MSPmentor

MSPmentor is set to unveil some site enhancements really, really soon. But our team would also like to unplug a bit for the holiday weekend. So in the interest of time, here are seven managed services blog entries the MSPmentor team didn’t have time to write for the week ending December 31, 2010.

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Generally speaking, I think ConnectWise and Autotask have the largest installed bases among MSPs running PSA (professional services automation) software. But rival Tigerpaw Software took some noteworthy steps to raise its profile in 2010. The big question: Can Tigerpaw further raise its visibility in 2011? Here’s some perspective.

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Our next MSPmentor Live webcast is set for January 26 at 2:00 p.m. eastern. The topic: Six questions MSPs must ask before selecting an RMM (remote monitoring and management) tool. Here’s a bit more about the webcast and our guest speakers.

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When ConnectWise offered partners a first look at ConnectWise 2011 in mid-December, I checked in with the company to get a bit more information about the latest PSA (professional services automation) release and some related trends. ConnectWise President David Bellini and Director of Community Jeannine Edwards replied back with a few thoughts. Here’s the update.

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If you’re ready to make a career move within the managed services market, perhaps it’s time to check the MSPmentor Job board. Multiple opportunities (involving sales, technology and marketing backgrounds) have popped up in recent days. Take a look.

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Bob Davis, a seasoned channel executive and well-known entrepreneur, has joined Kaseya as chief marketing officer, MSPmentor has confirmed. Davis, who has held executive-level posts at CA Technologies and Novell, joined Kaseya about two months ago, according to Kaseya CEO Gerald Blackie. Here’s a bit more about the move.

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Confession: Even as the holidays kick in, the Nine Lives Media Inc. team is working overtime to deliver some MSPmentor site enhancements in early January 2011. So, here are seven managed services blog entries the MSPmentor team didn’t have time to write for the week ending December 24, 2010.

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Former OnForce CEO Jeffrey Leventhal is preparing his next business move. It’s called Work Market — a SaaS-based labor resource management platform for VARs and managed services providers. Work Market, hosted in the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), is set to include a range of features — including some PSA (professional services automation) capabilities. Here’s the strategy.

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MSP on Demand, a hardware as a service (HaaS) specialist, may have had a majority ownership change, according to a recent SEC filing reviewed by MSPmentor. The potential ownership change comes as MSP on Demand continues to face a lawsuit filed by N-able Technologies, the RMM (remote monitoring and management) software specialist. Here’s the update.

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MSP software providers have spent the past two or three years pushing into Europe and Australia. Now, it seems, the MSP software land grab is stretching into Africa. The latest example: ConnectWise has launched a cloud on Africa’s soil. And partners/rivals like Kaseya have been busy working closely with MSPs in South Africa. Here’s the update.

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After three days of speculation, Lenovo SMB channel veteran Jay McBain today confirmed he has joined Autotask, the PSA (professional services automation) specialist. McBain signs on as senior VP, strategy and market development. He joins the company as Autotask expands its executive team, shifts CEO responsibilities, and seeks to push beyond MSP communities for future SaaS growth. Here’s the update, including an MSPmentor FastChat Video with McBain.

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New year, new opportunities. That is what every MSP should be thinking as 2011 approaches. By now, you should have set your business priorities for the coming year, but if you’re still working them, allow me to make some suggestions.

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Kutenda, which specializes in MSP marketing services, has integrated its platform with three well-known PSA (professional services automation) platforms: Autotask, ConnectWise and Tigerpaw Software. As a result, MSPs can manage workflow, contact management, lead generation and marketing from a PSA dashboard, Kutenda says.

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Cloud-based IT delivery automation platform provider OS33 has launched a Quick Start Program. The program is designed to give MSPs a leg up when moving their business to a totally hosted environment. OS33 gives partners a hosted, branded demo environment and sales and marketing materials, and lets them take it from there. Here are some details:

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Who needs another year-end prediction list?  We both do. They’re fun to write for me, and a quick Holiday read for you.  So let’s get to it.  Here are 10 no brainer calls for the managed services market as we head into 2011.

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Hughes Network Systems, perhaps best known over the years as a provider of broadband satellite networks, has been pushing into the managed services market. Recent moves mark a solidification of this strategy range from government initiatives to managed VoIP services. Here’s a closer look at the strategy.

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Own Web Now has launched three brand extensions to the ExchangeDefender managed email security platform. The moves, according to Own Web Now CEO Vlad Mazek, are designed to drive MSPs and VARs toward cloud solutions. Here’s the update.

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Where will the managed services industry head next? Ironically, some clues may emerge at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2011), set for January 6-9 in Las Vegas. I concede: My eyes often glaze over when pundits talk about the “consumerization of IT.” But in many cases, I have to admit: Consumer products — and mobile consumer endpoints — will greatly influence the managed services market going forward. Here’s why.

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Apprenda, which provides .NET cloud middleware, and Tenzing Managed IT Services have announced a strategic partnership. The goal? To provide ISVs an end-to-end platform designed to help quickly migrate their business to a SaaS model. Here are some details:

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As 2010 gives way to 2011, some folks in the managed services industry are making career moves. Generally speaking, I think the moves communicate (A) growing interest in the managed services market and (B) an improving economic picture. Here are multiple examples of career changers and what they may be up to…

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Microsoft has released Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP) 2010 to manufacturers, with a general availability through their Volume Licensing Service Center of January 1, 2011. But that’s less interesting than the fact than FES 2010 marks the start of Microsoft’s play to integrate security and desktop management. Here’s some perspective.

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Veteran managed services providers (MSPs) continue to branch out into the SaaS and software markets. The latest example involves Compuquip, a Miami-based MSP, launching BrightGauge — a SaaS platform that allows MSPs to show end-customers a simple, readable, but potentially robust view of delivered services.

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By now you likely know Autotask announced a new CEO earlier today. But the broader industry story doesn’t end there. We expect several other executive-level moves to occur in the managed services market over the next few weeks. We’re chasing the resumes and the offer letters now — which means we’ve let a few potential blog entries slip through the cracks. So, here are seven managed services blogs MSPmentor didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending December 17, 2010.

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