Building Better MSPs with Bret Erickson (EP 902)
This episode of the IT Business Podcast features Bret Erickson, President of Passkey Technology, sharing his journey from musician to MSP owner. Bret discusses his company’s history, his business philosophy, and his role as a founding committee member of the National Society of IT Service Providers (NSITSP), offering insights into building a sustainable MSP and navigating industry change.
If you want a truly no-BS look at life as a Managed Service Provider, this is the episode you can’t miss. I’m joined by Bret Erickson—owner of Passkey Technology up in Golden Valley, Minnesota, and a founding force within the National Society of IT Service Providers (NSITSP). Bret shares how he went from gigging as a musician all over the country to leading a tech business that’s thrived since the late ‘90s. Trust me, there’s some wisdom here you won’t find anywhere else.
We dive into what it really means to run an MSP in today’s tech jungle: hybrid service models that actually work, why the “unlimited help desk” isn’t always smart, and how surviving vendor bundling is the new name of the game. Bret talks candidly about balancing old-school networking chops with new remote management platforms—plus the pros and cons of going all-in on Microsoft Intune versus keeping your stack best-of-breed.
If you care about professionalism, industry reputation, and smart business moves, you’ll love hearing Bret’s take on joining NSITSP and working to standardize best practices for MSPs. He’s a committee veteran with real skin in the game.
We also geek out over tools like Kaseya 365 Ops, ThreatLocker for application control, and the future of endpoint security. Bret brings up community topics like the CMMC framework and CIS Controls—essential reading for anyone who wants to step up their compliance game.
Companies, Products and Books mentioned:
- Passkey Technology: https://www.passkeyinc.com/
- NSITSP: https://www.nsitsp.org/
- Kaseya 365 Ops: https://www.kaseya.com/resource/k365-ops-for-msps/
- Microsoft Intune: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/intune/
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/security/business/endpoint-security/microsoft-defender-endpoint
- SaaS Alerts: https://saasalerts.com/
- Huntress Security: https://www.huntress.com/
- CMMC (DoD Information): https://business.defense.gov/Programs/Cyber-Security-Resources/CMMC-20/
- CIS Controls: https://www.cisecurity.org/controls
- Pax8 Beyond Conference: https://www.pax8.com/events/beyond/
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SHOW MUSIC:
- Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo
- Item URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UET
- Author Username: AlexanderRufire
- Item License Code: 7X9F52DNML
=== Show Information
- Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
- Host: Marvin Bee
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Bret Erickson
President
Bret Erickson is President of Passkey Technology in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Former musician turned MSP leader, he’s been at the helm since 2007, balancing technical prowess with people skills. As a founding committee member of NSITSP, Bret advocates for higher standards, industry professionalism, and meaningful MSP-client partnerships.
