Top 4 Reasons MSPs Should Provide Identity Management
MSPs are one of the most critical parts of the IT ecosystem. Now, more than ever, small-to-medium sized organizations are choosing to outsource their IT infrastructure and management to MSPs. With IT technology becoming more critical to any organization, MSPs are on the hook to help their clients not only manage technology, but also to advise how to leverage technology to grow their clients’ businesses. That’s a great deal of responsibility, and many of the most innovative MSPs on the planet are looking for technology solutions that can help their clients Make Work Happen™.
MSPs commonly think of identity management or directory services as a tool that every organization implements. In fact, most MSPs will just use what has been always been used—Microsoft Active Directory—and move on to other areas that may seem more pressing. Well, the good news is that this approach implies an uncovered opportunity for the MSP. With just a little time and focus, MSPs can turn this missed opportunity into increased revenue, better client satisfaction, and reduced operating costs. And, their clients can get increased security, access to new, innovative technology, and more productive workers.
Offering Identity and Access Management as an MSP
Identity and access management is now one of the most critical parts of IT. Not only are identities incredibly critical from a security perspective, but they also unlock opportunity for end users to be more productive and leverage the best tools possible.
Here are four reasons why MSPs should anchor their offerings with identity management.
1. Focus on Client Needs
Every client wants to be the center of their provider’s attention. Clients want their MSPs to understand their business and support them in their goals and objectives. In return, MSPs want to serve their clients to the best of their abilities while ensuring that they are operationally efficient. Taking a modern approach to directory services enables MSPs to focus on their client’s needs first, instead of just what technology their management tools can integrate with. Additionally, MSPs gain the operational efficiency they are looking for.
2. Leverage the Best IT Resources
Clients want to leverage the best technology they can find and MSPs want to fuel that desire. The challenge for both organizations is that access to the best resources needs to be controlled and secure. A cloud directory service that is focused on connecting users to the IT resources they need, regardless of platform, protocol, provider, and location, is the tool that can unlock the ability to leverage the best IT resources. As a result, each side’s ability to be most productive can be unleashed.
3. Reduce the Chances of a Breach
MSPs have an obligation to protect their clients, and all MSPs take this responsibility incredibly seriously. A hacked client can be catastrophic for an MSP’s reputation, so implementing strong controls is critical. Identities are the number one attack vector within any organization, and MSPs know this firsthand. By leveraging a modern approach to identity management, MSPs can build a strong foundation of security within each client’s organization.
4. Contain Costs
Costs are always a major factor for MSPs and their clients. Cloud-based solutions are driving an increase in margins for MSPs because of the lack of on-prem equipment, software, and infrastructure required. Further, by leveraging third-party SaaS solutions, MSPs shift the burden of delivering ongoing system maintenance and management to the provider rather than themselves. Also, most cloud-based solutions employ a pay-as-you-use model, thereby eliminating unnecessary costs that were prevalent in the traditional software model. MSPs are then free to choose how these savings are passed along to their clients to help increase their business. In conclusion, a modern cloud directory service falls squarely in the camp of optimizing costs for both MSPs and their clients.
Learn More About Identity Management as an MSP
Overall, an MSP is focused on being valued as a strategic consultant to their clients. The goal is for the MSP to manage as much of the technology infrastructure as possible. That means that not only do MSPs need to be trusted, they also need leverage points to drive opportunity forward. The use of a cloud identity management platform can enable an MSP to touch virtually the entire IT infrastructure for each client, bringing increased opportunity and strategic importance to the client/MSP relationship.
Visit our Resources Page to continue exploring more helpful content tailored specifically for MSPs. Categories include understanding JumpCloud, comparing JumpCloud with other products, testing JumpCloud, the go-to-market playbook, and implementing JumpCloud at client sites.
JumpCloud’s Partner Program empowers MSPs with central identity management from the cloud. Fine-tuned for MSPs with cloud security offerings and/or clients moving to the cloud, Directory-as-a-Service can be easily bundled at the center of any product stack to make customers more secure, efficient, and scalable. Make Work Happen™ for your clients while improving the bottom line for your business.