AI at work: Frontier transformation for MSPs
Keelin Conant shares practical takeaways from OpenMic podcast Episode 1 on turning AI ambition into secure, measurable business value.
AI at work: What frontier transformation looks like in practice
AI transformation has moved past the experimentation phase. For MSPs, the question is no longer whether AI will change the way customers work. It is how to integrate AI into everyday workflows, decision-making and business operations in a way that is secure, measurable and practical. That is the idea behind Frontier Transformation: moving from individual AI tools and isolated use cases to an operating model where people, AI assistants and agents work together across the organization. In the first episode of OpenMic: Accelerating MSP Growth, I sat down with OpenText Cybersecurity Microsoft experts Steven Dantes and Lynda Mahabir to discuss what this looks like in practice, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, AI agents, adoption planning, governance and partner readiness.
How MSPs can turn AI transformation into measurable customer value
Start with a clear business use case: AI success depends on defining the customer problem, the users involved and the business outcome before deploying tools.
Make adoption and measurement part of the plan: Pilot groups, training and baselines can help customers understand where AI improves how work gets done.
Build security in from the start: Data access, guardrails, usage rights and cybersecurity protections should be part of every AI rollout conversation.
Start with a clear business use case
A successful AI rollout requires more than assigning licenses and turning on a tool. Customers need to understand the problem they are trying to solve, the users involved and the business outcome they want to achieve. Microsoft 365 Copilot can provide an accessible starting point by helping employees prepare for meetings, summarize email threads, draft content and work more effectively in familiar applications. But the value depends on helping people understand how AI fits into their day-to-day work. For MSPs, that creates an opportunity to guide customers toward use cases that are specific, measurable and aligned to business priorities.
Make adoption and measurement part of the plan
AI adoption does not happen automatically. Pilot groups, defined use cases, training and hands-on experimentation can help users understand where AI supports their work. Customers also need a baseline so they can measure whether a process improves. As MSPs help customers move from curiosity to practical implementation, adoption planning and measurement become essential parts of the conversation.
Build security and governance in from the start
Security and governance should be part of the AI conversation from the beginning. Customers need the right data access, guardrails and protections for sensitive information before they expand AI usage across the organization. Data boundaries, end-user security and AI usage rights should all be considered as part of the rollout. For MSP partners, this creates an important role in helping customers build environments that are secure, governed and ready for broader AI adoption.
Keelin Conant
Keelin Conant is a channel sales professional at OpenText Cybersecurity, focused on helping partners accelerate growth through cybersecurity, cloud, and Microsoft-focused solutions. With a strong commitment to partner success, Keelin works closely with organizations to identify opportunities, strengthen security practices, and drive business outcomes.
