Decision Makers

Managed Service Providers entered 2022 with perhaps more uncertainty than in any previous year. And yet business plans had to be made, budgets created, and people hired for the year ahead. So MSPs had to develop some kind of outlook for the new year.

As part of the 2022 MSP 500 project, CRN asked MSPs what were the most significant factors they took into consideration as they made plans for 2022.

Some MSPs cited broad economic and market trends such as the COVID-19 pandemic, work-from-home/hybrid operating models, and supply chain disruptions. Others pointed to evolutions in IT including cloud adoption, hybrid computing and the rapidly changing cybersecurity threat scene.

Others cited internal moves they have made such as expanding their product and service offerings, acquisitions, geographical expansions, hiring tech and sales staff to meet growth projections or add expertise, and making organizational and operational changes to their business to support growth and become more efficient.

Here’s a sampling of the responses from 30 MSPs. Some have been edited for clarity. (Also check out the rundown of the most significant changes MSPs made to their business in 2021, the key emerging technologies MSPs see as providing big opportunities in 2022, and the fastest growing services they offer.