In a recent podcast episode with Michael Zbarsky, co-founder of Blacksmith, we dove into how Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can elevate their services through effective compliance, risk management, and growth strategies. Michael’s experience in helping SMBs develop robust security programs provides invaluable lessons for MSPs looking to navigate today’s challenging cybersecurity landscape. In this blog, we break down five key takeaways from our conversation that can help MSPs stay ahead of the curve while securing their clients and driving growth.
1. Compliance is Now a Business Imperative
With increasing regulatory requirements, MSPs must ensure their clients are compliant with industry standards such as HIPAA, New York DFS, and more. Michael stressed the importance of MSPs understanding and implementing compliance solutions as a core service offering. Blacksmith’s platform helps MSPs simplify compliance by providing a clear roadmap, policies, and a risk register that MSPs can use to track and manage their clients’ cybersecurity risks.
Actionable Tip: Implement a compliance-first strategy that aligns with your clients’ industry-specific regulations. Utilize automated tools to streamline compliance tracking and reduce manual effort.
2. Leverage Multi-Tenancy for Scalable Solutions
A standout feature of Blacksmith’s platform is its multi-tenancy capability, designed to help MSPs manage multiple clients through a single interface. This feature is especially useful for small to mid-sized MSPs, as it allows them to deliver consistent security policies and compliance management across all their clients without added complexity.
Actionable Tip: Invest in platforms that offer multi-tenancy to simplify client management, enabling you to scale your MSP operations while maintaining control over each client’s security and compliance needs.
3. Affordable Security Solutions for SMBs
One of the biggest hurdles SMBs face is affording enterprise-level security solutions. Michael emphasized the need for affordable yet comprehensive cybersecurity offerings tailored to the SMB market. Blacksmith’s flat pricing model makes it easy for MSPs to serve smaller businesses without pricing them out of the essential security services they need.
Actionable Tip: Offer scalable, affordable cybersecurity solutions that provide SMB clients with peace of mind without overloading their budgets. Emphasize that your services are designed to meet both their financial constraints and security requirements.
4. Client Education is Critical for Risk Management
One of the recurring challenges MSPs face is convincing clients to take cybersecurity seriously. Michael shared that many SMBs push back on necessary upgrades like multi-factor authentication (MFA) because they don’t see the immediate value. However, educating clients about the real-world risks they face—and how compliance frameworks can mitigate those risks—helps MSPs overcome this resistance.
Actionable Tip: Develop a clear communication strategy for educating clients about their cybersecurity risks. Leverage tools like Blacksmith’s risk register to visually show clients how their risk decreases as they implement security measures.
5. Building Trust Through Strong Client Relationships
Michael highlighted the importance of building trust with clients. MSPs must position themselves not just as service providers but as trusted advisors who are invested in their clients’ success. This is particularly important in an industry where security and compliance are ongoing concerns. Transparency and proactive communication are crucial to building long-term relationships with clients.
Actionable Tip: Foster strong client relationships by being transparent about the security services you provide, explaining the value of compliance, and actively engaging in conversations about risk management. Building trust will lead to higher client retention and satisfaction.
My conversation with Michael Zbarsky underscored how crucial it is for MSPs to prioritize compliance, manage risks, and build strong client relationships. By leveraging tools like Blacksmith’s compliance and multi-tenancy platform, MSPs can streamline their operations while offering top-tier security services to SMB clients. If you’re looking to elevate your MSP services, now is the time to implement these tips and strengthen your approach to compliance and cybersecurity.
