MSPmentor

There’s high-level support for cloud computing in the government space so, unsurprisingly, vendors are following the money. The latest to do so is Microsoft. The company this week rolled out a federal-specific version of its Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS).  And you can bet Google and Amazon Web Services will be making some federal cloud moves as well. Here are some of the details and implications.

Read More >

By now, you know the drill: Each week MSPmentor intends to write dozens of additional managed services blog entries. But each week, our team winds up with distractions — travel, phone calls, and something called “occasional sleep.” Here are seven managed services blog entries we didn’t have time to write for the week ending February 26, 2010.

Read More >

While meeting with an MSP in Miami this week, I had the tables turned on me. The CEO of major managed service provider pushing into the cloud market asked me the following question: “What’s your exit strategy?” Here’s my response, along with thoughts on MSP exit strategies.

Read More >

I live in New York City, but I suspect that Mountain View (California) is the real city that never sleeps, as Google announces six Gmail features have graduated from Google Labs and are now fully supported in all versions of Google Apps. Here’s what’s new.

Read More >

As a Tampa Bay-area solution provider, I’ve been doing IT for over 27 years. While I’m always on the lookout for new ways to increase efficiency and seize new revenue opportunities, there’s one cost-cutting measure that I’m possibly considering: outsourced help desk. I’ve heard other VARs rave about the results and the ease of implementing this strategy, but I’m not sold on it yet.

Read More >

When Dell announced quarterly results last week, Channel Chief Greg Davis and other members of Dell’s channel team vowed to show some momentum with managed services partners. Fast forward one week, and Dell has scored a significant managed services customer win, and the deal involves The I.T. Pros, a well-known MSP. Here are the details.

Read More >

Do you remember your first bike? It gave you a decent start but you outgrew it fast. The same can be said for consumer-focused security products that are used in small businesses. Here’s why.

Read More >

Earlier this week in Miami, I got locked in a conversation about Hardware as a Service (HaaS) with a few skeptical MSPs. Their key question: Can you really turn a HaaS profit without taking on big financial risk? I’ve heard some successful anecdotes, but I’m deferring the question to two top MSPs and CharTec’s Alex Rogers. If you’d like to hear how they’re tackling HaaS, join our March 24 MSPmentor Live webcast. We’ll take your questions through the webcast discussion.

Read More >

The rules in the Australia managed services software market continue to evolve. As N-able CEO Gavin Garbutt heads to the land down under for a series of MSP events, rival Kaseya (in partnership with Ingram Micro) has launched a SaaS initiative for Australia and New Zealand solutions providers. Two years ago, I don’t think the Australia market was ready for SaaS-centric managed services offerings. Apparently, that’s changed.

Read More >

Kaseya has launched a global Software as a Service partner program. Known as KSP (Kaseya SaaS Partner Program), the initiative allows partners to “promote, refer and market” Kaseya’s SaaS and IT offerings to their respective channels. It’s easy to see what’s in it for Kaseya. The bigger question: What’s in it for partners? And what are the implications for the broader managed services software market? Here are some thoughts.

Read More >

Just when you were set to lock down your travel schedule for 2010, Tigerpaw Software — the PSA (professional services automation) specialist — plans to host an inaugural partner conference Oct. 6-8 in Dallas, Texas. More details are expected to be announced April 1. Here are some observations for managed services providers (MSPs) in the meantime.

Read More >

Where are managed services providers (MSPs) heading next? I think I found a few answers at the Parallels Summit in Miami this week. Admittedly, I suspect most MSPs and VARs aren’t fully familiar with this SaaS- and cloud-centric conference. Too bad. First movers from the original managed services wave — MSPs like Pointivity — are here trying to catch the next wave. As are MSP-centric team members from Cisco Systems and Google. Here’s what you missed.

Read More >

Managed security services providers (MSSPs) sometimes act as master MSPs, seeking out channel players as marketing allies. See here and here. Alert Logic follows a similar track, although the company believes it offers a different approach. The Houston-based firm targets a range of channel partners — hosting providers, MSPs, and VARs — with security offerings delivered as a service. Here are some new details.

Read More >

Citrix Systems is the latest company to move into the crowded managed services software market. Specifically, Citrix Online has acquired Paglo Labs Inc. — a provider of SaaS-based IT management software. Here are the details, and the potential implications for the MSP software landscape — where mergers, acquisitions and investments continue to accelerate.

Read More >

Just when you thought the MSP software market had reached its saturation point, two more software companies are jumping into the pool. Both firms are SaaS-oriented and focus on remote monitoring and management. One of the companies got its start in Australia and New Zealand. The other is a major U.S. software provider that apparently will move into the managed services software market within 24 hours. Here are the details.

Read More >

Vyatta, which positions itself as an open source alternative to Cisco Systems, has launched a service provider partner licensing (VSPL) program. The subscription-based model targets ISPs, MSPs, hosting businesses and cloud providers. The big question: Will MSPs trust their infrastructure to open source routing and firewall services? For at least one MSP, the answer is a resounding yes. Here are the details.

Read More >

Hewlett-Packard apparently has made a major channel hire that could have clear implications for the hardware giant’s managed services strategy. The news potentially involves Stephen DiFranco leaping from Lenovo to HP as the company’s new channel chief. If true, there are some undeniable implications for MSPs. Here’s why.

Read More >

The Planet is the largest privately-held dedicated web server company in North America. But bigger doesn’t always mean better. That’s why The Planet is positioning itself around “value.” I spoke to Doug Erwin, CEO of The Planet, about how they’re getting there and what MSPs stand to gain. Here are some perspectives.

Read More >

Microsoft is quietly conducting some informal SaaS and hosting research at the Parallels Summit in Miami. The cloud-centric conference has attracted several hundred service providers and VARs focused on recurring revenue opportunities. Clearly, Microsoft is working hard to connect more closely with summit attendees — many of whom are checking out the Google Apps reseller program. Here’s some perspective.

Read More >

From the what-will-they-think-of-next files: Search giant Google has gotten the all-clear to sell energy like a utility through newly-formed subsidiary (what else) Google Energy. Even more shockingly, there may well be implications for the IT channel. Here’s why.

Read More >

Sure, I stole the headline (and the topic) from Novell Chief Marketing Officer John Dragoon. In a recent blog post, Dragoon openly asks if Twitter will become the CB Radio of social media. If you’re under 40, you may not understand Dragoon’s point. But it’s an intriguing one worth exploring. Here are some thoughts.

Read More >

Until this week, Parallels was perhaps best known for Macintosh-oriented virtualization software. But that may change — starting today. The reason: Parallels has organized a major SaaS and cloud conference in Miami. Large technology companies (Cisco, Microsoft, Novell) and industry upstarts (Channel Cloud, CloudLinux, and more) are converging on the event. Here’s why MSPs better pay attention.

Read More >

Can you afford to ignore seven million college students who will ultimately enter the workforce? That’s the question facing MSPs who overlook the fact that more than 7 million college students now leverage Google Apps. Another key question: Can MSPs learn anything from the Google Apps sales pitch? A new Google Apps Education Edition CIO Road Trip may provide some answers.

Read More >