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What’s Next From MSPmentor?
Posted June 11th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
MSPmentor is working on several site enhancements. That got me thinking: What do you want from this site and from Nine Lives Media Inc.? Feel free to send me thoughts and suggestions (joe [at] NineLivesMediaInc.com). Here are some thoughts about what we’re doing next…
The Next User Groups: MSPs
Posted June 11th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During the 1990s, I spent ample time at local user groups focused on Windows NT, Mac OS, NetWare and even IBM’s OS/2. Now, that old local user group model is getting new life in the managed services market. Here’s how.
Managed Security Add-on: SIEM
Posted June 11th, 2009 by John Moore
Looking to differentiate your managed security services? One potential way to do so is to evaluate security information and event management (SIEM) appliances. Here’s what they do.
Managed Services Marketing: Got Research?
Posted June 10th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Face it: People love data. They love statistics. And they embrace research. One of the fastest ways for managed service providers (MSP) to generate marketing buzz is to publish a research report that’s full of key statistics. The report can also serve as a key sales tool. Consider, for instance, a recent research effort by The Planet, a major hosting provider.
Managed Services Acquisition: Capita Buys MSP
Posted June 10th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
In the latest managed services industry M&A, Capita Group PLC is buying Carillion IT Services Ltd. (CITS), which specializes in outsourcing, managed services and Cisco-centric solutions.
June 10: Managed Services Webcast
Posted June 10th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
June 10: Register now for today’s MSPmentor Live webcast, which focuses on Hardware at Your Service. This is a rare opportunity to hear from a managed service provider and their end-customer during the same conversation. It starts at 2:00pm eastern. We’ll welcome your questions throughout the webcast. Here’s what we plan to cover:
Our guest speakers include…
- The MSP View: Dan Stanford, CEO/Owner, Frontpoint
- The Customer View: Alan Lakomski, COO, Global Medical Staffing, a 40-person small business
- Plus, managed services perspectives from Dell’s Peter Klanian and Intel’s Matt Semenza
Topics we’ll cover…
- How did Frontpoint establish a managed services relationship with Global Medical?
- What are Global Medical’s business priorities, and how is Frontpoint addressing those priorities with managed IT services?
- How does Frontpoint remotely manage Global Medical’s PCs and network today, and how will that change in the future?
- The integration hooks between Dell’s managed services solutions and Intel’s vPro technology: How do Frontpoint and Global Medical benefit?
- Plus, we’ll cover your questions throughout the webcast.
Register now or visit the event page for more information about the agenda and webcast, which is sponsored by Dell and Intel. During the event, we’ll welcome your questions for our four guest speakers.
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1,000 Google Employees Focus On Enterprise SaaS
Posted June 9th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Google’s march beyond the search engine market continues. The latest proof: Google now has more than 1,000 employees focused on a Google Apps for Enterprise push, according to a Webcast briefing Google hosted earlier today. Here’s the latest on Google’s SaaS (software as a service) strategy and its implications for managed service providers.
HoundDog Doubles MSP Customer Base
Posted June 9th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
As some MSP software companies leap from North America into Europe and beyond, HoundDog Technology has done the opposite. Headquartered in Dundee, Scotland, HoundDog is exporting its software as a service (SaaS) business model to MSPs across North America (and beyond).
Say Less And You’ll Market More Effectively
Posted June 9th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Journalists and marketers share the same challenge: We want to write and say so much. We often use finely crafted language and lots of big words to tell our stories. But sometimes, the best way to market your company and your managed services business strategy is to bite your tongue — and get your hands off the keyboard — in mid-sentence. Let me give you an example.
SonicWALL Continues MSP Education
Posted June 8th, 2009 by John Moore
Before increasing its focus on managed service providers (MSPs), security specialist SonicWALL spent a few months studying the market. Jan Sijp, director of policy management at SonicWall, earlier this year began interviewing MSPs to get a sense of what approaches to pursue, and pitfalls to avoid, in building such a business.
Managed Services Marketing: Spending vs. Speaking
Posted June 8th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Over the weekend several MSPmentor readers asked me to focus increasingly on marketing tips for managed service providers. Your requests came through loud and clear. You’ll see multiple marketing-related blog entries in the days ahead, including this one. Let’s start with the basics: Marketing spend vs. marketing speak.
How to Engage A 40-Person Small Business Customer
Posted June 8th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
I spent some time on the phone June 5, learning how Frontpoint (a managed service provider) supports Global Medical Staffing (a 40-person small business). If you’d like to learn about their business relationship — directly from Frontpoint CEO Dan Stanford and Global Medical Staffing COO Alan Lakomski — then join us for next MSPmentor Live webcast, scheduled for June 10 at 2:00pm eastern.
Kyocera Promotes Managed Print Services to Partners
Posted June 5th, 2009 by John Moore
Kyocera Mita America this week kicked off the latest program aiming to transform channel partners into the managed print services market. It’s part of a trend across the printer industry, where a new association and a recent conference show growing interest in managed print services.
Update: Managed Services Careers
Posted June 5th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Several new positions are posted on our free managed services job board. If you’re looking to make a hire — or looking for a new career — check out the board. It’s designed to promote careers in managed services, software as a service (SaaS) and channel-oriented positions.
Managed Video as a Service: What’s Your Strategy?
Posted June 5th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Consider the following statistics: Cisco Systems has cut its annual travel budget from $780 million down to $230 million. When the economy improves, Cisco will raise the figure to $350 million — but it will never rise from there, because of increased online collaboration and telepresence. Meanwhile, managed video as a service (MVaaS) continues to proliferate. Are you catching the wave?
Update: Will Cisco Build Managed NOC?
Posted June 4th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
When Cisco Systems announced a revised managed services strategy this week, the company said it expected VARs to offer white label NOC (network operating center) services to each other. It begged the question: Would Cisco build a NOC of its own for established and aspiring managed service providers to leverage?
Managed Service Providers Flip for Video
Posted June 3rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
It started about a year ago. Each time I attended a managed service provider conference, I saw executives and attendees shooting quick marketing video using the Flip camera. This week at the Cisco Partner Summit in Boston, everyone — more than 1,500 attendees — is armed with a Flip video camera (care of Cisco). But do MSPs really have time for video capture and video marketing — especially when many MSPs are still struggling with basic marketing tools like a blog?
Cisco: HP Networks Are “Dumb”
Posted June 3rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
This isn’t managed services news, but here’s a heads up about some fireworks occurring this morning at the Cisco Partner Summit in Boston. Within a few hours, Cisco is expected to officially announce its servers. But the louder buzz involves Cisco attacking Hewlett-Packard’s new unified communications relationship with Microsoft. The upshot: Cisco says the HP-Microsoft deal bypasses VARs and managed service providers. HP dismissed a similar, earlier claim by Cisco. You’ll find the debate on TheVARguy.com.
Join the Conversation June 10
Posted June 3rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Our next MSPmentor Live webcast, scheduled for June 10, focuses on Hardware at Your Service. This is a rare opportunity to hear from a managed service provider and their end-customer during the same conversation. We’ll welcome your questions throughout the webcast. Here’s what we plan to cover:
Video: Cisco’s New Managed Services Partner Program
Posted June 2nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During Cisco Partner Summit in Boston, the company outlined its revamped managed services partner program — which will now be available to VARs and solutions providers that don’t have their own NOCs (network operation centers). Surinder Brar, senior director of marketing for Cisco’s worldwide channels, offers an overview of the revised managed services partner program, in this video…
Are You A Managed Services Expert?
Posted June 2nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Are you a managed services industry guru — or do you know one? If so, participate in our MSPmentor 250 survey — a comprehensive report that will highlight the world’s top managed services experts, executives and entrepreneurs. Here’s some more background on the MSPmentor 250 and a link to the survey.
Cisco Revising Managed Services Partner Program
Posted June 2nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During the Cisco Partner Summit 2009 in Boston, Channel Chief Keith Goodwin announced plans for a new managed services program for VARs and MSPs. The effort includes lower barriers to entry. Here are some quick details.
The Real Key to Managed Services Success
Posted June 2nd, 2009 by Andrew Pohran
“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” Variations of this quotation have been attributed to Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford and other revolutionaries in our history. I’m not sure if anyone really knows who coined the phrase…but I don’t think anyone would contest its truthfulness. Planning and success go together like PB&J. And although we are fairly comfortable in planning our business meetings, sales pitches and supporting data I’m willing to bet that most managed service providers do not sit down and plan a marketing strategy.
