Simply defined, Information Technology (IT) is the use of computers and related technology, such as software, cloud-based applications, and networks to communicate or transmit data, build organizational infrastructure, and secure information. Anything a business or organization uses an endpoint device for could technically be classified as IT.

As someone deeply immersed in the cybersecurity field for over 20 years, I have witnessed firsthand the impact of the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ analysis on technology vendors, service providers, and their customers. Throughout my career, I have held various roles, including Global Head of Security Engineering at Warner Bros. Discovery, CTO and Co-Founder of Trapezoid, Inc., and currently, Field CISO Americas at SentinelOne.

Cybercriminals have become increasingly sophisticated, employing aggressive and ever-changing techniques to breach small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). These attacks are on the rise, posing a significant threat to organizations that lack robust cybersecurity measures. Hackers are relentless in their efforts to exploit vulnerabilities in SMBs’ systems, often due to their comparatively weaker security infrastructure.

What’s this I hear you cry, “Not another blog about Patch Management, what’s there left to say?”; well a lot, actually. I recently just passed my eighth work anniversary with N-able, and over those eight years I’ve spent more time talking to partners and prospects about Patch Management than any other topic.

This month’s MSP Growth Habit focuses on mastering the art of time management in order to help you grow your MSP and become more profitable. In speaking with MSPs over the years, there are three common concerns I hear when it comes to addressing their lack of revenue growth and profitability: Or my absolute favorite: This is the saddest statement of the three because you should never be too busy that your MSP has no interest in securing new clients or new business.

It’s never been a better time to be a Managed Service Provider (MSP). Why? Small and medium businesses (SMBs) use cloud-based services for their operations. Eighty-eight percent say they currently use an MSP or are considering one. But many obstacles remain even if SMBs are in high demand for MSPs. They need to keep their profits and revenue growing, focusing on cloud unit economics, customer pricing strategies, and efficient operations.

System Administrator Appreciation Day, also known as SysAdmin Day, has been celebrated on the last Friday in July since it was created in 2000 by Ted Kekatos. It is a special day dedicated to acknowledging the contributions of system administrators and IT professionals who play a vital role in managing and maintaining the technology infrastructure of organizations.

Now that most people are familiar with and thus able to avoid standard phishing attacks, malicious actors have shifted to something more insidious. Email spoofing is an attack in which attackers impersonate someone the target knows, is a much more subtle way to compromise a user’s credentials or device. Like phishing, however, once you know the signs of a spoofed email and train other users on how to spot them, addressing the issue is often straightforward.

When you choose to work with another organization, for the sake of your reputation and security, you need to carefully vet each organization before finalizing the decision. Choosing a vendor with which to do business relies on that vendor ranking highly on a vendor risk assessment, which occurs when that vendor practices robust security, ensures compliance with local regulations, and implements effective policies and procedures to ensure smooth daily operations.