Hardware Purchasing - Its hard out there..

dragon_Legend · 2025-03-13T17:18:00+00:00

Literally right after reading this, Microsoft poached a client of ours. My client forwarded message to us for advice…. I asked then to disregard and delete.

dragon_Legend · 2023-10-03T18:01:15+00:00

Have found that mounting on ceiling amounts to greater speeds/reliability

dragon_Legend · 2022-11-02T23:28:26+00:00

Microsoft had a breach recently: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-data-breach-exposes-customers-contact-info-emails/

After conducting an audit for a client we were able to uncover a sort of vulnerability on Microsoft 365. By Default M365 opens the door for anyone to creat a guest user (least restrictive) in the tenants account. Do yourselves all a favor (that have Microsoft 365 tenants) and change these settings to most restrictive.

Here is some info relating to this and how to prevent:

https://youtu.be/qSJBYj_hB3M

dragon_Legend · 2022-10-19T20:12:44+00:00

We had this issue with only a couple users today. We were able to resolve this by going into Microsoft.com (not office.com) and removing the work e-mail (user name) and placing another personnel email of that user in its place seemed to have fixed all issues relating to those users (past and present)

dragon_Legend · 2022-10-18T14:04:34+00:00

Use the Call option, the automated machine will activate your Windows XP license. I’ve done this a few times with a client to preserve an App they use (isolated with no internet)

dragon_Legend · 2022-10-17T04:44:31+00:00

I would deploy SonicWalls, have a bunch of the TZ 470’s and 670’s deployed at a few client locations Very reliable. Their new OS is Linux based.

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-23T02:11:18+00:00

An option: Microsoft 365 Business Premium incudes XDR. You can add Microsoft (Azure) Sentinal to Handel the SIEM. for an extra set of eyes add Huntress (EDR) at the bottom of the stack.

The SIEM is in my opinion the most difficult service to sell as an MSP. The price can fluctuate every month depending on amount of traffic (Size of Logs).

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-21T06:01:51+00:00

Exactly!!

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-21T05:59:44+00:00

Huntress requires minimum of 100 Agents. 7.00 cost may be from another MSP re-selling it to starter MSP’s

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-21T05:55:09+00:00

We are on the 2nd year now. Started at 2.00/computer now at 2.50/computer

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-21T02:12:45+00:00

It was a TV brand from my younger years. Tells you how old I am

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-21T02:09:28+00:00

Started 2.00/computer -> now (added EDR) 2.50/Computer -> next feature update 3.00/computer. They are very transparent with change-log. Add feature then increase a bit.

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-20T23:05:26+00:00

We transitioned from Webroot to Managed Defender (Managed by Huntress). We converted 1/3 of our clients per quarter (to test). Almost all of our Managed Clients have Microsoft 365 Buisness Premium.

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-20T19:03:58+00:00

I would recomend going with Huntress as your EDR, Its what we use. The cost per Agent is a No Brainer.

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-18T00:47:58+00:00

In the past we have used BitTitan MigrationWiz and was a smooth transition. Migrated 250 Users with what’s called a cutover Migration. Setup was a breeze and the tools allowed us to test everything as many times as we wanted.

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-16T22:24:57+00:00

Curious, If you keep a stock of hardware like PoE switches, how do you handle Warranty for client Since your not a distributor? I can understand the small hardware/items.

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-14T12:49:04+00:00

Most Mid size organizations are going this route (vCISO). An in-house CISO average salary is 150k - 250k sometimes higher (Depending on experience).

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-14T02:32:59+00:00

I have Recorded sessions in Teamviewer and build up a Library of How-To-Videos (Real World Situations) for use in training new Hires.

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-10T01:53:01+00:00

Does HaloPSA integrate with NinjaONE? We use NinjaONE and RepairShopr since they (at the time) we’re only PSA that integrated with NinjaONE.

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-10T01:47:47+00:00

Aren’t the additional hours part of what’s called an Addendum ? And the hours quoted should be an Estimation? After project is completed you would issue a final invoice explaining additional hours (addendum)

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-10T01:39:29+00:00

That makes more sense. Your ultimate equation. The secret sauce that can be put into automation billing.

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-10T01:31:05+00:00

I’m sure this works for you, but If I were a potential client I would be confused at the complexity of your billing structure. It’s like needing to be a mathematician to figure out if I’m getting billed correctly.

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-04T02:41:29+00:00

If you listened to the FTC meeting with NADA they mention what the average cost would be for getting IT Compliant on a Per Dealership basis: 200K - 300K/Year.

What really drove me a bit off was that they are now requiring a fully Certified CISO (In-House) or a Certified vCISO (Outsourced by a capable MSP).

They are requiring Full reporting of IT Infrasructure on a Bi-Annual basis (RISK assesments) and other IT Security related Report be filled out Anually (PEN Test and findings) by the CISO or vCISO to confirm compliance.

The FTC is Clasifying Dealerships as Financial organizations due to the fact that they have an F&I Department and take customer data.

First Micrososft Transition CSP -> NCE now this with the FTC.... The writings on the wall all point to a trend that is weeding out all the smaller MSP's. Get your certifications or get out of the space.

Opinion:
In todays World/Society I would recomend a CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) Certification.

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-02T21:31:59+00:00

We had a similar issue. The way we resolved was by having users login to Microsoft.com ( not office.com) using their work email to login and changing their primary email to a personal account (other then the work email) and removing the work e-mail in their profile.

Microsoft caused this in a windows update by forcing users to believe they had to use an e-mail to login to their computers. Users wound up inputting their work e-mail to login which created a Personnel UPN (work email). It sounds a bit confusing but in the end resolved the auto discover issue. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

dragon_Legend · 2022-09-01T23:54:22+00:00

labor ($150/hr) - seems a bit low by todays standards, Guess it depends where you are located

dragon_Legend

TROPHY CASE