Michael Siggins
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Articles by Michael Siggins
Letter from the Publisher: What will drive MSP growth in 2027?
Every year, the channel gets a new set of tools to consider and trends we’re told will change everything. Some will. Others will give way to the next list before we’ve even finished evaluating them. The harder work for MSPs is deciding where to invest. What will help your team serve clients better? How can your business deliver services more profitably? And what should you do now to prepare for the year ahead?
How can I manage the critical first 5 minutes of a client crisis?
Every MSP dreads this situation. When you answer your phone, a panicked client on the other end describes something you never want to hear. Ransomware. Sabotage. A fire in the server room. When it comes to MSP client crisis situations, it’s not if they will happen; it’s when. When they do happen, the way you react in the first five minutes can set the tone for the entire recovery process — or make everything worse.
Letter from the Publisher: Opportunity is calling. MSPs should answer.
There has never been a better time to be an MSP willing to adapt. New technologies, changing customer expectations and an ever-evolving threat landscape are creating tremendous opportunities for service providers that are prepared to lead. ChannelPro has had the privilege of meeting hundreds of MSPs already this year at our LIVE and DEFEND conferences across the country. Everywhere we go, we hear the same questions: How do we grow profitably? Which technologies deserve our attention?
Profitability Audit Checklist: Am I Making or Losing Money on My Services?
Business Tools Maximize your earnings with a profitability audit for MSPs. Learn the critical steps to analyze service costs and revenue. You’ve built your stack, set your pricing, and onboarded clients. But are you actually making money on the services you provide? A surprising number of MSPs don’t. On the surface, your monthly recurring revenue (MRR) might look healthy.
Letter from the Publisher: Another Season, Another Reason Cybersecurity Is Everyone’s Job
Summer is here, but the pace of change in our industry isn’t slowing. So far this year, ChannelPro has been on the road in Orlando, Columbus, Charlotte and Chicago with our LIVE and DEFEND events. In every city, we meet driven IT service providers looking for practical ways to grow, differentiate and stay ahead. One theme is unmistakable: cybersecurity is no longer just an opportunity; it’s the center of gravity for MSP growth. At the same time, global instability is making your job harder.
Internal Succession vs. External Sale: Which Exit Path Is Right for You?
Every MSP owner eventually faces the same question: What happens to the business when I’m ready to step away? Whether you’re planning years ahead or just starting to feel the pull toward retirement, the decision to sell your business, and how to sell it, will shape your legacy, your team’s future, and your own peace of mind. The good news? You have options. The not-so-good news? Each one comes with trade-offs.
Letter from the Publisher: 19 Years from MapQuest to MSP Mastery and Still Focused on Your Success
When you’re reading this, ChannelPro will have just turned 19 years old. That’s a sentence that still makes me stop for a second. Nineteen years is a long time in any industry. In IT, it’s several lifetimes. Over that stretch, we’ve seen technologies come and go, business models rise and fall, and more buzzwords than I care to count. In 2007, ChannelPro’s launch year, Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone to the world and Microsoft launched Vista.
How Do I Effectively Promote My MSP On Google in 2026?
Best Practices to Promote Your MSP on Google If you still think SEO means keyword stuffing and meta tags, it’s time for an update. Google’s local algorithms have evolved fast. In 2026, visibility in your regional market is shaped by trust signals, user experience, and structured data that speaks Google’s language. For MSPs looking to attract SMB clients in your geographic region, here’s what actually moves the needle now. Note: This post is not sponsored by Google.
An Open Letter from MSPs to Our Vendor Partners: What the Channel Needs (and Hopes For) in 2026
Dear Vendors, We appreciate you. Truly. Without your tools, roadmaps, and support teams, our businesses wouldn’t be able to protect and power the clients who rely on us every day. But as we close the book on 2025 and look toward the opportunities and chaos that 2026 promises, we wanted to share a few IT channel needs for 2026 from the MSP trenches. Think of this as a friendly note passed across the table, part constructive feedback, part heartfelt wish list, part group therapy.
Stellar Cyber Won’t Run a SOC. That’s Good News for MSSPs.
Stellar Cyber did not show up at MSSP Alert Live to talk about itself first. Jeff Hill started with partners. “No. 1, when it comes to engaging with our existing partners, it gives us an opportunity to celebrate who they are,” said the global senior director, MSSP and service providers for Stellar Cyber. Hill, who spoke with ChannelPro at MSSP Alert Live, said Stellar Cyber ties its future to the service providers on the front lines.
MSSP Alert Live Highlights Opportunities in a Shifting Threat Landscape
Cybersecurity is taking center stage at this year’s MSSP Alert Live event at MGM National Harbor in Maryland. MSSPs, MSPs, and cybersecurity leaders from across the industry have gathered to network and dig into the latest strategies, technologies, and business opportunities shaping the year ahead.
How Do I Conduct a Technical Skills Gap Analysis for My MSP?
Running a successful MSP today requires far more than simply offering antivirus and backup. With cybersecurity threats growing, cloud technologies evolving, and clients expecting increasingly strategic guidance, your team’s technical abilities must be sharp, current, and aligned with your service portfolio. “Due to the skills shortage, MSPs can’t simply hire their way to improved security-centric revenue streams.
MSP Cybersecurity Strategies to Drive Revenue in 2025
Want to thrive in 2026? Then it’s time to work on your MSP cybersecurity strategies. Sharpen your sales pitch, beef up your security offerings, and rethink how you talk to clients, according to Miles Walker, channel development manager for Kaseya. The growth playbook for MSPs has never been clearer — or more urgent. Here, Walker reveals five must-do security moves to stay competitive, profitable, and relevant: Security isn’t just an IT issue anymore. It’s the opening line of most MSP conversations.
Compliance Audit Training | Affordable RAM and SSL Certs | MSA Add-ons and more
News & Articles Hot Topics Trending on the Members-Only ASCII Group Forum November 2025 Trending Topics: Best options for compliance-audit training across PCI, HIPAA, CIS, NY SHIELD, and DFS 500 Where to source […] Hot Topics Trending on the Members-Only ASCII Group Forum Best options for compliance-audit training across PCI, HIPAA, CIS, NY SHIELD, and DFS 500 Where to source RAM with current pricing up more than 300% How to handle SASE/ZTNA on employee personal phones Should new computer...
Profitability Audit Checklist: Am I Making or Losing Money on My Services?
You’ve built your stack, set your pricing, and onboarded clients. But are you actually making money on the services you provide? A surprising number of MSPs don’t. On the surface, your monthly recurring revenue (MRR) might look healthy. But underneath, hidden costs like excessive technician time, tool creep, or underpriced service bundles can quietly eat away at margins. Sounds like you could use a profitability audit. This guide will walk you through a practical audit of your service offerings.
Client Background and Credit Checks | Vacation Coverage | QBR Tips and More
Hot Topics Trending on the Members-Only ASCII Group Forum October 2025 trending topics: Best practices for running effective quarterly business reviews (QBRs) How MSPs manage client coverage during staff vacations Trusted resources for front-line support and help desk coverage Recommended services for client background and credit checks Recommendations for purchasing and shipping client hardware overseas If you were a member, you could be on our forum right now learning tips to grow your...
Boosting IT Resilience: Why Schneider Electric’s Power Infrastructure Assessment Is a Next-level Move for Channel Partners
In today’s digital-first world, reliable power infrastructure is the backbone of business continuity. As organizations scale and diversify, managing distributed power systems becomes increasingly complex. Channel partners are on the front line of solving this challenge. Plus, those who wish to lead the way can use tools to deliver robust power solutions to their customers.
MSP Voting Guide
This non-partisan guide is designed to help foster initiatives that will improve the MSP industry as a whole. No campaign ads, no debates—just simple, actionable ideas! Election season is here again. If you’re like me, you are sick of the campaign commercials, texts, rallies and partisan fist fights at the local Kwik-E-Mart. As part of ChannelPro’s never-ending quest to prepare you for everything that life throws at you, please enjoy our MSP Voting Guide.
More Pop Culture Wisdom: What 'Breaking Bad,' Movies, and Music Can Teach MSPs About Leadership
Acer America Corp. is a computer manufacturer of business and consumer PCs, notebooks, ultrabooks, projectors, servers, and storage products.
Content Filtering for Schools | Multi-Monitor Controls | Blocking Calendar Hackers and More
Acer America Corp. is a computer manufacturer of business and consumer PCs, notebooks, ultrabooks, projectors, servers, and storage products. Location 333 West San Carlos Street San Jose, California 95110 United States WWW: acer.com ChannelPro Network Awards hello 2 hello 3 News & Articles Hot Topics Trending on the Members-Only ASCII Group Forum September 2025 Trending Topics: Recommendations for a remote-control app that allows customer staff to access multiple monitors.
When should I consolidate my tools and when is it a bad idea?
At some point, every MSP asks the same question: “Do we really need all these tools?” The allure of tool consolidation is hard to ignore. Fewer vendors, fewer bills, and fewer things to manage sounds like operational heaven. After all, every minute your techs spend juggling logins or reconciling overlapping features takes away from serving clients or growing the business. But there’s a reason some MSPs regret consolidating too far and too fast.
What Happens When a Client Gets Breached? An MSP's Guide to Cyber Insurance Claims
News & Articles We walk through what happens after a cyber incident, what insurance providers expect, and how MSPs can support clients throughout the claims process without overstepping their bounds. It’s every MSP’s worst-case scenario: a client calls in a panic because they’ve been hit with ransomware, suffered a data breach, or discovered suspicious activity on their network. If they have cyber insurance, the first question is: What happens next?
Internal Succession vs. External Sale: Which Exit Path Is Right for You?
Every MSP owner eventually faces the same question: What happens to the business when I’m ready to step away? Whether you’re planning years ahead or just starting to feel the pull toward retirement, the decision to sell your business, and how to sell it, will shape your legacy, your team’s future, and your own peace of mind. The good news? You have options. The not-so-good news? Each one comes with trade-offs.
You Know It’s Time to Update Your Invoice Template When …
News & Articles [Just for Laughs] Learn how to update your invoice with a touch of humor. Make your billing system fresh and fun with simple tips. [Just for laughs] If your invoice still has a fax number, Comic Sans, and a note that says “PayPal coming soon,” it’s probably overdue for a refresh. If any of these relics are appearing on your invoices then it is your wake-up call to modernize your billing game. This article is intended for entertainment purposes only.
Top Sales Strategies for MSPs from Mike Schmidtmann
In This Article Break big goals into small wins because 1% gains add up fast. Stop selling tech and start solving business problems. Focus on existing clients and remember that more services mean more loyalty. The 1% Strategy: Small Sales Improvements That Deliver Big MSP Growth When it comes to sales growth in an MSP business, most people shoot for big targets — and wonder why they miss.
Tesla Unveils New Restaurant Where MSP Clients Cook Own Meals Over Miniature Flaming Cybertrucks
News & Articles [Just for Laughs] The newly opened Tesla Diner & Charging Lounge allows patrons to cook their own meals over a flaming Cybertruck. “It’s about creating a seamless brand experience,” says Cybertruck creator Elon Musk. The newly opened Tesla Diner & Charging Lounge allows patrons to cook their own meals with a scaled-down Cybertruck, with open flames fueled by what Tesla describes as a “proprietary lithium-ion sizzle system.” “We want customers to feel the heat of innovation.
You Know It’s Time to Update Your Help Desk Scripts When …
Resources [Just for laughs] Revamp your scripts with our humorous guide. Find out when to update your help desk scripts to avoid embarrassing moments. [Just for laughs] If your help desk scripts still include “Is your computer plugged in?” and instructions for Windows 95, it’s time for an overhaul. This laugh-worthy list highlights the moments when your help desk playbook needs to join the modern era.
Help Desk Interaction Guide - Guaranteed to Keep Your Team Sane
News & Articles [Just for Laughs] A fun (and slightly too real) guide to the help desk interactions we all wish we could handle by sending difficult customers this checklist. We know supporting clients isn’t always sunshine and smooth tickets. That’s why we created this fun (and slightly too real) guide to the help desk interactions we all wish we could handle by sending our most challenging customers this checklist.
Cybersecurity Gets Real: ChannelPro DEFEND Heads to Boston for the 1st Time
News & Articles Cyber threats are real — and so is the opportunity. Join ChannelPro in Boston for a no-fluff cybersecurity event built for MSPs. Cybercrime is projected to cost the world $10.5 trillion in 2025. Just a decade ago, that number was $3 trillion. That kind of growth is staggering. It’s exactly why ChannelPro is expanding its DEFEND cybersecurity conference to Boston this fall. After successful stops in Los Angeles and Dallas, ChannelPro DEFEND is debuting in the New England area on Aug.
MSP Meme Central
Acer America Corp. is a computer manufacturer of business and consumer PCs, notebooks, ultrabooks, projectors, servers, and storage products. Location 333 West San Carlos Street San Jose, California 95110 United States WWW: acer.com ChannelPro Network Awards hello 2 hello 3 News & Articles [Just for Laughs] Our favorite IT memes.
'Snackwrapisback' Surpasses 'Password' as 2025's Most Common and Hackable Password
Resources [Just for Laughs] The internet’s favorite wrap returns — and apparently, so does bad password hygiene. [Just for Laughs] McDonald’s fan favorite is back to critical acclaim. What does that have to do with bad password hygiene? Well, experts warn that while the Snack Wrap might be savory and satisfying, using it as a password is McDumb. “We’re not saying people should be locked out of their bank accounts for this,” said one IT admin.
Jukebox Heroes Strike Back: More MSP Lessons from Classic Rock Songs
From setting boundaries to staying financially resilient, and ensuring your team has the support they need, there’s a lot MSPs can learn from these timeless rock tunes. If you loved our first edition of MSP lessons from classic rock songs, we’ve got some great news! We’re back with more. From setting boundaries to staying financially resilient to ensuring your team has the support they need, there’s a lot IT professionals can learn from these timeless rock tunes.
You Know It’s Time to Update Your Client's Infrastructure When …
Resources [Just for Laughs] Explore the comical signs that may indicate it is time to update your client’s outdated technology gear. [Just for laughs] If your client’s “server room” includes a lava lamp, a dial-up modem, and a hamster named Kyle for cooling, it might be time for a tech refresh. This not-so-serious guide exposes the telltale signs your client’s gear belongs in a museum. This article is intended for entertainment purposes only.
Even More Famous Failures: MSP Lessons Derived from Disaster
Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” His words remind us that even the biggest missteps offer valuable lessons. In this third edition of famous failures, we’re exploring some of history’s strangest and most significant catastrophes. Just like in the first and second editions, we’re drawing essential insights from these moments to prevent MSP disasters and identify opportunities to grow.
Return of the Jukebox Heroes: New MSP Lessons From Classic Rock Songs
Return of the Jukebox Heroes: New MSP Lessons From Classic Rock Songs From avoiding getting locked in by the wrong vendors to ditching cookie-cutter solutions, these hits have the wisdom your MSP needs. Tune your radio dial and read on! Ready for more rock-inspired business lessons for your MSP? We’re delivering new jukebox wisdom now that the first and second editions brought the house down.
Game of Thrones Insights: Additional Lessons MSPs Can Glean from Pop Culture on Cybersecurity, Creativity, and the Competitive Market
Whether you’re a fan of the latest streaming sensation or ’90s blockbusters, MSPs can draw plenty of parallels between pop culture favorites and the everyday realities of managing IT services. We’ve compiled a new set of business insights drawn from pop culture to help you view cybersecurity dangers and MSP management through a fresh lens. Ready to be entertained with practical takeaways? Here we go! Related: See Part 1 of this series here, and Part 2 here.
When Should I Consolidate My Tools - and When Is It a Bad Idea?
At some point, every MSP asks the same question: “Do we really need all these tools?” The allure of tool consolidation is hard to ignore. Fewer vendors, fewer bills, and fewer things to manage sounds like operational heaven. After all, every minute your techs spend juggling logins or reconciling overlapping features takes away from serving clients or growing the business. But there’s a reason some MSPs regret consolidating too far and too fast.
New App Eerily Predicts EXACT Moment We Will Use AI to Create a Self Portrait as a Mythical Warrior
Resources Dive into the world of AI with a twist of humor. This article is designed for entertainment, not for serious facts. [Just for Laughs] Now available in Google Play and Apple App stores. Not available for residents of South Dakota.
Is This Onboarding Checklist TOO Honest to Use?
[Just for laughs] Because an ounce of prevention is worth a terabyte of tickets. This completely fake but painfully accurate client onboarding checklist highlights the madness you agree to support every time you sign a new contract. Is your “Spidey Sense” telling you this new client might turn into a tech dumpster fire consuming the souls of your staff? Fear not! Your friends at ChannelPro are launching a new series of resources to keep you sane, profitable, and smiling.
How Do I Conduct a Technical Skills Gap Analysis for My MSP?
Business Tools Use this as a practical guide for evaluating where your team lacks critical capabilities — and how to close the gap. Running a successful MSP today requires far more than simply offering antivirus and backup. With cybersecurity threats growing, cloud technologies evolving, and clients expecting increasingly strategic guidance, your team’s technical abilities must be sharp, current, and aligned with your service portfolio.
These Metrics Reveal Service Delivery Weaknesses
No MSP wants to admit to a service delivery problem. However, even the best-run shops can fall into patterns that hurt performance: sluggish response times, unhappy clients, repeated technical issues, or employees burning out behind the scenes. The good news is if you know how to read them, your metrics will tell you where you have cracks. This guide isn’t about throwing more dashboards at your team.
RIP Blue Screen of Death: Microsoft Changes Color, Tech World Enters Mourning
After decades of terrifying users and halting productivity with its signature electric blue hue, Microsoft has officially retired the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in favor of a sleek new black version—promptly triggering widespread grief among IT pros, vintage error collectors, and Reddit sysadmin forums.
AI, Platforms, and the Future of MSPs: Exclusive Look Inside Channel Program’s 2025 IT Management Software Report
With exclusive insights from Channel Program CEO Kevin Lancaster and Canalys Chief Analyst Jay McBain, the 2025 IT Management Report reveals how AI is reshaping the entire MSP value proposition from tools to staff, and even vendor strategies.
Tech Hiring Tips | Shopping for a Marketplace | AI-Based Answering Services and more
Hot Topics Trending on the Members-Only ASCII Group Forum June 2025 trending topics: Best Processes for Interviewing and Hiring a Tier 3 Tech Are There Choices Other Than OEM Unifi Power Adapters? Finding the Right E-Commerce Marketplace for Your Business Best Practices for WAN Failover Monitoring Is It Time to Transition to an AI-Based Answering Service? If you were a member, you could be on our forum right now learning tips to grow your business.
Step by Step Guide: Managing the Critical First 5 Minutes of a Client Crisis
Every MSP dreads this situation. When you answer your phone, a panicked client on the other end describes something you never want to hear. Ransomware. Sabotage. A fire in the server room. When it comes to MSP client crisis situations, it’s not if they will happen; it’s when. When they do happen, the way you react in the first five minutes can set the tone for the entire recovery process — or make everything worse.
Ingram Micro Teams with Alvaka to Offer Emergency Ransomware Recovery to Partners
News & Articles Ingram Micro has launched a strategic partnership with Alvaka to offer its U.S. channel partners direct access to “break the glass” for ransomware remediation services. As ransomware attacks escalate in frequency and cost, Ingram Micro has launched a strategic partnership with Alvaka to offer its channel partners direct access to emergency ransomware remediation services. Through this, MSPs and their clients have a trusted, immediate response option when disaster strikes.
What if Darth Vader Ran an MSP?
News & Articles What if iconic leaders like Darth Vader, Iron Man, or Ellen Ripley from Alien ran your MSP? Explore the strengths and pitfalls of leading with force, innovation, ego, and grit. Leading an MSP is hard. Angry customers, tough deadlines, and emergency tickets can take a lot out of a person. While some thrive on the stress, other personality types don’t handle it well. Often, getting leadership lessons from watching others can be useful.
Pop Culture Meets IT: What MSPs Can Learn About Stellar Customer Service from Movies, TV, and Taylor Swift
Level up your customer service with lessons from The Avengers, Tay Tay, and “Schitt’s Creek.” MSPs in today’s fast-paced IT landscape seek to stay ahead of the competition with outstanding customer service. However, some of the best insights won’t come from business seminars or data centers but from pop culture. Whether it’s a movie scene, TV character, or iconic song lyric, entertainment offers lessons that resonate with the challenges MSPs face daily.
Famous Failures: Extremely Important Lessons for MSPs
We’re finding insight from historical disasters, infamous debacles, and product flops. We’ll give you our spin on each noteworthy failure and connect it to a valuable lesson for MSPs. Dale Carnegie famously said, “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” In this series, we’re finding lessons from failure through historical disasters, infamous debacles, and product flops.
Jukebox Heroes: MSP Lessons From Classic Rock Songs
What can classic rock teach MSPs about setting healthy boundaries, being realistic with your capabilities, and ensuring your team has the support they need to thrive? Running an MSP comes with its fair share of challenges. What can classic rock teach us about setting healthy boundaries, being realistic with your capabilities, and ensuring your team has the support they need to thrive? Let’s explore, one rock song at a time.
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