Comments on: Why Two Percent Is A Big Problem for Managed Service Providers http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/ Managed Services & Cloud Services Blog for VARs & MSPs Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:09:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joe Panettieri http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-33024 Joe Panettieri Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:26:11 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/#comment-33024 Data Technician: Thanks for the feedback. Ironically, we do have some biases and we do tend to offer our opinions. But we will always welcome differing opinions on MSPmentor so that readers can learn from a range of views. Data Technician: Thanks for the feedback. Ironically, we do have some biases and we do tend to offer our opinions. But we will always welcome differing opinions on MSPmentor so that readers can learn from a range of views.

]]> By: Data Technician http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-33009 Data Technician Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:13:40 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/#comment-33009 You do a great job of objectively talking about the upside and downside to these projections. I hope things end up being more of the "upside" persuasion, but it is just too early to tell. You do a great job of objectively talking about the upside and downside to these projections. I hope things end up being more of the “upside” persuasion, but it is just too early to tell.

]]> By: Tim Beard http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-30779 Tim Beard Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:56:23 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/#comment-30779 That question has been asked in so many different forums. What "fill in the blank" software should I use? You will get as many different answers as you will software providers. Because everybody wants something a little different. You have to make your own judgement after weighing all the options available to you. Client size, cash flow, pricing, etc. All the software on the market does something, it just depends if it is the same "something" your business happens to need. Joe is correct in that your choice should have published API's for future integration, but virtually all of them do now. At least all the major players do. Tim B/Networthy Systems That question has been asked in so many different forums. What “fill in the blank” software should I use? You will get as many different answers as you will software providers. Because everybody wants something a little different. You have to make your own judgement after weighing all the options available to you. Client size, cash flow, pricing, etc. All the software on the market does something, it just depends if it is the same “something” your business happens to need. Joe is correct in that your choice should have published API’s for future integration, but virtually all of them do now. At least all the major players do.
Tim B/Networthy Systems

]]> By: Joe Panettieri http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-29159 Joe Panettieri Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:22:42 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/#comment-29159 Todd: I do think many readers are looking for reliable, real-word comparisons of the tools. But I would also caution all MSPs: Choosing a tool is a bit like buying a high-quality car. You can read product reviews of cars. But you really need to test drive the cars that interest you before making a buying decision. It's a similar scenario in the MSP tools market. Years ago, it may have cost you thousands of dollars to research the tools. But these days, most of the tool developers offer free "try before you buy" offers, and/or low-end starter programs that allow you to gradually move deeper and deeper into the market. Reviews are nice. But hands-on testing -- which is essentially free from most MSP software providers now -- is a critical step. Todd: I do think many readers are looking for reliable, real-word comparisons of the tools. But I would also caution all MSPs:

Choosing a tool is a bit like buying a high-quality car. You can read product reviews of cars. But you really need to test drive the cars that interest you before making a buying decision.

It’s a similar scenario in the MSP tools market. Years ago, it may have cost you thousands of dollars to research the tools. But these days, most of the tool developers offer free “try before you buy” offers, and/or low-end starter programs that allow you to gradually move deeper and deeper into the market.

Reviews are nice. But hands-on testing — which is essentially free from most MSP software providers now — is a critical step.

]]> By: toddsw http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-29154 toddsw Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:15:43 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/#comment-29154 Thanks Joe, I was hoping one of the readers might have come across resources that provide valuable info on test drives of real tools that real msp's use. I'm wondering if anyone in your readership has ever seen a review of MSP tools or tech that was an accurate example of what you actually experienced using the product day to day? Would anyone see value in something like that? I know that I've spent 10's of thousands of dollars just on researching various tools to meet our needs over the past 8 years. Thanks Joe, I was hoping one of the readers might have come across resources that provide valuable info on test drives of real tools that real msp’s use. I’m wondering if anyone in your readership has ever seen a review of MSP tools or tech that was an accurate example of what you actually experienced using the product day to day? Would anyone see value in something like that? I know that I’ve spent 10′s of thousands of dollars just on researching various tools to meet our needs over the past 8 years.

]]> By: Joe Panettieri http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-29115 Joe Panettieri Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:32:47 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/#comment-29115 Todd: We don't do product reviews on MSPmentor but you can find an older article on CRN <a href="http://www.crn.com/managed-services/201804883?queryText=MSP+review" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Please draw your own conclusions and note that the market has evolved significantly since the review was published in 2007. Todd: We don’t do product reviews on MSPmentor but you can find an older article on CRN here. Please draw your own conclusions and note that the market has evolved significantly since the review was published in 2007.

]]> By: toddsw http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-29042 toddsw Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:40:50 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/#comment-29042 I'm not sure about all MSP's, but the slice of MSP's who interact on MSPMentor seem to be have a good grasp of their businesses and how they operate, now and in the future. One cahllenge I have is using a single vendor. So far, no single vendor does it all well. They may have a "way" to do something, but it is usually half baked, or a compromise I'm not willing to make in an important area, like WAN monitoring and alerting for instance. We are looking at a new managment tool that appears to do pretty good across the board, but we'll see how it shakes out in testing and how well integrated it is with our PSA tool, ConnectWise. Does anyone have a good, nuetral comparison of the functionality of the tool providers such as zenith, kaseya, n-able, level platforms, etc... I’m not sure about all MSP’s, but the slice of MSP’s who interact on MSPMentor seem to be have a good grasp of their businesses and how they operate, now and in the future. One cahllenge I have is using a single vendor. So far, no single vendor does it all well. They may have a “way” to do something, but it is usually half baked, or a compromise I’m not willing to make in an important area, like WAN monitoring and alerting for instance. We are looking at a new managment tool that appears to do pretty good across the board, but we’ll see how it shakes out in testing and how well integrated it is with our PSA tool, ConnectWise. Does anyone have a good, nuetral comparison of the functionality of the tool providers such as zenith, kaseya, n-able, level platforms, etc…

]]> By: John Cowan http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-28848 John Cowan Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:18:56 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/#comment-28848 I'd like to disagree with someone on this post because it's pretty boring to preach to the choir, but I really can't. I tried to make this point in Dallas, so I'll choose this forum to reiterate the fact that the biggest challenge we think MSPs will have in the 'cloud' era of computing is trying to maintain SLA consistency. Further to Tim's point, this can't happen if MSP's don't choose computing partners that can integrate their monitoring package (regardless of what is used) as a component part of their complete offering.... I’d like to disagree with someone on this post because it’s pretty boring to preach to the choir, but I really can’t. I tried to make this point in Dallas, so I’ll choose this forum to reiterate the fact that the biggest challenge we think MSPs will have in the ‘cloud’ era of computing is trying to maintain SLA consistency. Further to Tim’s point, this can’t happen if MSP’s don’t choose computing partners that can integrate their monitoring package (regardless of what is used) as a component part of their complete offering….

]]> By: Joe Panettieri http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-28847 Joe Panettieri Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:00:19 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/#comment-28847 Tim: Only one additional thought - make sure you choose a vendor that supports open standards and publishes their APIs. As new products come to market (from a range of vendors), you may want to plug them into your existing MSP platform. That requires an open architecture. Tim: Only one additional thought – make sure you choose a vendor that supports open standards and publishes their APIs. As new products come to market (from a range of vendors), you may want to plug them into your existing MSP platform. That requires an open architecture.

]]> By: Tim Beard http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/comment-page-1/#comment-28830 Tim Beard Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:22:00 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/10/24/why-two-percent-is-a-big-problem-for-managed-service-providers/#comment-28830 I certainly agree with Amy. An efficient shop is a profitable shop. If an MSP wants to remain profitable, he/she needs to make a concerted effort to standardize across one software platform. This creates a leaner/meaner MSP, or one who can do more for his client with less overhead. And it all starts with monitoring software, IMHO. Tim Beard Networthy Systems I certainly agree with Amy. An efficient shop is a profitable shop. If an MSP wants to remain profitable, he/she needs to make a concerted effort to standardize across one software platform. This creates a leaner/meaner MSP, or one who can do more for his client with less overhead. And it all starts with monitoring software, IMHO.
Tim Beard
Networthy Systems

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