In this episode of Beyond the Horizon, N-able Head Nerd Joe Ferla sits down with Lewis Pope, Head Security and Compliance Nerd, to unpack the evolving landscape of cloud security for MSPs. As MSPs shift from physical environments to cloud-first operations, Lewis shares hard-earned insights on what it takes to secure cloud workloads, manage identity, and navigate the growing complexity of cloud infrastructure.

From practical best practices to the business realities of outsourcing, this episode is a must-listen for MSPs looking to stay competitive, secure, and scalable in a post-COVID world. Lewis doesn’t just talk theory—he dives into the gritty details of what MSPs need to know, do, and avoid when managing cloud environments.

Whether you're a one-person shop or scaling toward enterprise-level service delivery, this episode will challenge your assumptions and offer actionable advice to strengthen your cloud security posture.

Key Takeaways

• Cloud Security Is Not Optional: Identity management, breach detection, and posture management are now baseline requirements for MSPs.
• Outsourcing Is Strategic, Not Shameful: Mature MSPs are outsourcing MDR, cloud infrastructure, and automation to scale efficiently and profitably.
• Know Your Limits: MSPs must recognise when internal capabilities fall short and seek partnerships or MSSPs to fill the gaps.
• Best Practices for Cloud Security:
  
  • Start fresh if needed—don’t be afraid to rebuild cloud environments securely.
  • Apply least privilege principles across users, services, and APIs.
  • Implement layered security: endpoint protection, segmentation, encryption, and WAFs.
  • Practice business continuity and disaster recovery plans regularly.
  • 24/7 Monitoring Is Table Stakes: Threats move fast—MSPs must adopt continuous monitoring and automated response tools.
  • Peer Learning Is Power: Engage with peer groups and events like N-able Empower to learn from others who’ve already solved these challenges.
  • AI Is Widening the Gap: The rise of AI-driven security tools means MSPs must evolve quickly or risk falling behind.
  • Regulatory Pressure Is Coming: Data sovereignty and compliance will soon force cloud security conversations—MSPs must lead, not lag.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational information about issues that may be relevant to information technology service providers. Nothing in the podcast should be construed as any recommendation or endorsement by N-able, or as legal or any other advice. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by N-able employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of N-able or its officers and directors. The podcast may also contain forward-looking statements regarding future product plans, functionality, or development efforts that should not be interpreted as a commitment from N-able related to any deliverables or timeframe. All content is based on information available at the time of recording, and N-able has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. https://www.n-able.com

In this episode, Head Nerd Stefanie Hammond sits down with N-able Growth Strategist David Tapiero to unpack the real-world challenges MSPs face today—from tool sprawl and outdated backup strategies to rising costs and low margins. You’ll discover how adopting a cloud-first solution like Cove can help MSPs streamline operations, boost profitability, and build cyber resilience.

Key Topics Covered:

• Tool Sprawl & Standardisation: Why too many tools are hurting MSP efficiency—and how Cove simplifies the stack.
• Outdated Backup Strategies: The risks of legacy systems in today’s threat landscape.
• Cove’s Unified Platform: Backup for servers, workstations, Microsoft 365—and soon Google Workspace—from a single console.
• Cyber Resilience by Design: Immutable cloud storage, rapid recovery, and automated testing.
• Growth Barriers: Tackling time constraints, rising costs, and margin pressure.
• Practical Growth Strategies:
  • Transitioning to SaaS-based pricing
  • Reviewing customer costing
  • Automating low-value tasks
  • Monetising existing infrastructure
• Mindset Shift: Repurposing on-prem hardware for DRaaS and internal ops.
• Security Evolution: Moving from breach prevention to rapid recovery and continuity.

Whether you're an MSP looking to scale or a Channel Reseller aiming to improve service delivery, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you rethink your growth strategy and future-proof your business.

For even more, register for the upcoming webinar: Rethink Backup or Get Left Behind (live on 10 September with an encore performance on 11 November). Register here

Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational information about issues that may be relevant to information technology service providers. Nothing in the podcast should be construed as any recommendation or endorsement by N-able, or as legal or any other advice. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by N-able employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of N-able or its officers and directors. The podcast may also contain forward-looking statements regarding future product plans, functionality, or development efforts that should not be interpreted as a commitment from N-able related to any deliverables or timeframe. All content is based on information available at the time of recording, and N-able has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. https://www.n-able.com

In this insightful episode, we dive deep into the real-world challenges and opportunities facing MSPs working with Microsoft 365 and related Microsoft technologies. N-able Head Nerd Joe Ferla is joined by Ben Lee, the latest to the Head Nerd team who is a seasoned Microsoft consultant with decades of experience in unified communications, Teams, Intune, and Microsoft Co-pilot. During the conversation Joe and Ben discuss the challenges MSPs and SMEs face when implement Microsoft’s powerful but often complex ecosystem.

They tackle everything from the lack of guidance around tool usage, to common pitfalls like “just turning it on” without user education, and how MSPs can differentiate by focusing on enablement, training, and policy standardization. The conversation also explores Microsoft's scalability gaps, third-party tool integration, and the game-changing implications of Co-pilot and AI for productivity.

This is a must-listen for MSPs, IT leaders, and tech consultants looking to enhance their Microsoft 365 strategies and drive better client outcomes.

Key Topics Covered

• The MSP opportunity: Beyond just licensing and activation
• Microsoft 365 productivity confusion (Tasks, Loop, OneNote, etc.)
• Teams as an underutilized collaboration hub
• Copilot: Microsoft’s AI gamechanger and its adoption challenges
• Scaling management with Intune, Entra, Azure Arc, and third-party tools
• Balancing security with end-user usability
• Persona-based user policy deployment
• Future of M365 Business Premium and data protection
• The importance of adoption strategies and ongoing education

Disclaimer: This podcast provides educational information about issues that may be relevant to information technology service providers. Nothing in the podcast should be construed as any recommendation or endorsement by N-able, or as legal or any other advice. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by N-able employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of N-able or its officers and directors. The podcast may also contain forward-looking statements regarding future product plans, functionality, or development efforts that should not be interpreted as a commitment from N-able related to any deliverables or timeframe. All content is based on information available at the time of recording, and N-able has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. https://www.n-able.com