MSPmentor

As managed services converges with unified communications, partners are speed-dialing Cisco Systems for help. The networking giant launched a managed services partner program last fall, and plenty of MSPs have taken the Cisco plunge. Still, many of Cisco’s rivals are taking a wait-and-see approach to the MSP industry.

In the Cisco arena, NetTeks, a solutions provider in Boston, has been certified to offer managed services for Cisco’s unified communications and security platforms. Other eager adopters of the Cisco certification include Getronics, which has 24,000 employees across 25 continents (here’s some background), AT&T, CDW Berbee, Bell Canada, BT, Calence, Dimension Data, NetStar, Sprint, TELUS, Verizon Business and VSNL.

Network hardware suppliers as a whole continue to evaluate the managed services industry for potential opportunities. SonicWall, for one, has been touring North America with Do IT Smarter, Xerox and MX Logic to educate VARs about managed services. And Untangle has been promoting an open source network gateway for MSPs.

Still, not all network hardware suppliers have taken the managed services plunge. Avaya in December told me they were still evaluating some MSP go-to-market options. And Extreme Networks says they are taking a look at the MSP space with Avaya, but focusing mostly on four traditional vertical markets: health care, hospitality, higher education and government customers.