4 posts tagged with "MSP"

Here's what I keep coming back to after every MSP conversation about AI: you've already done this before.

Cloud and Hybrid changed the architecture of IT Infrastructure. It expanded the edge. It blurred the lines of what MSPs take ownership of for their clients. And the MSPs who moved first — who built competency before the market demanded it — are the ones who thrived.

AI is the same pattern. Different technology, same playbook.

There's no shortage of AI hype in the MSP space. Every vendor has an AI story. Every conference has an AI track. But when you sit down with MSPs who are actually using this stuff in production — not demoing it, not piloting it, using it — the playbook looks very different from the marketing slides.

Here's what's working, what's not, and where the highest-leverage opportunities are right now.

Just like the evolution of Cloud and Hybrid many years ago, AI is changing the architecture of IT Infrastructure, expanding the edge, and blurring the lines of what MSPs take ownership of for their clients. While AI technology still feels abstract to many, those responsible must apply the same controls across the stack — in terms of security and data governance — that we always have.

It pains me when I hear about AI training programs that focus on educating employees how to avoid uploading sensitive material. While awareness training shows good intention, it's insufficient without architectural changes. Business Email Compromise hasn't been eliminated — it's evolving. We've spent so much time, money, and energy establishing security standards. So why are we treating AI differently?

While this message may sound like harsh criticism, I do live in the real world. I understand these are not easy problems to address. But the regulatory landscape isn't waiting for us to figure it out.

I recently had the privilege of joining and speaking with roughly 100 leaders of Managed Services Providers — direct competitors, all gathered in the same room to discuss the current state, desired future state, and unknowns of leveraging Artificial Intelligence in their businesses. It's inspiring to see competitors supporting each other in this journey.

The AI conversation in the MSP space is no longer "if." It's how, where, and how fast it pays back. The FOMO is real, but so are the results.