MSPmentor

Google Docs is making it easier to share documents in the cloud, with the launch of a simplified interface designed to clearly show who has access to what within your organization. Here’s the scoop.

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Question: How do big software companies build their SaaS channel management applications and programs? In some cases, the answer involves ServiceSource, a cloud-based revenue performance solution that appears to be catching on. The latest adopter is CA Technologies (formerly CA Inc.). Here are some details.

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About a week or two ago, I heard an interesting theory stating that cloud computing is far more reliable than on-premises systems. I happen to believe the theory, and I figured I’d share it with you now. Why? Because plenty of people are talking about this week’s Intuit SaaS outage. Despite the Intuit outage, we’re still betting our media business on the cloud. Here’s why.

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Italtel, which specializes in IP networks, is expected to launch a Cisco-centric managed services strategy on June 22 and 23. Italtel already offers Cisco Managed Services in a Box across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Now Italtel wants to extend that “in-a-box” MSP strategy into North America. And yes, the effort will involve managed services partners. Here are some early details.

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During the recent Kaseya Connect User Conference, several well-known MSPs told me they receive regular takeover inquiries from a national IT support provider. I asked a few of the MSPs why they haven’t sold out just yet. I asked others when they would sell. Here’s what I heard.

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The managed services land grab continues in Australia, where many North American software providers are reaching out to VARs and MSPs down under. The latest example involves N-able VP of Sales Mike Cullen (pictured) hosting an MSP event series in Australia. But this time around there could be growing competition from MSP software providers that were funded and launched in Australia and New Zealand. Here are the details.

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Eucalyptus Private Cloud, the Amazon EC2-compatible, open-source platform, has hit version 2.0 with an update that adds support for Microsoft Windows VMs, along with user group management tools designed to make it more attractive as a scalable enterprise solution. So where do MSPs potentially fit in? Here’s the lowdown.

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As you may recall, our third-annual MSPmentor 250 Survey is now open for your participation. We’re striving to identify the world’s top managed services executives, experts, entrepreneurs, coaches and community developers. So far, 75 percent of the survey participants represent North America. But we’re striving for global diversity. If you know MSP gurus in Europe — perhaps you’re one of them — here’s how to participate.

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It’s starting to feel like Groundhog Day in the managed services market. Indeed, each day I get ready to blog I hear about yet another software vendor launching a managed services provider partner program. The latest example involves Quest Software, owner of PacketTrap Networks and other administration tools. Here’s how Quest plans to engage MSPs and hosting companies, plus a look at rival service provider partner programs launched in recent days.

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Toshiba is partnering with Preo in an effort to promote print management tools. The tools apparently are designed to help businesses manage printing, save on printing costs, and go ‘green’ by reducing printers’ environmental impact. Is this part of the larger managed print services trend? Here are some thoughts.

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Hosted services provider Rackspace Hosting is updating its Hybrid Email solution, a self-described “custom mix of Hosted Microsoft Exchange and the business-focused Rackspace Email platform on a single domain. The goal is to enhance the calendar view across the two component parts. The update also strives to speed up the Rackspace webmail client. Here’s the scoop.

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Is Google experiencing growing pains? A case in point: Software developers apparently have been running into issues with the Android Market, where application download counts seemed to be dipping instead of rising. Alas, PCWorld is reporting an ISV backlash against Google. Have the problems now been fixed? Here are some perspectives.

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N-able Technologies CEO Gavin Garbutt (pictured) appears addicted to a freemium software strategy. And there are indications that the freemium effort is catching on with end-customers and managed services providers. The latest N-able move involves free Windows password management software that could generate qualified sales leads for mid-market MSPs. Here are the details.

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Cablevision, a major broadband provider headquartered in New York, has launched television ads promoting an online backup service — powered by Carbonite. The move targets consumers rather than small business owners. But it’s safe to expect Cablevision to make SMB online backup moves. Here’s why.

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Some readers tell the managed services market is loaded with shelfware (i.e., unused managed services licenses that cost individual MSPs thousands of dollars). Other readers tell me MSP shelfware isn’t a problem. But now comes word that PacketTrap Networks will soon adjust its software licensing model to mitigate MSP shelfware risks. Here are the details.

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Microsoft is starting to chat quite a bit about Intune, a forthcoming cloud-based platform for remote Windows  PC administration. But will Intune become a full-blown managed services platform? And will MSPs plug in? Here are some clues.

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Whether you call it a tipping point or a bandwagon, one thing is clear: Big software companies are adjusting their licensing models to reflect SMB managed services providers (MSPs) and recurring revenue business models. The latest example involves Symantec launching an ExSP Licensing Program for VARs, MSPs and service providers. But how does Symantec’s move compare to rival storage and security options? Here are thoughts from Symantec Channel Chief Randy Cochran (pictured) plus MSPmentor’s perspectives.

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Vormittag Associates Inc., known as VAI, ranks among the latest enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendors to pursue software-as-a-service (SaaS) options for customers. MSPmentor noted the pattern in mid-2009, citing moves from SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, and SunGard. But VAI’s move also involves mindSHIFT, the fast-growing managed services provider. Here are the details.

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On the one hand, plenty of managed services providers have made a healthy living with per-device/per month business models. But on the other hand I’m starting to hear from MSPs that no longer discuss per-device price quotes with their customers. Is this the start of a bigger trend? Here are some thoughts.

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How’s this for a reality check: Only 24 percent of small businesses have received sales leads from social media, with just 1 percent saying social media has assisted their business growth, according to a survey commissioned by UPS. The big question: Does that mean 99 percent of SMB social media efforts are pure noise that waste time, money and staff resources?

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LabTech Software, the upstart managed services software provider, has launched LabTech 2010 — the latest version of the company’s remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform. Here’s a quick look at LabTech’s new offering and business strategy.

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Perhaps former Symantec CEO John Thompson was right: When Symantec acquired Veritas in 2005, Thompson told Wall Street that the worlds of storage and security were converging, creating an information protection industry. Of course, Symantec hit plenty of bumps integrating Symantec and Veritas. But Thompson’s initial vision seems correct. One prime example: Fast forward to the present, and Symantec rival Trend Micro is buying humyo, a consumer cloud storage service in the U.K. Here’s why.

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Infrastructure-as-a-service provider 6fusion has launched the UC6 3.0 beta, which brings a multitude of new features for services providers, including the ability to build and control cloud workloads running either in the 6fusion iNode Network or in the customer’s private cloud. Here’s an update on the 6fusion efforts.

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