Optimize365, an AI-powered multi-tenant M365 security management platform built for managed service providers (MSPs), is now available on the Microsoft Marketplace.
Optimize365 will be discoverable and purchasable directly through Microsoft’s partner ecosystem, with co-sell eligibility that lets MSPs and their Microsoft representatives align on joint opportunities.
Microsoft Marketplace: Simplifying the purchasing process
Channel Insider sat down with Optimize365 CEO Shay Cohen to discuss the platform’s availability on the Microsoft Marketplace.
Cohen said that joining the Microsoft Marketplace simplifies the purchasing process.
He relates it to purchasing on Amazon. Your credit card information is already securely stored in the application, so buying shoes, cleaning products, or other items becomes a simplified process.
”The same analogy goes to the Microsoft Marketplace,” Cohen explains. ”When you’re listed in the Microsoft Marketplace, your credit card is already in the Microsoft environment, and if you want to buy something, you just go to the marketplace.”
Optimize365 sets its sights on Microsoft growth
In terms of long-term strategy, Optimize365 continues to focus on securing the Microsoft 365 environment and simplifying processes to provide their clients as much flexibility and ease of use as possible.
”We want to connect with more Microsoft platforms in the future,” said Cohen. ”There are tons more things to come around Microsoft, so it will make things easier step-by-step.”
Helping MSPs regain missed revenue opportunities
Optimize365 hopes to help MSPs regain missed revenue opportunities. Cohen said they learned that there are many licensing gaps that people don’t understand because Microsoft makes frequent changes.
”There are a lot of configuration differences between licenses, what you can do with them, and how you manage them,” said Cohen. ”Microsoft is doing an amazing job when it comes to security, but it’s really difficult to keep up with everything they are doing.”
Cohen added that if you’re an average MSP and want to understand what to configure for a client’s license, you have to go through documentation and figure everything out — which is time-consuming.
”Even choosing the right license for a client isn’t always straightforward. We help unveil all of those things,” Cohen said.
”Based on our AI security agent, we can show them ‘This user would be more cost-effective with a premium license, while this user should be downgraded,’ based on how they actually use Microsoft. We also let them remediate issues with one click and show them how to scan and fix things in less time.”
Turning security into a profit center
Cohen said that Optimize365’s platform is built around education, which is how the company can show MSPs how to pitch security to their clients.
”MSPs are amazing when it comes to technology, but when it comes to sales, we need to give them more tools, more summaries, and help them tell the story,” said Cohen. ”It doesn’t become a burden — it becomes a business advantage.”
Why security configuration should be a standard service for MSPs
Moving forward, Optimize365 will help MSPs make security configuration a default part of their services. Cohen said that MSPs should onboard a new client and immediately think about configuring security because it’s more profitable, it protects the client, and it reduces security liability.
The platform also wants to help with day-to-day operational security by monitoring everything, sending alerts, helping prepare quarterly business reviews (QBRs), and being a part of the entire sales lifecycle.
”When MSPs meet a new prospect, they can run a one-minute assessment, show the report, win the deal, onboard the client, monitor them day-to-day, and even support offboarding,” said Cohen. ”I believe Optimize can be involved at every stage of the client lifecycle.”
MSP owners looking to grow revenue
Cohen said that for MSP owners looking to grow revenue, he believes it starts with procedures – having the right processes in place, documenting them, and then using the right tools to support those processes.
”You can’t automate everything, but once you have a procedure and you’re following it, you automate what you can and provide clients with summary reports that are easy to understand. I really believe in efficiency rather than just adding more and more tools,” Cohen said.
”For example, in marketing we had about seven different tools. We ended up with someone whose entire job was just managing those tools instead of actually doing marketing. That’s why we got rid of most of them – they were spending more time managing software than doing the work.”