Stephen Old

I started the MSPX Blog because I wanted to extract some of the real life experience and knowledge of some of the fantastic people we have in the MSP ecosystem. Ben Spector has not only had the epic experience of building, running and eventually selling an MSP, then going on to supporting MSPs in Vendor land with Zomentum but he's also an all round fantastic bloke. In this piece for MSPX, Ben talks about some of the challenges he had as an MSP, what motivated him to sell up and what he would have done differently. #MSPXblog #MSP #Saas

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An interesting guide on how to migrate your organisation to the cloud in just six simple steps with Softcat plc and Microsoft Azure ☁️ Read the blog here - https://okt.to/E5RTWX #Cloud #MicrosoftAzure #Softcat

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Digital Transformation remains a key priority for many organisations across the UK today. - Eliminating Technology Debt - Delivering new and more streamlined services - Managing big data - Cloud Migration The last 8 weeks have highlighted that these are no longer priorities which can be kicked down the road for later! Proud to be helping so many forward thinking public sector departments such as (Ministry of Justice UK HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) HM Passport Office, Crown Commercial Service to name a few) to modernise their digital landscape, reduce costs and drive innovation! https://lnkd.in/eDkKdiAC #digitaltransformation #enterprisearchitecture #changemanagement

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My thoughts on this are a bit different. Getting good enough for AI benefits to happen needs a lot of foundational effort and maturity - robust, optimal, inclusive standardisation, plus good operating practices. This is something that traditional, complex IT organisations - those with more than just a few supported systems and staff - rarely achieve. The most basic example of something key that is needed but is usually missing, is consistent, quality ticket journaling. In my view, IT people need better ways of working guided by better ITSM tool functionality. This in turn will bring and build the maturity necessary to make AI benefits viable. And even then, ITXM will aways be needed too, because DEX aside, the people provided side of IT will almost always be the much bigger half. Automation can only be taken so far, which is not far. In IT, we should be focusing on what people do much moreso than AI. Don't let AI prove to be fallen hype. Delay it and improve your people processes first.

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If you're still on Windows 10, you’ve probably seen those pop-ups from Microsoft urging you to upgrade to Windows 11. While they can be a bit annoying, they do have a point – upgrading to Windows 11 is a smart move. Windows 10 support ends in October 2025, and using an unsupported system isn't great for security or efficiency. Plus, Windows 11 is packed with new tools and features designed to boost productivity and save time. Microsoft’s reminders might seem pushy, but here’s why it’s worth considering: Enhanced security: Windows 11 offers improved security features to protect your business data. Productivity tools: New features like Snap Layouts and virtual desktops make multitasking easier. Future-proofing: Staying current with your OS ensures compatibility with the latest software and updates. If your PC can handle Windows 11, you'll keep getting reminders until you upgrade. Even if your device isn’t eligible, you’ll be informed about the end of Windows 10 support. Need help making the switch? My team can ensure a smooth and hassle-free transition to Windows 11 for your business. Get in touch!

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Want funding toward your Microsoft Azure migration? Read below to find out more or message me #Azure #AzureMigration #AzureFunding

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5 days to go ❗ There is a new bread of MSP emerging. An MSP that isn't run by technical people, scales fast and hyper account manages their customers. Find out how they are structured and how to combat this new threat at Uptime Live 17th September Tickets -> https://uptimelive.events See you there #UptimeLive24

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Huge news on Microsoft365! We've just dropped some serious upgrades tailored for organisations like the NHS, managing multiple operations across different sites. THat's right. The thing a lot of us have been waiting for, Multitenant organisation capabilities! https://lnkd.in/eGQWSZAs What does this mean? Well, a few noteworthy things: Unified people search: No more hunting around for the right contact. Now, finding a colleague across different sites is as easy as a single search. Seamless cross-site collaboration in Microsoft Teams: Need to assemble a team fast, even if they're spread out? No problem. Advanced threat hunting with Microsoft Defender XDR: Defender XDR acts like a super-sleuth, keeping data safe from all angles. These updates aren't just tweaks; they're game-changers. The NHS (and organisations like it) are set to streamline operations, tighten security, and foster even better teamwork. Curious for more? Dive into the full announcement below https://lnkd.in/eGQWSZAs ] #HealthTechRevolution #M365 #Multitenant #Transformation

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Fantastic bit of feedback on the JumpCloud Easy and Affordable Marketing for MSPs guide from Jess Dugdale ACIM from great UK based MSP 1-Fix Limited "The Jumpcloud MSP Marketing Guide is a great starting place for MSPs who want to start their marketing journey. It explains the basics in a really understandable way, and gives helpful tips to get started. A must-have for MSPs without a Marketing department." Thanks Jess for the great feedback and standby as the next instalment is coming soon. If you've not checked it out yet - heres the link https://lnkd.in/e_P5t6vm

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The single biggest reason your #renewals programme is (still) failing… Forgetting systems, people, process, your partners or your vendors… All of these factors can create issues. But at number 1… Is the lack of clean, accurate Installed Base data of your own, essential for launching your renewals programme from. If you feel you need to upgrade your capability so as not to let down your customer (or your CRO)… Collect it all and start today (even if you don’t have an iasset platform!) If you don’t know where to start or understand where from and what data to collect, reach out! #revops #installedbase #productlifecycle iasset.com

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🚨 Blog post alert I've written an article about Diagrid Catalyst, a cloud service that provides Dapr-compatible services such as pub/sub, key/value storage and much more to your apps. The post demonstrates the use of Catalyst services with a sample application that you can run yourself and explore further. #dapr #dev #diagrid #catalyst https://lnkd.in/gYme62xb

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In the software development process, cloud infrastructure is a vital piece of the architecture but something that’s frequently treated as a secondary consideration, often created manually and very rarely documented. This can leave you in real trouble if for any reason you need to rebuild or duplicate your infrastructure. At Honest Burgers Ltd we’ve recently completed the task of scripting our Microsoft #Azure infrastructure using #Bicep, a domain specific language which has allowed us to automate the deployment process and makes future changes simple and fully trackable through version control. The whole process was a lot more straightforward than I initially expected and is something I would strongly recommend for anyone who builds cloud hosted systems. https://lnkd.in/exVKZ2Yy

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I love this story with Replicated and SCYTHE From Windows Installer to k8s on prem product - That is like leaping 2 generations of technology for end users OLD: Huge QA processes / quarterly releases NEW: Automated testing / monthly releases OLD: Spend 2.5 hours with customers for upgrades NEW: Instant updates available (click-to-deploy) with customers OLD: No visibility into which customers are on what versions, how they are using the product NEW: Immediate access to this info & more through Replicated portal Revenue impact: "They’ve even found that some customers are renewing more quickly, and paying more upfront, thanks to the functionality that Replicated provides." Big thanks to Christopher H. / Christopher Kesler / Jeremy McIntyre for participating in this case study! Link in comments for full story 👀

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Fancy getting away from the office for a bit and discuss your IT requirements over a Coffee (or drink of your choice) on us. Message Joy Hyland or myself and get a chat booked in and see how Hamblett Consultancy has your back for your IT requirements. #meeting #coffee #chat

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🚨 Webinar Alert 🚨 Learn how you can use Microsoft technologies to meet an outcome of ‘Achieved’ under several of the CAF’s Indicators of Good Practice in our upcoming webinar.   On the 17th July, Emran Ali, Principal Lead Consultant and Scott Hudson, Principal Consultant, will outline the main requirements in CAF’s four top-level objectives and which Microsoft technologies you can use to address them. Register Here ➡ https://lnkd.in/eRQ_Mc84  #CAF #Microsoft

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Microsoft Announces UK Cloud License Price Reduction.   Microsoft is reducing UK cloud subscription license prices by 5-6% from 1st February 2025 as part of its global pricing harmonisation strategy. This first-ever reduction excludes on-premises licenses but offers significant savings for businesses with early 2025 renewals.   Contact me to discuss with your aligned Microsoft specialist here at Ultima - [email protected] #Ultima #Microsoft #Licensing

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