Welcome to a new edition of The Shasta Summit. For our loyal followers, you know we’ve spent a lot of time recently diving deep into hospitality and MDU, some of our core verticals at Shasta Cloud. Now, we’re zooming out.
It’s time to talk about the bigger picture: the commercial market. Because Shasta was never just a hotel play. We’re a Wi-Fi play, and Wi-Fi is everywhere. Let’s talk about what that really means.
The Commercial Space is a Galaxy
“Commercial” isn’t a vertical, it’s an entire ecosystem. Those who work in and around it know that it can be segmented in an endless number of ways.
From retail chains and distributed offices to education institutions, organizations are facing increased pressure to modernize their networks without expanding their internal tech teams. That shift creates real opportunity for MSPs ready to think bigger.
A Broader Role for MSPs
We know the commercial space is wide, but similarities and trends do exist, and one stands out to us. These organizations aren’t just buying gear. They’re looking for results. Performance, security, and simplicity are the goals, but the delivery method is changing.
The successful MSP today is not just a reseller or installer. They are the IT department, the strategist, and the ongoing support structure.
That shift doesn’t mean doing more work. It means approaching that work differently.
What We’re Seeing in the Field
Retail
Retail organizations, whether national brands or regional franchises, want fast deployment, strong segmentation, and reliable guest access. Their operations can’t afford to stop for a tech upgrade. That means platforms that offer ease of rollout, remote management, and clean separation between public and private traffic are essential.
Multi-Location Offices
Professional service providers and branch-based businesses are rethinking security and visibility. Integration with broader security tools like SD-WAN and SASE is no longer optional. It is expected. MSPs who can align connectivity with the organization’s cybersecurity architecture are winning more long-term contracts.
Education (K-12 and Higher Ed)
In K-12, E-Rate continues to open doors for technology investment. But rather than buying the most expensive equipment, many schools are turning to MSPs for managed support that is sustainable and scalable. In higher ed, student housing and auxiliary facilities often fall outside of central IT’s purview. That creates pockets of opportunity for MSPs to step in.
The Shift from Product to Partnership
These examples reflect a larger shift. Organizations are not asking what the product is. They’re asking who will make it all work.
They want networks that function reliably. They want someone to call when things break. They want simplified management. And they want outcomes they can measure.
That is the moment MSPs are built for. But capitalizing on it requires more than selling equipment. It requires leading conversations about outcomes, strategy, and service.
