MSPmentor

How can a managed service provider differentiate itself from Microsoft’s own hosted Exchange Server offering? Azaleos, an MSP in Seattle, has found one potential answer. The company has launched security services to safeguard its Exchange email customers. Here’s some background.

This is the second time Azaleos has caught MSPmentor’s attention. The company in early March 2008 announced a series of hosted Exchange efforts. Fast forward one month, and Azaleos is pitching a branded email security service — dubbed ProtectXchange — to its customer base.

The security system, powered by MessageLabs, protects email boxes from spam, viruses and other forms of malware, Azaleos claims.

Azaleos designs its managed Exchange services around a hardened e-mail appliance, which is managed remotely by Azaleos. “Hardened” appliances are generally considered more secure than traditional servers, because they have been stripped of all non-essential services and therefore have fewer potential security holes to exploit.

We’ve mentioned several times that MSPs will need to both compete and cooperate with Microsoft’s own hosted applications. Azaleos has been one of the most vocal partners to promote hosted Microsoft applications.
Related Coverage

• April 9, 2008: Will Microsoft Introduce Managed Security Services?
• April 3, 2008: MSP mindSHIFT acquires Exchange Server Specialist
• March 21, 2008: Microsoft and Software as a Service: Doom or Boom for MSPs?
• March 10, 2008: Managed Email Security Services: Your Choices Mount