Web Protection Part 3: Deployment, Reports, and Usage

In part one of this series on Web Protection, you had a discussion with a client or potential client about implementing Web Protection. In part two, we covered setting up a demonstration policy and implemented it on a single device to begin collecting data for analysis. Now that you have had a few weeks to let Web Protection analyze the network traffic on your client's endpoint, the time has come to show the results of what type of information has been passing through this device. Bear in mind that while Web Protection has been deployed, it has been collecting and analyzing data. This data is available through the various reports within the MSP Remote Monitoring and Management Cloud Dashboard (MSP RMM Cloud). In the future, note that you can provide feedback on multiple levels. For the sake of this initial demonstration, you will only have tracking information for a single device.

Web Protection Part 2: Setting up a New Policy

In Part 1, we discussed how to have the initial conversation with your client's concerning Web Protection and how their company handles monitoring and managing their user's web activity. We now move into setting up a demonstration for the client to illustrate the benefits of Web Protection. To start out with your new customer, you can offer to run Web Protection on a single, active device for 30 days in order to collect data. This information is what can be viewed per device, and is what drives the generated ports. This demonstration gives you the best opportunity to illustrate the type of data that the client is not currently capturing, and helps them ensure that they are monitoring web access effectively.

The dreaded failed check, some nightmares are real.

Written by David Ianetta

More often than I like, I see something in an RMM dashboard that causes me to shudder; and really it should be keeping the MSP up at night.

For me, it normally pops its ugly head out unexpectedly during a routine training tech walk.

An MSP calls to get refresher on the RMM Dashboard; or perhaps they are new and I am explaining how to understand and adjust checks.

And there it is.

It’s up on the screen, for both of us to see.

The dreaded Failed Login Check!

The question of Best Practices

Written by David Ianetta

One of the most common question I get asked from someone who is new to the RMM Dashboard is, “what are some of the best practices I can put into place?”

This is a fair and responsible question. It stems from the desire is to avoid reinventing the wheel and take advantage of some of the experience of those who have gone before you.

However the answer to the “Best Practice” question in the realm of remote management is not as straight forward as it seams.

Web Protection Part 1: Defining the Need

Recently the Web Protection feature of the MSP Remote Monitoring and Management Cloud Dashboard underwent some changes. Namely, gone are the day of the old Web Monitoring plugin that really only captured browser traffic. Given the advent of many applications accessing the internet, the Web Protection module now acts as a direct filter to the network interface and captures all traffic bound for the internet. This fundamental change to the product evokes a new conversation concerning Web Protection. This article is the first part of a three-part series. 

1. Web Protection Part 1: Defining the Need
2. Web Protection Part 2: Setting up a New Policy
3. Web Protection Part 3: Deployment, Reports, and Usage

Would you believe...

Written by David Ianetta

One of my favorite shows growing up was "Get Smart" with Don Adams. That show was famous for reoccurring gag lines like, "Missed it by that much!" and my favorite, "would you believe..."

When ever Maxwell Smart was telling a cover story and could see by the look on someone's face they were not "buying what he was selling" he would keep diminishing the fabricated story until he eventually gave up.

Honesty

By David Ianetta

Billy Joel sang “Honesty is such a lonely word, everyone is so untrue. Honesty is hardly ever heard and mostly what I need from you.”

Who was Billy Joel?

Piano man?

Married to Christy Brinkley? (Until she saw a photo of them together and realized…he is Billy Joel, and she is Christy Brinkley -joke).

Still nothing?

Really?

Wow… when did my music become classic rock? 

Maybe I’m in a musical rut…

Anyway back to my original topic at hand, honesty.

Using the API to Provide Remote Access to Your Clients

Using the API to Provide Remote Access to Your Clients   By Andrew Crihfield

Often times you have a client that needs access to their computer from home. The only obvious way is to give them access to the MAXfocus RMM dashboard. There are some downsides to that: by default they have the ability to remote into any computer in the dashboard.

The other less known way is to install the Take Control Viewer to their home PC and then create a Take Control link through the RMM API. This article will take you step by step through the process.