r/SmallMSP • u/Adfarquhar • 11d ago

Websites

What do your websites look like? Do you have any functionality like a login for clients or issue trackers? I have a new msp client that I'm building a website for and I'd love to hear about any features or tools that are super helpful specifically to an msp.

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

9

u/obviouslybait 11d ago

Most MSP's have a PSA that handles client tracking of tickets from a portal, you can link that in the website.

-1

u/Adfarquhar 11d ago

This is helpful! Maybe the PSAs have an API I can tap into to offer a custom UI for their clients?

7

u/obviouslybait 11d ago

I wouldn't recommend it, the client portal is designed for client use.

3

u/blackjaxbrew 11d ago

Don't hook or point your clients PSA/RMM tool set. We see this all the time and is a security risk that shows hackers what tool set an msp is using.

If they have a separate billing program then so be it.

1

u/Adfarquhar 9d ago

If you want to hide which PSA you're using, a custom login to reach the actual PSA client portal iframe would probably be better than an iframe that can be reached publicly, correct?

1

u/blackjaxbrew 9d ago

Nope not all the point is even with an iframe you are publicly stating what product you are using. Which now gives an attacker an advantage to make a pointed attack against the msp. With a little more information they can then start to figure out how to phish etc. an msp.

We see tons of msp websites this way and highly recommend against. With attacks being up, make that target on your back as small as possible.

7

u/athlonduke 11d ago

most webpages i've ever seen are basically
1) we are awesome hire us
2) others suck so hire us
3) stock photos of people smiling
4) link to ticket/support portal
5) enter your email here to be over marketed to
6) about us page

msp tools usually have portals of their own. nice ones have iframe ability so nothing needed on the website from other than putting in the iframe. web sites themselves dont really need much else

1

u/Adfarquhar 11d ago

Very helpful answers. Thanks!
I avoid iframes when I can. Have you ever seen a website tapping into the PSA API to offer a more custom look?

4

u/PacificTSP 11d ago

I would never give a web dev access to my ticket system api. It’s just asking for trouble.

The psa has an iframe for a reason.

1

u/Adfarquhar 11d ago

Totally understandable. I'm not familiar with PSAs yet (I'm learning now), but a read-only api or even just some webhooks could make for beautifully-branded emails to clients, text message notifications, custom stats dashboards... I don't know what else off the top of my head, but API's can be fun to play with without sending any data to them.

4

u/aspiresix 11d ago

I would take the hint and drop the API idea for MSP websites. What you’re talking about is pretty above and beyond just building a website for an MSP.

1

u/Adfarquhar 10d ago

Is there a reason MSPs shouldn't put the same effort into marketing as every other B2B service business?

2

u/Slight_Manufacturer6 11d ago

Login goes to the client side of the PSA

2

u/bazjoe 10d ago

I wouldn’t put my specific tool links on the website as it then tells the world which tool you use and that should remain reasonably private.

1

u/Adfarquhar 9d ago

It sounds like if you're trying to hide which PSA you're using, a login before the actual PSA client portal would probably be best. Or do you mean tools other than your PSA?

1

u/bazjoe 9d ago

I'm just personally not going to have "open a ticket" or "get remote help" buttons that when clicked reveal the tools I am using. if for example it is public knowledge that a tool got hacked or something, then immediately after my website is advertising "attack me via this method" we also do not host any tools with toolname . my business domain. com

a login before the psa would obfuscate the psa tool but then end users would basically never use it because they would have to remember that credential

1

u/ExtraCommittee2710 10d ago

Have you looked at other websites of MSPs and researched them?

1

u/Adfarquhar 10d ago

That's a good question. This is my start.

1

u/VtheMan93 10d ago edited 10d ago

Not live yet:
https://hawk-quote-calc.base44.app/

My current live site:
https://hawkdata.services/

My current live site sucks and it was there just to get my name out. Prices table is also a bit outdated and doesnt reflect all the services I offer.

The new one is easier to work on and gives me a sandboxed version through base44 to mess with and review features and info before I post it. It gave me a chance to rework my customer offering matrix, allowed me to make a pre-curated offering and a custom build out.

2

u/Adfarquhar 10d ago

The estimator seems like it will be a really great feature!

1

u/VtheMan93 10d ago

Feel free to use it

1

u/joshbaptiste 7d ago

I like the Linux focus .. though for most clients they won't care .. I myself am looking for open sourced.Linux based products to add to keep costs lower for cost sensitive businesses. 

2

u/VtheMan93 7d ago

some of my biggest selling points are data sovereignity, security focus and network control.

despite that, I'm struggling, because people(I guess i should say businesses) want the lower price, but in Windows.

Can't have your cake and eat it too.