Identity at the Center #387 - InfoSec World 2025 - Trust, Transparency, and Technology: Building Better MSP Partnerships
Nov 24, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Mike Reiring, a Principal at RSM with a focus on managed services, dives into how MSPs are evolving in the tech landscape. He highlights the critical differences between MSPs and MSSPs, stressing the importance of choosing a partner that values transparency and cultural fit. The conversation also explores the impact of AI on help desks and problem management, as well as the challenges of vendor gaps and identity risk. Mike shares his passion for photography, linking creativity to tech and continuous learning.
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Managed Services Identity Maturity
- MSP practices have matured: shared privileged accounts are no longer acceptable and vendors now offer federated and just-in-time access options.
- Many vendors solve 80% of identity needs, leaving hard legacy or industry-specific systems requiring careful workarounds.
Demand Honest Partner Transparency
- Insist on transparency and honest capability statements when evaluating MSPs and MSSPs.
- Trust your gut: avoid partners who say yes to everything and pick ones willing to admit limits or co-develop solutions.
Clear MSP vs MSSP Responsibilities
- MSP and MSSP split responsibilities: MSPs handle infrastructure/operations while MSSPs focus on cyber operations and telemetry.
- Success requires an explicit handshake between the two or a single vendor to coordinate remediation workflows.