast that caught my ear is the MSP Influencer show from Joey Pinz. Pinz interviews some top names from the Managed Services space, and if you’re interested in the business of managed services, you should check out his show.
*Listen to the podcast.*
Finally, Scottish MSPs, here’s your chance to meet the Huntress experts in person! Huntress’s UK Roadshow rolls into the OGV Taproom in Aberdeen, Scotland on Tue 8th April. Huntress’ live events have built an amazing reputation for quality, so go ahead and register now!
There you have it—your 5-a-week for the MSP industry. You’ll love my weekly MSP Insights email if you enjoyed this roundup. Join thousands of other MSPs and sign up at tubb.co/nl.
P.S. Don’t forget to support your local businesses—they’re the heart of our communities, and your patronage can make all the difference in their growth and resilience. How are you planning to support local businesses in your area this week? Let’s keep building better businesses together!
