TubbTalk 174: Insights From One of the UK’s Most Innovative MSPs

Chris Pottrell is the Managing Director of Nebula IT, an MSP with a strong focus on cybersecurity. Their comprehensive set of services make them on of the most innovative MSPs to watch.

An Interview With Chris PottrellWatch the Video Interview With Chris Pottrell

Typical Clients for Nebula IT

Nebula IT has been going for 12 years and now have 17 staff. Chris explains that when they started out they worked with all kinds of businesses. However, in the last five or six years, they’ve been consciously niching down. 

“So for us, that’s been with the MOD (Ministry of Defence) supply chain. And you’d be surprised by how many different types of business work with them. But everyone within it has to be regulated, especially when it comes to cyber protection.

“We fell into it by accident, but over the last few years we’ve worked with several different companies within that supply chain. And once we really looked into them, we quickly spotted where they had vulnerabilities and were at risk. So we were able to prevent those as much as we could.”

Why Innovative MSPs View Their Outsource Partners as Part of the Team

“We’ve always been open about who we partner with,” says Chris. “In fact, when you work with the MOD you have to be. Although at one point, we tried to develop our own SOC (security operations centre)!

“However, we soon realised that it came with massive overheads. And not just in terms of cost, but also in recruitment, upskilling and so on. So we chose to find an outsourcing partner. We went with Huntress, who are cybersecurity experts. 

“Not only do they provide SOC, but they’ve given us invaluable support as we looked to transition into being an MSSP (managed security service provider). They took the time to really get to know Nebula, answer our questions and help with challenges. They really are part of the team.”

A Real-Life Example of How Nebula Resolved a Security Breach

Part of Nebula’s onboarding process is to deploy tools into a client’s Microsoft 365 stack. And as Chris explains: “It doesn’t just turn on and support you from then on. It also looks back at what’s gone on in the past. It looks at everything.

“And we ran it for one new client and realised that every financial body in that company had been compromised at some point. And the mailbox rules were still in place. So Huntress helped us by blocking access to four problem mailboxes and let us know we needed to take action.

“So with their help, we blocked the mailboxes and worked out what had happened. And we cleaned up the rules so it couldn’t happen again. This was great for  the new client, as it showed we’re proactive.”

Why Innovative MSPs Should Offer Cybersecurity Awareness Training

At Nebula IT, cybersecurity awareness training is obligatory for all new clients. “For us, it’s not something they have a choice with,” says Chris. The Nebula team know that human error is a risk, so work with clients to mitigate that.

“So we’re quite regimented, even internally. We make sure our clients start training on day one. We look for gaps in knowledge and address those, and offer compulsory training the whole time we work together.

“But we also complement that with our own trainers who do half-day, in-person training events. We want them to understand what could go wrong and how to reduce that happening. We put controls in place, but ultimately it’s their responsibility.”

The Company Culture at Nebula IT

Chris likes to involve the whole team in an end-of-year wrap-up. “For us, we don’t say we’re close like a family. Instead, we describe ourselves as more like a professional football team.  Because I truly believe that we’ve got the right people in the right seats doing the right job.

“And they want to do their jobs, so they all pull in the right direction. We all work together. We trust people to experiment, make mistakes and learn from them. And we support them to develop their careers however they want.

“We also have a strong emphasis on volunteering – everyone gets involved with causes we support. That might be local sports teams, taking at-risk kids out to the cinema or for adventure days. It brings the team together and they have fun.”

Where Innovative MSPs Look for Opportunities

As a techy at heart, Chris admits that he’s easily distracted by new, shiny toys. “The team has told me not to keep doing it! I can’t keep introducing new tools and solutions I’ve found.

“So what we do as a team is review the tools we have and see if  they’re still the right fit for us. If they are, we get as much out of them as we can. But if they’re not, we look for alternatives.

“And for me personally, I love going to industry events. I attend the Pax8 Beyond, Connectwise and DattoCon conferences. It’s a good way to keep in touch with MSPs and hear from vendors. That way we can stay innovative.”

How to Connect With Chris PottrellNebula ITFollow Nebula IT on LinkedInLike Nebula IT on FacebookConnect with Chris Pottrell 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 EpisodeCybersecurity experts: HuntressUK cyber assurance standard: IASMECloud marketplace: Pax8IT management software: ConnectWisePSA tool: AutotaskAccounting software: Xero365 management tool: inforcer365 management tool: Inside AgentCybersecurity compliance: OneClickComplyCybersecurity platform: SentinelOneCloud-native SIEM solution: Azure SentinelPodcast interview with Dray AghaAI assistant: Microsoft Copilot365 security tool: HornetsecurityData management tool: Mozart DataCybersecurity accreditation (UK): Cyber EssentialsInformation security certification: ISO 27001Virtualize Microsoft desktops: Azure Virtual DesktopPodcast interview with Andy ReadmanEndpoint management: Microsoft IntuneBook: Gino Wickman: Traction: Get a Grip on Your BusinessBook: Gino Wickman: The EOS LifeRichard’s appearance on Luis Giraldo of Scalepad’s podcastMSP peer group: IT Nation EvolvePodcast interview with Eric OstlundMSP event: Pax8 Beyond EMEAMSP event: DattoCon EuropeMSP event: Pax8 Beyond DenverYou Might Also be Interested inIn-House or Outsourced IT Cybersecurity: Which is Best for MSPs?Podcast: Who are the New Breed of Customer-Focused MSPs?How to Keep Smart in Cybersecurity With Your IoT Smart Devices

 

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