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MSPs understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape and the heightened expectations around data privacy. Clients trust MSPs to keep their information safe – but what does that mean for MSPs?

With new cybersecurity risks and legislation around data privacy, there is a new level of responsibility clients expect MSPs to bear. This is known as fiduciary responsibility.

What Is Fiduciary Responsibility?

Fiduciary responsibility is the legal obligation to act in the best interests of another party, such as a client. Like CPAs, MSPs are responsible for the data and systems entrusted to them by their clients. 

This means taking all reasonable steps to protect their data from loss, theft, or unauthorized access – and being transparent about any risks or vulnerabilities. It also means complying with data privacy laws, such as GDPR and CCPA. Meeting these expectations is essential to maintaining a client’s trust and ensuring the client’s success.

“I have always felt that an MSP should be considered an extension of a client’s own business and only provide advice based on the client’s best interest. An MSP is only successful if its client is successful,” said Joe Cannata, Owner of Techsperts LLC. 

The fiduciary responsibility of MSPs is a critical part of their role as trusted partners to their clients. “I feel that it’s important that MSPs understand and abide by the regulations of the partners that they are servicing,” said Daniel De Steno, Owner of NOVA Computer Solutions, LLC.

Do MSPs Play a Similar Role and Accountability That CPAs Have?

MSPs are expected to act in their clients’ best interests and exercise a high level of care when it comes to safeguarding their data and systems. In addition, MSPs are held to the same standards as CPAs in terms of liability and accountability for their clients’ data. 

Said De Steno, “I feel that it is not only a good step to hold MSPs accountable, and their partners, for the benefit of not only the partner but the MSP and the clientele that that partner services. Being required to abide by the regulations of a specific vertical would probably make that MSP a better partner to their partners. That will certainly put a larger spotlight on the MSPs that are providing the quality service that they should be and shine a much brighter light on those MSPs that are out there flying by the seat of their pants. I think that would also allow MSPs to increase their fees since they are certified or compliant with the regulation of your vertical.”

CPAs and MSPs are all critical assets to their clients. They need to understand not only what fiduciary responsibility is, but also how to uphold it in order to maintain the trust of their clients. “Just as CPAs (accountants) have become critical to businesses’ survivability, MSPs have continued to gain strong traction within the economy providing critical services via technology. With new legislation being discussed more frequently, it’s only a matter of time before regulation hits the marketplace,” said Nick Martin, Director of Managed Services at Mainstreet IT Solutions.

Said Guy Baroan, President of Baroan Technologies, “I absolutely see the role of a CPA being similar to the role of an MSP. Already we are seeing laws coming out that are now starting to put in requirements for technology companies that are supporting clients to take more responsibilities than ever before. As the cyber attacks continue to be more successful and more data is stolen or companies are held hostage for a ransom, the protections and need to have laws in place will be greater.”

“Although I agree with a perspective, in concept, of accountability similar to a CPA, there are a number of issues that are holding back our industry from achieving this. First of all, there are very few, if not any, barriers to entry for someone to call themselves an MSP. This is very different than a CPA, who has to gather a certain level of academic success as well as pass standardized testing,” said Ilan Sredni, CEO and President of Palindrome Consulting.   

“Regulation has always struggled with keeping up with the changing needs of technology, and I don’t necessarily see that changing at this point. But what I do see is that MSPs need to be ready for new regulations coming to the industry to ensure best practices are being followed,” said Martin.

Will there be a requirement for additional certifications and other qualifications to become an MSP in the future? The answer is most likely yes. Said Anthony Buonaspina, CEO and Founder of LI Tech Advisors, “I believe that in the very near future you will need to have federal and state compliance certifications in order to call your company an MSP or MSSP.  My guess is that this will morph into a new acronym for describing the next generation of Managed Service Providers such as MSSCP for Managed Service Security and Compliance Provider.”

How Do Clients View Their MSPs?

Organizations that lack an IT team often rely on MSPs to not only manage and monitor their systems but also to keep them up-to-date with the latest security patches and compliance updates. This places a significant burden on MSPs to ensure that their systems are secure and compliant at all times. Fiduciary responsibility means that MSPs are ultimately responsible for their client’s systems and data, regardless of who else might be involved in the process.

“Over the last 19 years, we have had many “impression” calls from clients where they inform us that they were under the “impression” that cybersecurity was being completely “handled” as part of their managed service agreement. After working hard to build a standard cybersecurity tools and services stack as part of our managed service offering, we have been requiring clients to sign releases of liability if they refuse to implement any of our tools or services regarding cybersecurity,” said Alexander Freund, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of 4IT.

Many organizations that have their own internal IT team still rely on MSPs for assistance with specific tasks or projects, such as migrating to a new system or updating their security posture. In these cases, MSPs have a responsibility to ensure that the transition is smooth and does not disrupt or diminish the level of service their clients are receiving. Having a strong trusted relationship with the client will remove some of the barriers, and as long as MSPs are evolving and deploying standards like NIST CSF  the client’s risk surface will be minimized, said Robert Giannini, Chief Security Officer and CEO of GiaSpace.

“The agreements between MSPs and clients should be clear and detailed, outlining the specific services that are being provided as well as the expectations around data protection. Our agreements need to be very clear with the customer and make sure we as the MSP are legally protected when the client inevitably denies the cost of implementing a particular solution under the premise “we do not need that”. It is absolutely vital that we do not all use the same boilerplate agreements used from 10 years ago that have circulated throughout the industry”, said Sean T. Fullerton, Principal Consultant at NSN Management.

How Will Fiduciary Responsibility Change the MSP Industry?

The rise of fiduciary responsibility is likely to change the way MSPs operate and do business. In particular, MSPs will need to be more proactive in their approach to data security and privacy. They will also need to be more transparent with their clients about the risks and vulnerabilities associated with their systems.

MSPs will need to make sure they are up-to-date on all compliance regulations, not just GDPR. MSPs will need to be able to prove that they are meeting those requirements. In addition, MSPs will need to be more proactive in their approach to security, proactively monitoring for potential threats and implementing measures to mitigate those risks. This may involve working closely with clients to create a detailed security plan and adjusting it as needed based on changing regulations or the evolving threat landscape.

Said Baroan, “We can’t guarantee that no one will be safe from a breach, however, we can educate them and make sure that their risk is greatly reduced. More and more, I see the role of an MSP becoming a necessity for businesses, even if they have their own staff, it’s almost impossible to keep up with the changes, it’s like drinking water from a firehose. Everyone will need services like these to ensure they are safe and protected.”

Overall, fiduciary responsibility is likely to reshape the MSP industry, making MSPs more accountable for the security and data privacy of their clients. At the same time, this will help to raise standards across the industry and ensure that MSPs are meeting the needs of their clients in a rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape.

Will Clients Wake Up to the Importance of Having an MSP Like They Have a CPA?

Clients are already waking up to the importance of having an MSP. In the same way that they have a CPA to ensure the financial compliance of their business, more and more businesses are beginning to realize that they need an MSP to ensure the compliance of their data and systems.

As data privacy regulations continue to evolve, we expect fiduciary responsibility to play an increasingly important role in the MSP industry. Clients are starting to realize that they need a trusted partner who can help them navigate these complex regulatory landscapes and keep their data secure.

Many businesses are also recognizing that having an internal IT team is not enough – they need the specialized support and expertise that MSPs can provide. This means that clients are increasingly looking to partner with MSPs who can take on fiduciary responsibility for their systems and data, helping them to meet regulatory requirements and mitigate the risks associated with cyberattacks.

“Clients that have come to us after suffering a breach already understand how important the right MSP is, as anyone who has been through the process of dealing with a breach knows how badly it can interrupt their operations, and how much money and time it can cost,” said Freund.

Overall, it seems clear that clients are beginning to understand the importance of working with an MSP. As fiduciary responsibility becomes more common, we can expect to see even more businesses waking up to the need for an MSP to help them protect their data and systems.

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Traveling professionals and students who are working remotely finally have an effective solution to their most pressing need: mobile connectivity that is reliable no matter where they are. uCloudlink’s HyperConn™ CloudSIM technology is redefining mobile connectivity as it promises a steady connection no matter where the user’s location may be. This comes as a welcome development for multiple users as travel restrictions are relaxing in the new normal. 

Officially introduced in the market last June 30 by Chaohui Chen, Director and CEO of uCloudlink, and Victor Xu, Chief Sales Officer and President of Marketing and Sales, HyperConn™ was positioned as an ambitious yet high effective means to get uninterrupted network connection all the time no matter where users may be and what conditions they may face. uCloudlink ensures steady connectivity with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) that identifies the most effective network coverage available in the user’s location. It is also able to determine the internet usage and performance of all the existing broadband networks where the user is trying to access connectivity. As a result, users are guaranteed a reliable internet connection that features seamless switching from one service network to another regardless of how many applications are open and how many people are connected. 

“HyperConn™ is a groundbreaking technological advancement that is the result of years of collective effort from our hundred-strong R&D team. Imagine a car being able to freely make use of all the lanes available on a highway without needing to stop for tolls and other barricades. This level of flexibility and freedom is what we offer with HyperConn™. We believe that our forward-thinking solution will help the world prepare for whatever may come our way in the future and move us one step closer to sharing without limitations,” Chen explained.

With the launching of HyperConn™ also came the birth of Numen. It is the world’s first-ever HyperConn™-enabled 5G mobile WiFi device, which uCloudlink added to its roster of phenomenal products. Numen has the remarkable ability to connect to all signals available in a specific region, including 4G and 5G mobile broadband and fixed broadband WiFi. Numen is constantly linking, measuring, and monitoring connection performance to guarantee that its users remain connected at all times. 

When an existing connection becomes weak or congested, Numen immediately looks for an available mobile WiFi that it can connect to. It then seamlessly transfers connectivity, sparing its users from unnecessary worry and stress. uCloudlink’s revolutionary technology is making a huge impact in the way of life of people from all walks of life, providing them with ease, security, and a powerful tool for their business, professional careers, and studies. 

As the leading and most effective data traffic-sharing platform in the market today, uCloudlink’s CloudSIM technology is a state-of-the-art breakthrough that is changing mobile connectivity significantly. It is able to offer flexible ultra-high-speed internet connectivity through a powerful network of 200 service providers in more than 140 countries worldwide. This is the uCloudlink brand of service and excellence that is designed to improve and empower communities for the future. Find out more about uCloudlink by visiting its website.

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Robots and Technology are limitless today. As the earth revolves, a new breed of innovation was introduced in the world, especially during the pandemic. London’s Heathrow Airport deploys UV cleaning robots, to secure the anti-viral measures, and to eradicate the possible risks of contracting Covid-19 as the UK lifts the travel restrictions today.

The U.K., with almost 300,000 affirmed coronavirus cases and in excess of 45,000 deaths, lifted isolate on-appearance governs a week ago for passengers arriving from 74 nations and territories. Heathrow said Monday that the quantity of passengers going through the airport was down 95% in June from a year.

The UK’s largest airport proudly presents the new breed of cleaning robots that utilizes ultraviolet rays to “quickly and efficiently kill viruses and bacteria”. The airport has deploys two disinfecting robots, and they being utlized to deeply and thorough clean the toilets at the airport.

Heathrow Airport is presenting cleaning robots and different measures to attempt to decrease the danger of infection transmission at the U.K. aeronautics center point as the nation facilitates travel limitations. The robots use bright beams to murder infections and microscopic organisms around evening time, as per an announcement from the air terminal, which didn’t state what number of  machine were being sent.

Heathrow Airport is one of the airports around the world that are utilizing disinfecting robots in the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, including Singapore Changi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport .

The airport additionally reveals various cleaning measures with an end goal to decrease the danger of contracting or transmitting Covid-19 at the airport. These new measures incorporate introducing UV handrail innovation on elevators to ““ensure continuous disinfection of the moving handrails” and fitting security, lift catches, streetcar and entryway handles with self-cleaning against viral wraps to give “dependable assurance from Covid-19”. The wraps work by covering high-contact surfaces in a material with enduring enemy of viral assurance, said the air terminal in an announcement posted on its site.

Heathrow stated that they are also retraining 100 colleagues to serve as “hygiene-technicians” who will deeply disinfect the airport and answer passenger queries about the health measures to

These highly trained technicians will ensure the monitoring and the effectiveness of these newly introduced innovative robots and helps inform plans to eradicate the contracting of the coronavirus.

Passengers will also be disinfected and Heathrow will also see “Fly Safe Pit Stops”, which the airport says are points where travellers can acquire face masks, anti-viral wipes and hand sanitizer that are given for free. 

“Teams at the airport are also reviewing technologies which could remove the need for passengers to touch self-service check in machines, allowing them to control the kiosks from their phones,” says the airport.

The new measures imposed as UK holidaymakers can now travel between low-risk countries without the need to isolate on return. As per the BBC, the UK has named nations as either golden (travellers from the UK won’t need to isolate on appearance), green (low degrees of coronavirus and have limitations for UK appearances), or red (limitations stay set up) in light of the seriousness of Covid-19 in every goal.

In an announcement posted on its site, Heathrow says “more work needs to safely restore Britain’s long-haul network. With a long country exclusion list, over half of Heathrow’s network remains grounded, closing off vital trading and economic routes during a time when the UK needs them most”

“We have reviewed the entire Heathrow airport experience to ensure that our passengers and colleagues are kept safe as travel resumes to “green” and “amber” countries. Now we need the Government to safely restore Britain’s long-haul connections as the country prepares for life outside the EU, with Common International Standards for Covid testing from “red” countries,” said Heathrow CEO, John Holland Kaye.

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The COVID-19 pandemic continues to trudge on, forcing entrepreneurs, professionals, ventures, and communities to endlessly innovate their practices to adapt to change. While it may be easy to translate change into action, especially when government protocols demand it, it has been quite difficult for some industries, especially in the legal profession. The trade has been widely known to find comfort in its traditional ways, especially in conducting depositions. Despite these challenges, a growing number of attorneys have consistently proven that it is possible.

Since time immemorial, depositions were mostly an in-person activity. However, with the global health crisis discouraging face-to-face engagements, the industry has been shaken up to create innovative methods, such as conducting remote depositions. As a matter of fact, in certain areas of the country that lawyers do not have access to, or when the deponent has a compromised immune system, the party seeking information may either delay, forgo the deposition entirely, or conduct it remotely.

“If we wish to survive, we must adapt to change,” shared an attorney.

While remote depositions were a reason to hesitate before, NAEGELI Deposition and Trial, an emerging name in the industry, has shown how easy conducting a deposition remotely can be. By going remote, attorneys conserve their money, time, and effort spent preparing in-person depositions while maintaining a more relaxed setting that may yield better results than the traditional method. There is also increased flexibility in adding new exhibits because almost everything is done digitally. NAEGELI Deposition and Trial also noted that the preparedness of attorneys conducting remote depositions significantly increased. “It encourages them to prepare earlier than one might have because they need to have all exhibits ready to go, especially if they share them with reporters or opposing counsel in advance,” shared NAEGELI Deposition and Trial’s spokesperson. 

Although NAEGELI Deposition and Trial has sufficiently pointed out its advantages, attorneys must follow certain protocols for remote depositions to be effective. They must ensure that the deponent possesses a video-ready device and other tools needed for the deposition. They should also indicate in the Deposition Notice that the deposition shall take place remotely and by video conference and notify the opposing counsel of such activity. In this way, parties will be preparing for a remote deposition instead of an in-person one.

Above everything else, NAEGELI Deposition and Trial has emphasized the importance of conducting a test run. While the firm has already done countless remote depositions in its lifetime, it does not take away the effectiveness of completing a test run prior to the actual deposition. Through this, attorneys may be able to find errors along the way, which will encourage them to create backup plans.

As the global health crisis continues to linger, industries are more pressed to heed the demands of the pandemic. With NAEGELI Deposition and Trial I’s expertise in conducting remote depositions, the legal profession is one step towards adapting to an ever-evolving society.

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Traveling professionals and students who are working remotely finally have an effective solution to their most pressing need: mobile connectivity that is reliable no matter where they are. uCloudlink’s HyperConn™ CloudSIM technology is redefining mobile connectivity as it promises a steady connection no matter where the user’s location may be. This comes as a welcome development for multiple users as travel restrictions are relaxing in the new normal.

Officially introduced in the market last June 30 by Chaohui Chen, Director and CEO of uCloudlink, and Victor Xu, Chief Sales Officer and President of Marketing and Sales, HyperConn™ was positioned as an ambitious yet high effective means to get uninterrupted network connection all the time no matter where users may be and what conditions they may face. uCloudlink ensures steady connectivity with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) that identifies the most effective network coverage available in the user’s location. It is also able to determine the internet usage and performance of all the existing broadband networks where the user is trying to access connectivity. As a result, users are guaranteed a reliable internet connection that features seamless switching from one service network to another regardless of how many applications are open and how many people are connected.

“HyperConn™ is a groundbreaking technological advancement that is the result of years of collective effort from our hundred-strong R&D team. Imagine a car being able to freely make use of all the lanes available on a highway without needing to stop for tolls and other barricades. This level of flexibility and freedom is what we offer with HyperConn™. We believe that our forward-thinking solution will help the world prepare for whatever may come our way in the future and move us one step closer to sharing without limitations,” Chen explained.

With the launching of HyperConn™ also came the birth of Numen. It is the world’s first-ever HyperConn™-enabled 5G mobile WiFi device, which uCloudlink added to its roster of phenomenal products. Numen has the remarkable ability to connect to all signals available in a specific region, including 4G and 5G mobile broadband and fixed broadband WiFi. Numen is constantly linking, measuring, and monitoring connection performance to guarantee that its users remain connected at all times.

When an existing connection becomes weak or congested, Numen immediately looks for an available mobile WiFi that it can connect to. It then seamlessly transfers connectivity, sparing its users from unnecessary worry and stress. uCloudlink’s revolutionary technology is making a huge impact in the way of life of people from all walks of life, providing them with ease, security, and a powerful tool for their business, professional careers, and studies.

As the leading and most effective data traffic-sharing platform in the market today, uCloudlink’s CloudSIM technology is a state-of-the-art breakthrough that is changing mobile connectivity significantly. It is able to offer flexible ultra-high-speed internet connectivity through a powerful network of 200 service providers in more than 140 countries worldwide. This is the uCloudlink brand of service and excellence that is designed to improve and empower communities for the future.

Find out more about uCloudlink by visiting its website.

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The onset of the global pandemic threw the world off ground and shook the lives of millions. Panic arose when news outlets started reporting that COVID-19 was an airborne virus, prompting global leaders to put cities under lockdown to keep it from spreading. While most people feared for the quality of the outdoor air where masses would gather, many overlooked the quality of indoor air. 

VizAeras, a company that was built for the sole purpose of creating countermeasures for monitoring indoor environmental quality conditions or “IEQ”, recently launched a campaign on StartEngine. The campaign was utilized to fund an IEQ product that could bring transparency, awareness, and access to healthy building conditions. By creating such a product, VizAeras can play an active role in creating safer, healthier, and more productive spaces for those who occupy them. Recently, the company won the “Best IoT Indoor Air Quality Monitor” award at the annual IMPACT 21 digital marketing conference.

“Because we spend 90% of our time indoors and take about 20,000 breaths per day, what we breathe really matters,” said Carl Tautenhahn, co-founder and CEO of VizAeras. “But most schools, parents, and employers don’t realize how critical it is to measure indoor pollution levels as it truly affects our health, well-being, personal productivity, test scores, and even business profits.”

VizAeras (translating to “Visual Air”) utilized a patent-pending platform technology with state-of-the-art monitoring capabilities that allow people to “visualize” healthy building conditions before entering a property. The brand strives to help society by identifying and measuring harmful indoor pollution levels.

Dubbing their product indôr, VizAeras takes a unique approach to monitoring IEQ, giving business operators access to not only monitor, track, and share healthy building condition access with occupants but also respond to potentially harmful indoor conditions in real time, keeping loved ones, employees, students, and customers safe, productive, and healthy. 

The spread of the airborne virus last year created a pressing issue that prompted California governor Gavin Newsom to sign a law requiring indoor air quality monitors to measure Co2 levels in every classroom across the state. Since then, more states have considered passing similar ordinances across the country. Over the next few years, indôr will be playing a pivotal role in helping buildings meet the monitoring requirements and address unhealthy building conditions in real time. 

Currently, there is no other indoor air quality or IEQ device in the market that allows for simple remote monitoring and quick-scan QR code access for commercial buildings. Indôr provides the necessary tools to easily detect dangerous pollutants and take action to remedy before occupants fall ill and become less productive.

“There has never been a greater need for the ability to easily monitor, access, share, compare, and promote healthy indoor environments for our homes, classrooms, and commercial buildings from any device in real time,” said Carl Tautenhahn.

Without an end in sight for the global pandemic, VizAeras hopes to create a significant impact on indoor air quality. Carl Tautenhahn and the company foresees VizAeras becoming important standard products in every home, classroom, and business. While Google mapped “The Great Outdoors”, VizAeras intends to map and track IEQ conditions for “The Great Indoors” where we live, work, learn, heal, pray, and play.  

More information about VizAeras can be found on its website here. You can also watch this YouTube video to learn more about the indôr product and support the brand’s crowdfunding efforts at StartEngine.