MSPs Discuss Vendor Relationships, Vetting and Onboarding

Joshua Liberman of Net Sciences on Vendor Relationships, Vetting, and Onboarding (Commercial Integrator):

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The MSP Community Talks Security Aware Training (Commercial Integrator):

Six members of The ASCII Group discuss their unique approach to security awareness training, as well as the tools that they recommend.

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Travel Like a Boss (MSP Success Magazine):

Channel conferences are a must-attend for MSP business owners who want to learn from experts in the field, stay on the cutting edge of tech trends, and network with peers. And there’s no shortage of events—IT analyst firm Canalys identifies a whopping 270!

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AI, Cybersecurity & You (ChannelPro):

AI is coming. Nearly everyone has been pummeled this past year with HUD (hype, uncertainty, and doubt) about AI, and what it means to IT security.

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The River of IT Documentation (ChannelPro):

Documentation is never finished, but establishing underlying policies and a solid framework will make staying on top of these changes easier.

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Building Your Own Personal Brand (Richard Tubb's Tubblog):

Get ready to be inspired by today’s guest blogger, Joshua Liberman! Joshua is a true jack-of-all-trades, with a background in mountaineering, martial arts, and photography. He’s written all about using your personal brand to stand out.

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Keeping Your Security Stack "Fluid" (ChannelPro):

To keep the IT security stack as fluid as a river, MSPs must become more visionary in their security practice and move more deeply into clients' processes.

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Cyber Liability: Your New Best Friend (ChannelPro):

Leverage insurance requirements to get your clients to do what you have been encouraging them to do all along - put proper security practices in place.

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Cybersecurity Predictions for 2023 (CompTIA):

Cybersecurity will continue to be paramount for tech vendors, managed service providers and businesses of all sizes in 2023.

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How MSPs Can Finish Strong Every Year (SuperOps):

Why end-of-year planning is important and what MSPs can do to finish the year on a high note.

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Joshua Liberman Interviewed by Uncle Marv at ASCII Dallas 2022

Interviews from attendees and vendors at the ASCII Success Summit in Dallas, Texas.

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Onboarding A New Client With Security First (SuperOps):

Onboarding a new client must be thoughtfully done, and security needs to be built in every step of the way.

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Making Cyberliability Work for You (SuperOps.Ai):

Just getting cyberliability insurance is never enough. Find out what else you need to do.

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A Swiss Army Knife of Zero Trust (ChannelPro):

We need a broader more proactive defense against unknown threats that allows only the known good.

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How to Talk About IT Security With Clients (SuperOps.AI):

Clients don't want to know or talk about MDR, firewall log reading, or security training, but they do want their business to be completely secure. Communicating the right message makes all the difference.

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ChannelPro profiles NSI in "Small Teams, Big Results" this month (April 2022)

THE $375,000 Lori Hardtke made in 2020, her biggest year as a channel pro to date, doesn’t sound all that special until you consider that she’s a sole proprietor with a client base in Arizona that she’s supported for the last eight years exclusively from her home.

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The Ideal Security Stack - Part Four (SuperOps.AI):

In the final part of this series on security, find out why Zero Trust Network Architecture should be baked into the core design of your networks.

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The Ideal Security Stack Part Three (Superops.AI):

Learn how to build, deploy, and manage your security stack, in part three of this series on security.

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The Ideal Security Stack Part Two (Superops.AI):

To tier or not to tier - that’s always the question when building out the security offerings your MSP will offer clients. Find out what fits you best in this second part of the series that builds upon the personal experience of the author.

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Thoughts on Supply Chain Disruptions (MSP Insights):

In our ongoing quest to provide you with the best business advice possible, we’ve partnered with The ASCII Group and their members who are going to share their thoughts on timely topics or best business practices.

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The Ideal Security Stack Part One (Superops.AI):

Some of your most important decisions as an MSP will concern securing your sites. No matter what you get right, if you get the security wrong, you lose.

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The Ideal Security Stack (ASCII Group):

The most important decisions you make as an MSP are about how to secure your clients. No matter what you get right, if you get the security wrong, you lose.

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Joshua Liberman, President of Net Sciences, on KRQE TV:

The cyber-nightmare on Copper Avenue - The victim was astonished. He said, “I was very surprised. I said who would want to attack us?”

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Managing Security Vendor Sprawl (ChannelPro):

When it comes to managing vendors, change, and “information silos,” lean toward simplification with your security stack.

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ASCII Members Discuss Securing Your SMB Clients in the Age of Work From Anywhere (10/21):

Check out the October ASCII insight column in MSP Insights featuring intel from ASCII members sharing their thoughts on all things cybersecurity.

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Protecting the Newest Endpoint M365 (ChannelPro):

With Microsoft 365 becoming cybercriminals' latest target of choice, you must protect it just like you protect your clients' desktops and laptops.

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Keeping Employees Happy in the Time of Covid (MSP Insights)

In our ongoing quest to provide you with the best business advice possible, we’ve partnered with The ASCII Group and their members who are going to share their thoughts on timely topics or best business practices.

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Insecure Is Not An Option (The MSP Initiative 60m Podcast)

Insecure is Not an Option: The Security First MSP 2021 Edition with Joshua Liberman from Net Sciences, Inc.

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To Be Or Not Be An MSSP in 2021 (SMB Nation Podcast - 11 minutes)

As more and more of our daily lives shifts to online work the need for cyber security is becoming more and more critical for the success and stability of many companies. Although attacks on large organizations and government entities are typically the ones in the news small businesses are usually more vulnerable to attacks.

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What is Customer Service As an MSP (SuperOps)

Your customer service is the backbone of your IT managed services business. The way you deliver that customer service is a true reflection of your brand, and it is critical to get it exactly right. The question though is how to define what customer service really means.

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Cybersecurity Basics for 2021 (Commercial Integrator - Free Subscription Required)

As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, it’s good to go over the cybersecurity basics that cover the bases for your business.

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Podcast About Managing Remote Workers and Much More (ChannelPro)

Everyone keeps talking about working from home, but who are they kidding? That home of yours is a branch office these days, and family and pets aside it has a total workforce population of…you.

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To MSSP or Not to MSSP (SuperOps)

As your MSP practice matures, you will tackle everything from hiring to firing, marketing, vendor relations, and growing your offerings. And while every MSP realizes that security is their oxygen and without it, they die, at some point, they will have to make the call as to whether to go all-in on security or to outsource that expertise.

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Cyber Security Tips For MSPs (SuperOps.Ai)

Anyone in the business of defending computer networks knows that attackers have the advantage over the long run. To secure a network, we must secure every device, entry point, and pathway and educate every end-user.

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Building An Advanced Security Arsenal Part 4 (ChannelPro)

The last installment in this four-part series argues for changing the vision of how and what MSPs protect to focus on pathways rather than targets.

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Podcast with Joshua "Get Your Shift Together" (CompTIA)

Episode 20: Digital Transformation? Get Your Shift Together!

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Making Work-From-Home Security Work (ChannelPro)

Six months after COVID-19 turned office dwellers into instant telecommuters, best practices for protecting remote workers are coming into focus.

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Now Is the Time to be Vigilant Amidst Increasing Cyber Attacks (Tech Decisions)

As the COVID-19 pandemic and political turmoil lead to increasing cyber attacks, organizations and end users should take extra precaution.

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Building an Advanced Security Arsenal Part 3 (ChannelPro)

The third installment in a four-part series details how to provide more sophisticated protection for endpoints, including O365 mailboxes, and why it’s so critical.

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Different Managed Services Models: Does One Size Fit All? (Commercial Integrator)

Choosing the right managed services model to fit your needs will help you have the most long-term success with this new way of doing business...

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What Changes Covid-19 Has Wrought For SMB IT Security (MSP Tech Talk For Albuquerque)

Technology event guru Phelim Rowe from the UK has swiftly pivoted his localized in-person security event model to online geotargeting. I joined fellow SMB Nation member Joshua Liberman...

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IT Companies Working Remotely For You (SMB Community Podcast):

Karl sat down with Community Leaders Amy Babinchak and Joshua Liberman to talk about remote work.

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How Covid-19 Has Changed SMB Cybersecurity (AST Cybersecurity):

It is a bit ironic to reflect upon the fact that the very old saying “may you live in interesting times” is generally referred to as an ancient Chinese curse, though I am unaware of any evidence that is actually true. Nonetheless, SMB IT Security, along with just about everything else, changed dramatically this Spring.

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Building An Advanced Security Arsenal Part 2 (ChannelPro):

The second installment in a four-part series examines how to quickly and affordably secure and connect remote machines to their targets during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. By Joshua Liberman

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Top MSPs Discuss Cybersecurity, Their Staff and Clients (MSP Insights):

In our ongoing quest to provide you with the best business advice possible, we’ve partnered with The ASCII Group and their members who are going to share their thoughts on timely topics or best business practices.

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Why MSPs Should Stop Selling Security (Tech Target):

Trying to convince SMB clients they need cybersecurity services can be a fruitless endeavor. Net Sciences president Joshua Liberman explains how he changed his approach.

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How Net Sciences Is Helping Customers Through the Coronavirus (XaaS Journal Podcast):

In today's episode, Jay and Mike discuss how MSPs are addressing the needs of their customers and employees during the Coronavirus pandemic.

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Bikinis and Bullet Points w/Channel Pro (Webcast)

Not easy to get clients to read your emails, is it? Maybe referencing this week’s episode will do the trick. It includes a discussion by Matt, Rich, and guest host Joshua Liberman about plans for a unified Carbonite/Webroot partner program, the new NIST Cyber Security Framework module for Kaseya Compliance Manager, and the out-of-band management capabilities for Intel vPro devices recently added to Datto RMM.

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Assembling An Advanced Security Arsenal, Part 1 (ChannelPro)

The first installment in a four-part series examines a solution for internal vulnerability scanning, device alerting, and on-demand external vulnerability scanning—and how to sell it to your customers. By Joshua Liberman

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Building The Ideal Security Stack (ChannelPro)

Nearly all of us have experienced the overwhelming weight of providing security for our clients.

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Time Management Best Practices (MSP Insights):

Time is the only truly finite resource and amongst the most commonly wasted. Let’s briefly review three steps toward better time management, with examples of each.

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Honing Your Remote Troubleshooting Skills (MSP Insights):

One thing that nearly every IT professional will have to learn to master is remote support, whether “silently” (by means of RMM or web-based access), or by telephone. And learning to hone these remote troubleshooting skills should be at the top of your list. Let’s look at three aspects of remote service delivery you’ll need to master to get there.

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Net Sciences on this week’s MSP targeted attacks (DARKReading)

An attacker this week simultaneously encrypted endpoint systems and servers belonging to all customers of a US-based managed service provider by exploiting a vulnerable plugin for a remote monitoring and management tool used by the MSP.

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Lock Down SMB Security, Part 1: The Firewall (ChannelPro)

TO PARAPHRASE THAT WINNING EXPRESSION from the 1992 U.S. presidential campaign, “It’s the data, stupid.” Both the sophistication and the breadth of cyberattacks are growing at a dizzying pace today. From hardware design flaws to ever more sophisticated exploits, clients and their data are in great peril, with their firewall standing sentry. Here’s how to configure that firewall for maximum effectiveness.

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Lock Down SMB Security, Part 2: Network Infrastructure (ChannelPro)

SECURING NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE is an asymmetric challenge. You must be nearly perfect. Bad actors need to find just one weakness. Since the most secure networks are those with security baked in, let’s start with the basic recipe for that.

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Lock Down SMB Security, Part 3: Endpoints (ChannelPro)

ENDPOINT SECURITY RISK is on the rise, with the average cost of a successful attack about $300 per employee, according to a 2017 Ponemon Institute study. You can help save your clients from taking such a financial hit by shoring up their endpoint security. Here we walk through the fundamentals of patching and anti-malware, mobile device management (MDM), remote access hardening, device encryption, device discovery, internal scans, and voice over IP (VoIP) phones. For “extra credit” we include data loss prevention (DLP).

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Lock Down SMB Security, Part 4: Advanced Security (ChannelPro):

Nearly all of us have experienced the overwhelming weight of providing security for our clients.

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Optimize Your Event Experience (ChannelPro)

From the general interest shows that ASCII Group, ChannelPro, and SMB TechFest offer to the mega shows like DattoCon, IT Nation, and Robin Robins, it pays to plan, execute, and follow up in order to optimize your event experience. Let’s take a look at those steps in more depth.

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Pre-Deployment Tips For Successful Firewall Management (XaaSJournal)

Firewall management is one of the most important duties of any effective MSP. And that process starts with an effective pre-deployment client interview, during which we gather information such as where their clients and business associates are geographically, how to handle wireless access, who needs remote access to what and from where, and more. This interview process is for our benefit, but it also benefits the client by helping with necessary information gathering and providing them insight into the complexities of securing their business. In addition, it really starts the relationship off on the right foot.

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Why Can't I Just Do This Myself (ChannelPro)

During a recent meeting with a prospective client we found many problems, including a server running an unsupported operating system, no patching or antivirus, and a firewall with services disabled (that is, not a firewall at all). But the most interesting thing was the question she asked once we got to ongoing maintenance: “Why can’t I just do this myself?”

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Running Fast, Effective Meetings In 4 Steps (MSP Insights)

Who loves meetings? How about a quick show of virtual hands — who loves meetings? Immortalized in countless movies, poorly run meetings are the bane of anyone’s work day. Many meetings — even in small business — are boring, ineffective, and wasteful. The good news is we can fix this, together.

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Premise Cloud Networking For SMBs (ChannelPro)

As exciting as "going cloud" can be for SMBs, for some, only on-premises infrastructure and applications will do, whether that's because of bandwidth, data set, regulations, or simply customer choice. We have devised an alternative known as the "premises cloud," based on a fast, flexible, and scalable network design that is hosted on premises at a cost that is within the reach of larger SMBs. The guiding principle here, as Einstein famously said, is: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

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The Five Most Glaring Gaps in SMB IT (ChannelPro)

Every small business is different, but every IT provider sees common problems at customer after customer. One customer may be great about security, but terrible at backup. Another may perform backups constantly, but run 10-year-old computers that turn worker productivity into a pipe dream. Resellers from all over the country provide some horror stories, and what they have done to convince customers to patch the glaring holes in their IT infrastructure. But sometimes, clients refuse the best advice, then crash and burn. Use the bad examples as teaching tools in your next customer or prospect meeting.

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Keeping Your Cloud Up (ChannelPro)

If cloud services or the connectivity to them are down, then so are your users. And since either a service or broadband failure alone can bring productivity to a halt, the perceived availability rate even for well-managed cloud offerings can effectively be 99 percent or less. That translates to days of downtime a year. "That will improve. It's already dramatically better. But it's not a utility. It's not anywhere near that reliable," says Liberman, president of system builder and network integrator Net Sciences Inc., based in Albuquerque, N.M. Even if a public cloud computing solution delivers the 99.9 percent, or "three nines," availability it promises in its service-level agreement, a typical user can expect 8.76 hours of downtime a year. Murphy's Law ensures that outage will occur precisely when a deadline looms.

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Are Cloud Vendors Cutting Out The Channel? (ChannelPro)

Over the past few years, cloud computing has emerged as a viable way to confront a wide array of IT challenges, ranging from managing infrastructure and resources to managing data within enterprise applications. However, the technology is also radically altering the landscape for channel firms. It's no secret that a growing number of vendors-including the likes of Microsoft, IBM, HP, Oracle, Dell, Salesforce.com, and Symantec-are taking the direct route to businesses and consumers by offering their products and solutions through the cloud.

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What are BYOD's (Bring Your Own Device) Biggest Risks? (ChannelPro)

The first thing every business with BYOD devices needs is a policy to cover their use, loss, and/or theft. That can easily be tied into an acceptable usage policy that defines:

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