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The MSP Zone

The MSP Zone

By: Charles Weaver
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Weekly discussion of news, events, and topics of interest to the global managed services professional community. The series will have the latest and most relevant discussions in managed services and cloud computing, featuring special guests and notable figures in the profession.Charles Weaver
Episodes
  • AI Governance for MSPs: More Than Reselling Copilot

    AI Governance for MSPs: More Than Reselling Copilot
    26 Oct 2026
    AI is already inside your customers' environments, often before anyone decides who owns it or how it's controlled. In this episode of the MSP Zone, Charles Weaver talks with Ignacio Lopez, a former KPMG auditor, JP Morgan risk manager and Kaseya VSA manager. They cover where the MSP's role begins and ends. You’ll learn: Why the client owns the AI policy, while the MSP sets up, enforces and documents the controls Why "please don't hallucinate" is a request and not a control How to turn AI governance into a recurring service by starting small Why strong cyber hygiene has to come first Selling licenses is only the start. This episode shows what else you can offer.
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    50 min
  • The MSP Risk Is Not Where You Think It Is

    The MSP Risk Is Not Where You Think It Is
    20 Oct 2026
    Using the ConnectWise Cloud Backup shutdown as a case study, Charles Weaver examines a recurring issue for MSPs: they may be held accountable for risks in systems they do not directly control. He considers what this means for MSPs, vendors, and customers as security requirements and oversight continue to increase. The discussion focuses on how MSPs should respond when a supplier’s access is misused, why customers expect answers from the MSP, and how responsibility should be addressed when operational control is shared. The episode is relevant to MSPs that manage backup, EDR, password management, and other integrated services. It presents a framework for assessing vendor-related risk through questions such as: Where does risk begin when a supplier is compromised? Who is responsible when the MSP does not control the underlying system? When does operational efficiency create concentration risk? What information and support should vendors provide to MSP partners? How should contracts, liability, and evidence be managed across the service chain? Charles also outlines five tests MSPs can use to evaluate their technology stack: the control test, concentration test, substitutability test, contract test, and failure test. These tests help determine whether vendor relationships support resilience and clarify how an MSP would respond to a service failure. The episode also considers supplier access, industry consolidation, and the operational impact of relying on a limited number of platforms. It is intended for MSP owners, security leaders, and others responsible for managing customer risk and vendor relationships.
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    43 min
  • MSPs Don’t Have a Sales Problem - They Have a Profitability Problem

    MSPs Don’t Have a Sales Problem - They Have a Profitability Problem
    5 Oct 2026
    Most MSPs do not have a sales problem - they have a profitability problem. Charles Weaver lays out why growing top-line revenue can quietly destroy margin, and what to do before your business scales itself into a cliff. He breaks down the hidden cost of accepting more responsibility without charging for it, why modern clients now expect security, compliance, reporting, executive advice, and AI guidance, and how those demands reshape the real economics of managed services. If your pricing model still revolves around seats and devices, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what you're actually selling. You'll discover: Why revenue growth can mask rising delivery costs, service obligations, and risk How the client expectation gap turns every "small ask" into unpaid work Why security and compliance are not just tool markups, but ongoing services How AI creates a rare opportunity to reset pricing and redefine scope Why per-user pricing is only a starting point, not a real risk model Charles also explains why mature MSPs need to move toward risk-based pricing, how to quantify complexity and accountability, and why annual price reassessment is no longer optional. He makes the case that if a service creates liability, expertise, or ongoing support, it should be in your service catalog and priced accordingly. This is essential listening for MSP owners, operators, and leaders who want growth that actually improves the bottom line - not just the revenue chart. If you've ever wondered why a "great" client is quietly eroding profitability, this episode gives you the framework to find out.
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    40 min
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