While the digital service provider industry is always adapting to advances in IT software, MSPs still have many labor-intensive and mundane tasks that their teams continue to execute manually. Automation tools present an exciting opportunity to streamline existing systems by delegating day-to-day activities like software deployment, cloud provisioning, system administration, update installation and more entirely to software platforms.
From remote monitoring to CRMs, this article will take a look at the key players in the automation software industry to help you create the right stack for your MSP. Read on to know more about the various types of MSP automation tools currently available, with specific recommendations for each category.
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MSP automation refers to the use of software tools and systems by Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to automate routine tasks and processes. These tasks can range from IT administration and maintenance to accounting, human resources, sales, and marketing management. The goal of MSP automation is to increase efficiency, reduce manual errors, and free up time for the team to focus on more complex, strategic tasks.
MSP automation can involve several different types of tools and technologies, including:
RMM tools are a type of software used by Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to proactively monitor and manage the IT systems of their clients. These tools provide MSPs with remote, behind-the-scenes access to the IT infrastructure of their clients, including servers, networks, and endpoints, allowing them to detect and resolve issues without disrupting the client's operations. RMM tools often include features like automated maintenance, patch management, and alerts for issues that need manual intervention.
PSA tools are comprehensive software systems used by service-oriented companies to streamline and automate all major business operations. For MSPs, this includes project management, time tracking and billing, contract management, resource allocation, and customer relationship management. PSA tools provide a centralized platform for managing all client work and internal processes, improving efficiency, and providing insights to help with decision-making.
ITSM tools are used to align IT services with the needs of the business. They focus on providing a structured approach to the design, delivery, management, and improvement of the way information technology (IT) is used within an organization. Key processes managed by ITSM tools include incident management (dealing with IT disruptions), problem management (identifying and removing defects in IT services), and change management (controlling changes to IT services).
Security automation tools are used by MSPs to automate a wide range of cybersecurity tasks, including threat detection, incident response, and compliance reporting. These tools use technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify potential threats, respond to security incidents, and generate reports for compliance purposes. This not only improves the speed and efficiency of cybersecurity operations but also helps MSPs to provide a higher level of service to their clients.
BDR tools are used by MSPs to protect their clients' data from potential loss or damage. These tools automate the process of creating backups of data at regular intervals and storing them in a secure location. In the event of a disaster, such as a cyberattack, system failure, or natural disaster, the BDR tool can be used to restore the lost data from the most recent backup.
Network assessment tools are used by MSPs to evaluate the performance and health of their clients' networks. These tools can monitor network traffic, identify bottlenecks, detect performance issues, and provide insights into network usage. They can also identify potential security vulnerabilities in the network, helping MSPs to protect their clients from cyber threats.
Patch management tools are used by MSPs to automate the process of applying patches to their clients' IT systems. Patches are updates released by software vendors to fix bugs, improve performance, or address security vulnerabilities. Patch management tools can identify which patches are needed for each system, download and install them automatically, and generate reports to confirm that all systems are up-to-date.
IT documentation tools are used by MSPs to create and maintain a comprehensive record of their clients' IT infrastructure, including systems, configurations, and processes. These tools can automate the process of documenting IT assets, making it easier for MSPs to manage their clients' IT environments and respond to issues.
CRM tools are used by MSPs to manage their relationships with clients and automate various sales and marketing tasks. These tools can track interactions with clients, manage sales pipelines, automate marketing campaigns, and provide insights into client behavior and preferences.
BI tools are used by MSPs to analyze their business data and make informed decisions. These tools can collect data from various sources, analyze it, and present it in an easy-to-understand format, such as dashboards or reports. BI tools can provide insights into various aspects of the business, such as sales performance, customer behavior, and operational efficiency. This can help MSPs identify trends, spot issues, and make data-driven decisions.
Cloud management tools are used by MSPs to manage and automate tasks related to cloud computing. These tools can help MSPs provision and manage cloud resources, monitor cloud performance, ensure cloud security, and optimize cloud costs. They can also provide a centralized platform for managing multi-cloud environments, making it easier for MSPs to manage their clients' IT infrastructure across different cloud platforms.
IAM tools are used by MSPs to manage and automate tasks related to identity verification and access control. These tools can help MSPs ensure that only authorized individuals have access to certain IT resources. IAM tools can automate tasks such as user authentication, role-based access control, password management, and audit reporting. This can help MSPs improve security, ensure compliance, and enhance user productivity.
CoreView Configuration Manager, Simeon Cloud, is a comprehensive solution that provides a full suite of tools for managing Microsoft 365. It's designed to automate and simplify the management of M365, making it an ideal choice for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Configuration Manager's automation capabilities are one of its key strengths. It allows you to automate repetitive jobs like user provisioning, policy enforcement, and compliance checks — helping you dedicated your time and resources towards more complex and tactical tasks.
Here's a more detailed overview of how CoreView Configuration Manager, Simeon Cloud, can help MSPs automate mundane workflows:
Configuration Manager provides a detailed audit trail of your Microsoft 365 environments, all in a single pane of glass. This allows for easy tracking and understanding of changes made across the environment. In addition, it offers the ability to restore configurations to a desired state, ensuring that even in the event of an error, your settings can be reverted without loss of data or functionality.
With CoreView Configuration Manager, you can establish baselines for best practices, track drift, and align configurations to the desired state. This ensures that your Microsoft 365 environment remains consistent and adheres to the standards set by your organization. This is particularly useful for maintaining compliance with various industry regulations and standards.
Configuration Manager offers holistic reporting on your Microsoft 365 environments in a single pane of glass. This means you can monitor all aspects of your environment from one place, making it easier to identify and address issues. Additionally, Simeon Cloud can alert you to changes before they become problems, allowing for proactive management of your environment.
CoreView Configuration Manager allows you to sync configurations across your non-production and production environments. This ensures consistency across your environments and allows for seamless promotion of lifecycle changes with advanced approval workflows.
For MSPs managing multiple clients, Configuration Manager offers multi-tenant management. This allows you to manage multiple tenants with a single set of policies, improving scale and standardization across all your clients.
Configuration Manager provides a feature for reusing, editing, and deploying app packages between tenants and to multiple tenants in bulk. This eliminates countless hours of manual work and ensures consistency in the applications deployed across your environment.
CoreView Configuration Manager, Simeon Cloud, you can deploy Microsoft 365 environments from customizable templates with a single click. This improves scale, automation, and consistency across your deployments.
According to Chee Lam, CEO, Deskflix: “Our team would spend countless hours to upkeep and to ensure Microsoft 365 configuration consistencies across all our customers and still, there are gaps everywhere. Thanks to Simeon (now CoreView Configuration Manager) we can now focus on providing white glove customer service.” Want to learn more about how CoreView can help you as an MSP? Request a demo with our sales team today to get started!
