To be a successful MSP in this day and age, you must have your act together to build sustainable, long-term customer relationships, let alone avoid getting sued. That’s not meant to be a scare tactic to keep you in the break-fix safety nest; it’s merely a reminder that taking on the “trusted business advisor” title comes with risks and responsibilities.
The good news is that while security threats are increasing and industry regulations like HIPAA are holding MSPs more accountable for compliance, using automation tools and following sound business practices will significantly lessen your risks.
How RMM Works and Why It’s Important
RMM (remote monitoring and management) is a software application that IT service providers use to proactively monitor and maintain their customers’ IT infrastructure and systems. In short, RMM tools help MSPs track the work that PSA (professional services automation) tools do.
Many RMM tools work because a computer program called an agent is installed on each endpoint (e.g., servers, workstations, firewalls) the MSP will monitor. The agent gathers important activity details on the endpoint, such as increased firewall activity, server RAM approaching an unsafe threshold, or new available firmware, and reports that information to an admin console. Viewing the admin console gives the MSP a quick holistic view of what’s happening and can respond accordingly.
Not only is RMM important as a standalone tool in ensuring the health and performance of IT endpoints, but it also increases the value of other complementary IT services, such as:
- BDR (backup and disaster recovery) – The Veeam 2022 Data Protection Trends Report states that 89 percent of organizations have a gap between how much data they can afford to lose and how much is protected. By pairing RMM with BDR, an MSP can see immediately when a backup process fails and correct it instead of learning the hard way when they need to recover a data set that it’s unavailable.
- Patch Management – Outdated software is one of the biggest culprits in security breaches. By pairing patch management with RMM, an MSP can perform tasks remotely, automate the update process and ensure no endpoint is missed.
- Security as a Service – If there’s one lesson we can learn from the Target breach, it’s that having security monitoring software in place isn’t enough – you need someone who can receive the alerts, filter out what’s most essential and respond to them. By pairing RMM with security monitoring tools, MSPs can be that extra set of eyes for their customers and help minimize the chance of a security breach.
By using RMM tools, MSPs can take care of more customers and significantly reduce their need to travel to clients’ locations whenever there’s an IT problem. Plus, by proactively taking care of things on the front end (e.g., firmware and patch updates, preventative maintenance), you’ll improve your customers’ uptime – which is the primary reason they’re paying for managed services in the first place.
You’re an RMM Believer. Now What?
If you’re convinced about the importance of using an RMM tool, the next step is determining which one is right for your business. Choosing from among more than a dozen candidates can be a daunting task.
But, take heart, this is why we started XaaS Journal in the first place. Check out Mike Monocello’s “Product Comparison: RMM (Remote Monitoring and Management),” which reviews seven of the most popular RMM products. And read Bernadette Wilson’s “Demand the Right RMM Fit for Your Business,” for timely advice from colleagues (i.e., other MSPs) to help you choose the right RMM tool. 
