Tough industry accreditations the way forward - MSP

MSP Evolve claims "challenging" CompTIA Trustmark sets it aside from competitors

A managed services provider (MSP) that has recently been awarded a CompTIA Trustmark has said the challenging nature of the accreditation is of great importance.

London-based Evolve Computers recently completed the IT Business Trustmark from industry body CompTIA and is one just 105 companies in the UK to have done so.

CompTIA claims the badge acts as a seal of approval for customers and prospects and proves holders are up to stringent industry standards.

CompTIA's chief executive, Todd Thibodeaux, admitted to CRN earlier on in the year that his company's accreditations are particularly difficult, which is why they introduced a simpler entry-level option.

But Evolve's managing director, David Watson, said that for him, the trickier an accreditation is, the better.

"There has to be a challenge, otherwise everyone will get it," he said. "There is a history in the IT industry of accreditations becoming devalued because everyone gets one. It has happened in the past with Novell; Microsoft went through a period [too] but they are back on form [now]. It has to be a bit of a challenge and that is really important to us.

"When you're talking about two thirds of what you're doing is related to securing systems, it is all behind the scenes and is admin. If you try to tell a customer all their copies of Java are up to date, they will fall asleep. We can't demonstrate that to them, but we do it.

"I've come across plenty of MSPs - and there are plenty of good ones - but plenty do not do what they say they are doing. But their website looks as good as my website; and I bet when they sit in front of a customer, their spiel sounds as good as my spiel. But the problem is, I am doing it, and they are not. How do I win business? I have got to have someone who can say ‘ok, just show us you are doing these things and we will give you a stamp of approval'."