Is the MSP Industry Dying? Scaling a Cyber-Focused IT Firm

Описание: Traditional MSP models are shrinking—are you ready to pivot? 


In this episode of IT Mastermind Talks, host Ian Markram—a seasoned IT services coach with experience at Deloitte and NTT Data—sits down with Billy, the founder of Kavira IT, to discuss the urgent shift toward cybersecurity business growth and compliance frameworks.


 


Billy shares a raw and incredible journey from running massive nightclubs in Canada to surviving a life-altering brain injury and eventually disrupting the Australian IT landscape. We dive deep into why help desk "ticket counting" is a race to the bottom and how Kavira IT leverages SOC 2, ISO 27001, and governance to deliver high-margin value.


 


Key Lessons:

• The "Vibe Coding" Trap: Why AI-generated apps lack critical security controls and change management, putting your data at risk.
• Team Culture 2.0: How hiring "blue-collar ethics" and supporting "expert dads" creates a more resilient, high-talent workforce than traditional consultancy models.
• Education as Sales: Exploring Billy’s "Almost IT Heroes" community designed to help executives avoid expensive, biased IT decisions.

 


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⏰ TIMESTAMPS:


(00:00)  Introduction to Kavira IT and "The Boring Things"


(01:20)  Ian's overview of Vibe Coding and SOC 2 themes


(02:01)  Billy’s background: High school and being a "walking contradiction"


(02:42)  Doing the 20s in reverse: Travel, oil rigs, and running nightclubs


(03:07)  The turning point: Brain injury and starting the IT journey


(04:49)  Career shift: From hospitality management to IT recruitment


(06:15)  The accidental MSP: Getting into the industry with zero tech experience


(06:45)  Why hospitality professionals make the best sales leaders


(08:18)  Lessons from managing a $20M nightclub in Canada


(10:34)  Learning the ropes: High-pressure IT recruitment and B2B sales


(11:57)  Why relationships beat technical skills in the MSP market


(13:37)  Moving beyond the "ticket count": The challenge of traditional MSP models


(14:33)  Leveraging Cyber Governance: ISO 27001, SOC 2, and high-margin services


(15:45)  "No tolerance for bullshit": The motivation behind starting Kavira IT


(18:11)  The future of MSPs: Why they are going the way of the printing industry


(19:25)  Team Culture: Hiring blue-collar ethics and "expert dads"


(22:15)  Deep dive into Vibe Coding: The risks of AI-generated software


(24:29)  Security warnings: Why AI platforms lack change management


(26:32)  Solidifying your product: Moving from MVP to a saleable business


(28:32)  Almost IT Heroes: Building a community to help executives buy IT services


 


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