Twelve Not-So-Angry Men

CompTIA reached the next milestone in the development of a managed services credential with the successful completion of our Subject Matter Experts (SME) Workshop. For those of you unfamiliar with the topic, we're developing a credential that evaluates managed service providers and identifies those businesses that follow generally accepted standards or practices. This credential will set the bar for quality managed service provider organizations and act as a market differentiator for those companies able to meet its requirements.

It’s hard to dispute that there is a wide variation in competency levels between MSPs (managed service providers). Anyone who wants to get a piece of this thriving technology segment can easily call themselves an MSP, regardless of whether they are currently  able to deliver managed services. There is also a significant gap in the quality of the services provided. Our upcoming credential will help identify the MSPs who have demonstrated a high level of competency, meaning they can be trusted to provide superior services to their clients. 

At CompTIA’s new headquarters in Downers Grove, we hosted this work session where the Managed Services SMEs could identify the core components an MSP should possess. We’ve taken those requirements (sometimes called constructs) and developed a credential framework that will benefit two distinct audiences:

The first target group consists of MSPs who are following industry accepted best practices. By achieving the CompTIA MSP credential, those companies that are appropriately managing their business and operations will be able to differentiate themselves from the less established providers. Each can confidently demonstrate their competency by displaying their earned CompTIA business credential. In the same way project managers show their PMP accreditation; this acknowledgment could be the differentiating factor that helps an MSP edge out the competition.

The second audience for this credential consists of MSPs interested in learning the industry accepted best practices. Maybe you have just started a new business or are in the process of transitioning your business to a managed services model. Those companies can use the credential framework as a checklist of business factors to consider. For example, if a potential MSP is not sure which operation procedures should be properly defined or what business risks need to be mitigated (i.e. insurance or security policies), this documentation could help identify those issues and address other “gaps” in their business model.

Achieving the credential won’t guarantee a company additional clients or profitability. Customers are unlikely to line up and be ready to sign a services contract just because the MSP received a plaque. Nor will this accreditation provide an operational competitive advantage over other best-in-breed MSPs. But what it will give them is an outline; cliff-notes of best practices that high-caliber MSPs should follow and a point of recognition for their hard work. And that’s the reason twelve men spend three days in a windowless room.

Corey Simpson is the Managed IT Services Community manager for CompTIA, an experienced technology services professional and an avid IT channel advocate. Contact Corey at csimpson@comptia.org.