Skip to main content
SolarWinds MSP
  • Login
  • Support
  • Partnerships
    • Solution Provider Program
    • Technology Alliance Program
SolarWinds MSP
  • Products
    • Remote Monitoring & Management Protect your customers with a platform from the global leader in monitoring and management.
    • Backup & Recovery Manage backup for servers, workstations, applications, and business documents from one cloud-based dashboard.
    • Mail Protection & Archiving Protect users from email threats and downtime.
    • Password Management Easily adopt and demonstrate best practice password and documentation management workflows.
      • Passportal Demo
    • PSA & Ticketing Manage ticketing, reporting, and billing to increase helpdesk efficiency.
    • Threat Monitoring Detect, respond to, and report on threats across your managed networks.
    • Remote Support Help support customers and their devices with remote support tools designed to be fast and powerful.
  • Solutions

    I'm looking to...

    I'm looking for...

    • Drive Efficiency with Automation
    • Manage my MSP Business More Efficiently
    • Manage my IT Department More Efficiently
    • Layered Security
    • Data-Driven Insights
    • Cross-Platform Support
  • Resources

    Webcasts & Events

    Resource Center

    • Ask the N-Central Experts
    • Daily Live Demos
    • Backup Foundations Training
    • RMM Foundations Training
    • Upcoming Events
    • Upcoming Webcasts
    • Resource Library
      • Case Studies
      • Product Information
      • eBooks
      • White Papers
      • Infographics
    • SolarWinds MSP Free Tools
    • GDPR Resource Center
    • Security Resource Center
    • MSP Institute Webinar Series
    • MSP Advice Project
  • About
    • Contact
    • Worldwide sales and support
    • Careers
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Get A Quote
    • Newsroom
      • Press Releases
      • In The News
      • Media Contacts
    • Leadership Team
    • Legal
      • Cookie Policy
      • Privacy Notice
      • Software Services Agreement
      • Terms of Use
      • Backup Fair Use Policy
    • Security
      • SolarWinds Security Statement
      • Vendor Data Protection Requirements
    • Support
  • Blog
  • Contact Sales
    • Get A Quote
    • General Inquiry
  • TRY NOW
    • SolarWinds RMM
    • SolarWinds Backup
    • MSP Manager
    • SolarWinds Passportal
    • SolarWinds Mail Assure
    • SolarWinds Risk Intelligence
    • SolarWinds Take Control
Filter Blogs
  • Filter by:
  • MSP Business
    • Automation
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • Security-series
    • Best Practices
    • Business
    • Business Growth
    • Business Risk
    • Cloud Computing
    • Customer Service
    • Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity Awareness Month
    • Data
    • GDPR
    • Internet of Things
    • IT Support
    • ITSM
    • LOGICcards
    • Machine Learning
    • Mail
    • Managed Services
    • Marketing
    • Mobile
    • Networking
    • Operations
    • Podcast
    • Product
    • PSA
    • Remote Management
    • Research & Trends
    • Risk Intelligence
    • Security
    • Security Vlog
    • Service Desk
    • Services & Support
    • Tips & Advice
    • Training
Home Blog MSP Business Is the Internet of Things the next big thing for MSPs?
MSP Business

Is the Internet of Things the next big thing for MSPs?

By Dave Sobel
28 January, 2014

I received an email from my father recently, asking me “Technology’s Next Big Thing”. He asked me what I thought about the Internet of Things, and included an article for me to read.

For those not familiar, the Internet of Things is the idea of more and more devices becoming connected to the internet, using the network as a communications path to each other and to services. With the proliferation of devices, the internet has already moved from the majority being people to the majority being devices. In fact, IPv6 is intentionally designed to dramatically multiply the number of IP addresses on the internet, partly because of the expectation of how many devices there will be. It’s a massive trend, and one I’ve been tracking for a while now.

The-Internet-of-ThingsDad thought that he wouldn’t be alive to see it all. While certainly not a teenager, my Dad isn’t so old that he needs to worry. In fact, the Internet of Things has already begun and is here, rather than something to expect in the future. Smart devices are more and more commonplace. With Google’s recent acquisition of Nest, there is clear evidence that smart devices are already here, and moving beyond niche plays to becoming mainstream. Nest shows how companies are looking at intelligent devices as the future, and players like Google are expected to drive that market even faster.

Consumer technologies are becoming increasingly a gauge for business ones, as the consumerization of IT changes the way business and individuals think about IT. This continues to play in the services market, as there continues to be the need to manage all these devices. Beyond simple installation, these devices require management. While this seems far fetched, it was just announced that a number of home appliances – including at least one fridge – was recently used to become a botnet, sending spam around the internet.

New yet entirely familiar challenges await for MSPs in the world of the Internet of Things. Just as mobile device management is an extension of the core of a solution providers business, so too will managing the waves of smart devices to come. Solution providers who embrace the idea of user experience management, where they focus on ensuring that users have consistent access to their data across all devices, will be well prepared to manage this more complicated world. This complexity also shows the need for solution providers, as integration will become a primary focus.

As soon as someone cleans the virus off the fridge.

What do you think the internet of things has in store for the MSP? Share your thoughts with a comment below!

You might also like...

MSP Business

What we can learn from the recent TeamViewer incidents

MSP Business

Why supporting Macs is about more than business growth

MSP Business

How to structure SLA delivery using your service desk

MSP Business

10 Things to Consider When Writing MSP Contracts

MSP Business

How will proposed additions to HIPAA provisions affect MSPs?

MSP Business

SolarWinds MSP N-central Mobile App Update For Android

Want to stay up to date?

Get the latest MSP tips, tricks, and ideas sent to your inbox each week.

Loading form....

If the form does not load in a few seconds, it is probably because your browser is using Tracking Protection. This is either an Ad Blocker plug-in or your browser is in private mode. Please allow tracking on this page to request a subscription.

Note: Firefox users may see a shield icon to the left of the URL in the address bar. Click on this to disable tracking protection for this session/site

Recent Posts

  • 3 Ways to Say Goodbye to a Problem Customer
  • Taking the Fear Out of Backup and Recovery
  • Find Out Which SEO Keywords Your Competitors are Using
  • Why MSPs Should Team Up with MSSPs
  • Why Properly Documenting Non-Technical Conversations and Decisions is Essential

Categories:

  • Business Growth (421)
  • Security (346)
  • Tips & Advice (334)
  • Managed Services (303)
  • Best Practices (247)
  • Business (214)
  • Cybersecurity (194)
  • Backup & Disaster Recovery (117)
  • IT Support (109)
  • ITSM (78)
  • Data (64)
  • Product (63)
  • Cloud Computing (61)
  • Marketing (57)
  • Mail (53)
  • Networking (34)
  • Risk Intelligence (31)
  • Customer Service (29)
  • Remote Management (27)
  • Automation (19)
  • GDPR (17)
  • Operations (16)
  • Services & Support (16)
  • Service Desk (15)
  • Research & Trends (14)
  • PSA (12)
  • Business Risk (12)
  • Internet of Things (11)
  • Mobile (11)
  • Training (11)
  • Security-series (8)
  • Cybersecurity Awareness Month (6)
  • LOGICcards (4)
  • Machine Learning (3)
Show moreless
SolarWinds MSP

© SolarWinds MSP Canada ULC and SolarWinds MSP UK Ltd.
All Rights Reserved.

Products

  • SolarWinds RMM
  • SolarWinds N-central
  • SolarWinds Backup
  • SolarWinds MSP Manager
  • SolarWinds Mail Assure
  • SolarWinds Risk Intelligence
  • SolarWinds Take Control
  • SolarWinds Threat Monitor
  • SolarWinds Passportal

Solutions

  • How We Help MSPs
  • Layered Security
  • Cross-Platform Support
  • Data-Driven Insights

About

  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Leadership Team
  • Upcoming Events
  • Privacy
  • Legal
  • Security
  • Subscription Preferences
  • SolarWinds

Support

  • SolarWinds RMM
  • Solarwinds N-central
  • SolarWinds Backup
  • SolarWinds Mail Assure
  • SolarWinds Take Control
  • SolarWinds MSP Manager
  • Solarwinds Risk Intelligence
  • Solarwinds Threat Monitor
  • SolarWinds Passportal
  • SolarWinds Take Control Downloads
  • Backup & Recovery Downloads
  • Sitemap
  • Service Status