#387 - InfoSec World 2025 - Trust, Transparency, and Technology: Building Better MSP Partnerships

Jim McDonald and Jeff Steadman sit down with Mike Reiring of RSM at InfoSec World 2025 to explore how managed service providers are reshaping IT and identity operations. They dig into the differences between MSPs and MSSPs, how to choose the right partner, and how AI is transforming help desks, problem management, and security monitoring. The conversation closes with a fun dive into Mike’s passion for photography and how creativity ties into continuous learning in tech.

Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mreiring/

Connect with us on LinkedIn:

Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/

Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/

Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.com

Chapters

00:00 Intro – Live from InfoSec World 2025

02:00 Meet Mike Reiring of RSM

04:30 Evolution of Managed Service Providers

06:30 Shared Accounts, Identity, and Security Maturity

09:00 Vendor Gaps and Federated Access Challenges

11:30 What Makes a Good MSP Partner

13:00 The Cost and Effort of Changing Providers

16:30 MSP vs MSSP – Key Differences

18:30 Coordination Between Managed Providers

21:30 Top 3 Questions to Ask Your MSP

25:00 Identity Ownership: IT or Security?

27:30 Licensing, Active Directory, and Hidden Accounts

30:00 RFP Challenges and Procurement Pitfalls

32:00 Measuring Risk and Reducing Identity Exposure

34:30 Vendor Management and Shadow IT Risks

35:00 How AI Is Transforming MSP and MSSP Operations

38:30 AI, Problem Management, and the Future of Help Desks

42:30 Photography, Creativity, and Continuous Learning

48:00 Closing Thoughts and IDAC Outro

Keywords

IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Mike Reiring, RSM, InfoSec World 2025, Managed Service Provider, MSP, MSSP, AI in Cybersecurity, Help Desk, Identity Management, Managed Identity, Partner Transparency, IT Outsourcing, Risk Reduction, Problem Management, Active Directory, DaVinci Resolve, Photography in Tech, Identity Governance, Cybersecurity Podcast