AI Is the Headline — but Readiness Is the Real Story for MSPs

AI is becoming increasingly prevalent in our lives.

Customers are eager to learn about Copilot and automation. They seek quicker and smarter work methods, and this excitement often feels critical and urgent.

However, when you engage with Managed Service Providers (MSPs), a different perspective begins to surface.

Beneath the interest in AI lies a reality that isn’t fully prepared. Devices are often managed inconsistently, identity management varies significantly, and security standards can drift over time. For MSPs, manually managing these issues for each customer isn’t practical or scalable.

The gap between AI aspirations and operational realities has become one of the most pressing discussions for MSPs today.

AI does not fail due to a lack of innovation.
Its failures stem from unsteady foundations.

Without secure identities, compliant devices, and uniform policies, AI projects often stall—sometimes even introducing new risks. This brings us to a recurring question during many Copilot discussions:

Are we genuinely ready for this?

This is where MSPs can truly make a difference. Rather than merely promoting AI hype, they can assist customers in establishing the groundwork that ensures AI solutions are practical, secure, and sustainable.

At the heart of this foundation lies Microsoft Intune.

Included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, many customers already have access to Intune, and numerous MSPs support it. Yet, the way it’s applied remains inconsistent.

The issue isn’t with Intune itself—it’s the operational model.

Managing Intune from each customer’s perspective, navigating various portals, and ensuring consistency across different clients creates unnecessary obstacles for MSPs. It can be labor-intensive, prone to errors, and makes it difficult to establish a repeatable service.

However, Intune is essential. It serves as the control panel for users, devices, access, and security—everything AI depends on to operate safely and effectively at scale.

If Intune isn’t utilised correctly, AI readiness stays only a theory.

This is why our collaboration with Microsoft holds significant value.

Microsoft Intune provides the essential framework.
AvePoint Elements allows MSPs to scale it effectively.

AvePoint Elements functions as the operational layer for MSPs, simplifying the standardisation, automation, and management of Intune across multiple customer accounts from a unified platform.

For MSPs, this means tangible benefits:

• Reduced manual labor and navigation between portals
• Consistency in Intune settings across clients
• Automated management of user and device lifecycles
• Minimised inconsistencies, improved efficiency, and increased profit margins

Rather than viewing Intune as an extra task, it transforms into something you can package, repeat, and build a business around.

Top MSPs are shifting their mindset.

Intune isn’t seen as a one-time setup anymore. It’s evolving into a managed service that complements a broader framework focused on security, governance, and AI readiness.

This might involve standardising the onboarding process for Intune, ensuring continuous device and identity management, or treating Copilot readiness as an ongoing engagement instead of a singular project.

The outcomes of this shift are significant and familiar to MSPs who have undergone similar transformations:

• Reliable recurring revenue
• Operational growth without proportional headcount increases
• Enhanced trust from customers
• A clear pathway from security to AI enablement

Customers aren’t merely interested in accessing AI.
They seek assurance that it’s being implemented responsibly.

MSPs who provide that assurance—laying a solid groundwork for AI adoption through strong Intune foundations—will shine in the next stage of the market.

This is precisely what the partnership between Microsoft Intune and AvePoint Elements is designed to facilitate.

If you’re an MSP contemplating how to:

• Scale the delivery of Microsoft Intune
• Minimise operational friction
• Transform AI readiness into a repeatable service

This is a conversation you should join now.

Because in this AI era, the most successful partners won’t just implement new tools—they’ll make sure they function effectively in real-world settings.

Join us for “From Copilot to Catalyst: How MSPs Turn AI Readiness Into Recurring Revenue” and discover how Microsoft Intune and AvePoint Elements can work together—enabling you to convert AI readiness into real, sustainable growth.