When the Kaseya 2 managed services platform debuted in 2010, Executive VP Jim Alves described the offering as a platform that would ultimately gain numerous plug-ins and modules. It’s a familiar strategy, since most RMM (remote monitoring and management) software platforms offer integration with third-party storage and security solutions. But I sense something different is going on at Kaseya, since a growing number of modules seem to be home-grown and/or Kaseya-branded. Here’s the update.
Kaseya this week announced a range of security, network management and backup modules for its managed services platform. The moves come amid intensifying North American competition with LabTech Software, which is backed by ConnectWise Capital. Kaseya’s software module efforts don’t surprise me since the company has been talking about a module build-out for a year. Plus, Kaseya disclosed an emerging Kaspersky Lab security relationship around June 2010.
But take a close look at Kaseya’s effort and everything seems to be branded as Kaseya. Specifically:
- Kaseya Antivirus (KAV) for Windows workstations, powered by Kaspersky Lab. Kaseya previously had an anti-virus relationship with AVG. I’m checking the status of that relationship. Plus, Symantec — which recently replaced the Symantec Hosted Services brand with a Symantec.cloud brand — has been poking around Kaseya for about a year, and Trend Micro has also worked Kaseya. I’m checking the status of those various relationships.
- Kaseya Antimalware (KAM), which is powered by Malwarebytes.
- Kaseya Network Discovery (KND), which finds Internet Protocol (IP) based devices for Windows, Mac and Linux device support. I’m checking to see if KND is home-grown or licensed from a third-party.
- Kaseya Network Monitoring (KNM), which uses SNMP to gather and view CPU, RAM, disk and network interface data. Again, I’m checking to see if this is home-grown or licensed from another technology company.
- Kaseya Online Backup (KOB), which provides a multi-platform (Windows and Mac OS X) and cloud-based folder and file backup service based on incremental and point in time changes. Around June 2010, Kaseya mentioned an online backup relationship with Acronis. I’m checking to see if that relationship remains in place.
Note: I expect to speak with Kaseya on February 2 regarding my questions above. Following that interview I’ll be back with a foll0w-up blog entry.
Meanwhile, I stumbled onto a Kaseya Online Backup PDF that shares deeper details — including monthly pricing of $5 per seat and $0.20 per gigabyte of storage. The system apparently is built atop Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3). I’m checking to see if Kaseya built the backup service or licensed it; either way Kaseya seems poised to compete with a range of third-party backup and security services.
What’s In a Brand?
Admittedly, many MSP software providers and distributors leverage third-party software under their own brands. But I’m starting to wonder just how grand Kaseya’s module plans are. On the one hand, Kaseya promotes a third-party integration program for independent software vendors. But on the other hand, I suspect Kaseya’s own growing list of modules will wind up competing with many storage and security software providers.
Still, I think the modules are a healthy trend. Many MSP software companies — Kaseya and ConnectWise, in particular — increasingly promote coopetition (you cooperate for the sake of your mutual customers, even as you compete on other fronts).
Fingers crossed, I expect to speak with Kaseya a bit on February 2 for more information about the module strategy.
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Posted In: Managed Security Services | Managed Storage Services | On Premise | Remote Monitoring & Management Software | Software as a Service and Hardware as a Service
Tags: Acronis | Amazon Simple Storage Service | Amazon Web Services | ConnectWise Capital | KAM | Kaseya | Kaseya Antimalware | Kaseya Antivirus | Kaseya Network Discovery | Kaseya Network Monitoring | Kaseya Online Backup | Kaspersky Lab | KAV | KDN | KNM | KOB | LabTech Software | Malwarebytes | Managed Services Software | MSP Software | Remote monitoring and management | RMM Software | Symantec | Symantec.cloud | Trend Micro
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Many of Kaseya’s modules leverages their buying power and allows an MSP to get some decent pricing on these new features, while providing a ‘single pane of glass’ through which to monitor and control these features across a wide spectrum of clients.
Randy: Thanks for describing the potential economies of scale. I’ll be sure to ask for more details when I speak with Kaseya.
By the way: Are you an MSP? Kaseya employee? Someone else? We always push our readers to share a bit of background when they post comments, that way peers have some more context to consider.
-jp
MERIT Solutions is an MSP in Virginia. We have used Kaseya and Connectwise as our primary tools for over 5 years after transitioning from break/fix to Managed Services.
Randy: Thanks for coming back to the conversation and sharing more details about your business. I appreciate the context (and I’m sure our readers do, too).
Best
-jp