Embracing the Open-Source Revolution: A New Pathway for MSP Growth

By Doug Milburn and Tom Lawrence

In recent years, the role of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) has rapidly evolved. MSPs today aren’t merely troubleshooting tech issues; they’re the driving force behind digital transformation, helping clients navigate increasingly complex IT landscapes. Open-source software—once seen as a fringe alternative—is now a core strategy for MSPs looking to add unique value, reduce client costs, and deliver secure, customizable solutions.

Let’s explore the opportunities and challenges MSPs face in integrating open-source solutions, drawing on our years of combined experience in this field.

Trends Accelerating Open-Source Adoption in the MSP Space

The shift toward open-source technology is gaining momentum due to several key trends:

Security and Compliance

Today, organizations prioritize data control and transparency, especially in regulated industries like healthcare and finance. Proprietary systems can impose limitations on data security, leading MSPs to explore open-source options with fewer restrictions.

For example, solutions like Nextcloud, an open-source alternative to Google Drive, give organizations complete data ownership and control—a powerful draw for clients concerned about privacy.

Additionally, PfSense, a firewall and router platform, has gained traction as an open-source, security-first choice for MSPs, especially those supporting clients with strict data compliance standards. These tools are highly customizable, offering MSPs a way to ensure robust security configurations that can be tailored to meet specific industry standards.

Cost Savings and Licensing Flexibility

MSPs are well aware of how quickly licensing fees for proprietary software add up. The beauty of open-source software is that it provides clients with flexibility and scalability without costly licenses. For example, tools like LibreNMS, a network monitoring system often featured by Lawrence Systems, empower MSPs to offer enterprise-grade monitoring without recurring license fees.

This translates into long-term savings and helps MSPs offer more competitive rates, making open-source solutions a win-win for providers and clients alike.

Data Sovereignty and Control

Many clients are wary of storing data with large SaaS providers due to concerns about data sovereignty and potential SaaS lock-ins. Open-source solutions allow MSPs to implement self-hosted, on-premises alternatives that keep data fully under client control.

TrueNAS, for example, is a network-attached storage (NAS) platform, that allows MSPs to create reliable, self-managed storage solutions, ensuring clients’ data is safe, private, and easily accessible.

Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Building Skills for Open-Source Support

The move to open-source can be intimidating, especially for smaller MSPs without extensive experience. However, by investing in staff training and engaging with community-driven resources, MSPs can effectively transition into open-source support.

Training and Certification Resources

For MSPs, upskilling teams on open-source solutions is essential. Certifications such as CompTIA Linux+ and Red Hat Certified Engineer provide foundational skills for Linux and open-source environments, enabling MSPs to troubleshoot and manage Linux-based systems.

It’s important to note that investing in certifications doesn’t only build expertise; it strengthens an MSP’s reputation for reliability and proficiency with open-source platforms.

Community and Open-Source Networking

The open-source community is one of its biggest assets. Forums, conferences, and GitHub repositories offer MSPs a continuous learning channel and a support network for new implementations.

We emphasize that when MSPs collaborate with the open-source community, they can often find tailored solutions for client challenges—solutions that might otherwise be prohibitively expensive or unavailable with proprietary software.

Challenges and Solutions for MSPs Implementing Open-Source

While open-source is ripe with opportunities, it presents challenges that MSPs must navigate to ensure a smooth experience for clients.

Software Stability and Compatibility

One common misconception is that open-source tools are “bleeding edge” and prone to bugs. While some open-source projects are indeed in constant development, stable options are widely available.

For instance, Proxmox and OpenMediaVault have proven track records of reliability and ease of use, particularly in enterprise environments. Using them, MSPs can implement stable, reliable open-source alternatives that rival proprietary solutions in quality and uptime.

Operational Costs and Support Infrastructure

Smaller MSPs may worry about supporting open-source solutions without the formal support of a major software vendor. However, many open-source projects offer dedicated support tiers, and experienced MSPs can build their own internal support structure.

Lawrence Systems covers budget-friendly setups in tutorials that walk MSPs through the process of setting up and maintaining self-supported solutions, like TrueNAS and Zabbix, which are cost-effective and don’t require vendor lock-in.

Training Staff and Clients

A critical step for any MSP implementing open-source solutions is to ensure that both staff and clients can navigate these systems with confidence. Lawrence Systems offers user-friendly video guides for tools like Nextcloud, helping MSPs educate their clients on daily use while retaining control over advanced features.

These guides can be an invaluable resource, allowing MSPs to provide seamless, client-focused onboarding without the steep learning curve.

Emerging Open-Source Tools MSPs Should Watch

The open-source landscape is brimming with innovative tools that can deliver significant value to MSP clients:

• Zabbix: An open-source network monitoring tool, Zabbix is ideal for MSPs focused on infrastructure monitoring and management. Zabbix has many capabilities in enterprise environments, enabling MSPs to offer proactive monitoring and issue resolution at a fraction of the cost of proprietary options.

• Ceph: A highly scalable and resilient data storage platform, Ceph can be the backbone for enterprise storage needs, particularly in sectors like government or research that prioritize data sovereignty.

By focusing on these emerging tools, MSPs can strengthen their open-source offerings, delivering innovative solutions that align with the latest technology trends.

The Future of Open-Source in MSP Services

The open-source space continues to evolve, and we see a promising future for MSPs willing to take the plunge

New tools like AI and automation are emerging that leverage open-source machine learning and automation frameworks, creating powerful opportunities for MSPs to offer predictive services. These developments will likely accelerate, allowing MSPs to expand their service portfolios with minimal additional investment.

MSPs should position themselves now to capitalize on the core emerging trends. Embracing hybrid solutions—where open-source and proprietary tools coexist—enables MSPs to deliver flexible, customized services that best meet client needs.

The path to open-source success requires dedication, training, and a commitment to community collaboration, but the rewards are substantial. Open-source presents an invaluable opportunity for MSPs to differentiate themselves, offer competitive pricing, and deliver adaptable, secure solutions. By leveraging the insights and practical resources now available, MSPs can position themselves as leaders in the open-source revolution, paving the way for a more open, accessible, and client-centered future.

About Doug Milburn

Dr. Doug Milburn is a long-time serial entrepreneur and innovator who has brought his vision and passion to manufacturing, engineering, software development, and process engineering for more than 35 years. Throughout his leadership, Dr. Milburn has aimed to create great workplaces by shaping a company’s success through corporate values and ethical guidelines.

Dr. Milburn was born and raised in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where his companies are proudly based. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degree in physics at Mount Allison University, before finishing his studies with a PhD in mechanical engineering at the University of Waterloo. 45Drives, a New Enterprise company, helps businesses manage and scale their data-storage needs with cutting edge storage servers that are powerful, flexible, and affordable.

About Tom Lawrence

Tom Lawrence, founder of Lawrence Systems, has built a distinguished career in IT by turning his lifelong love of technology into a comprehensive service and educational platform. From humble beginnings in Detroit, Tom’s early fascination with electronics and computers paved the way for Lawrence Technology Services, which he established in 2000.

With a mission to make technology accessible and understandable, he expanded his reach through a popular YouTube channel, where he demystifies tech for professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. His deep industry knowledge and engaging teaching style have made him a trusted voice in the field.

Today, Tom partners with CNWR on consulting projects and devotes himself to producing educational content, hosting podcasts, and speaking publicly about tech innovations and best practices.

His work offers hands-on, real-world insights into networking, cybersecurity, and IT business operations, making him an invaluable resource to the tech community. Through his content and consulting, Tom remains committed to empowering others in the evolving world of IT.

This story was distributed under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here.