MSPmentor

Frequent MSPmentor readers already know set-up: We never have quite enough time to transform every content idea we have into a blog. So, instead of abandoning ideas we share the brainstorm here each Friday. Indeed, here are seven managed services blog entries MSPmentor didn’t have time to write for the week ending February 4, 2011.

7. Coming Soon: It sounds like MSPXchange Ltd. is planning to make some moves in late February. The site, run by The Utility Company, has been developing a marketplace program to help MSPs potentially lift their valuations.

6. Managed Print: Here’s an interesting tidbit. I heard from a managed services provider who’s getting out of the remote PC management business to focus 100 percent on managed print services. In fact, the MSP has won a recurring revenue deal with Xerox PagePack — managing as many as 4,000 non-Xerox devices for a health care organization.

5. The 24×7 Debate: Earlier this week I asked readers if MSPs need to offer 24×7 help desks and 24×7 NOCs (network operations centers). A range of opinions hit my inbox (joe [at] NineLivesMediaInc [dot] com). I’m still sorting though the thoughts and hope to post a follow-up blog entry within a few days.

4. Momentum Continues: NWN Corp., a managed services provider in Waltham, Mass., has earned the Cisco Managed Services Channel Program Master certification. As MSPmentor has noted, this is part of an accelerated trend toward Cisco-centric managed services. CBTS, a division of Cincinnati Bell, earned the certification in January. We’ve also been watching a range of Cisco-centric partners push beyond managed services into cloud services. Examples include ePlus, FusionStorm and Long View Systems.

3. Speaking to CIOs: N-able CEO Gavin Garbutt will be in New York later this week to take his message beyond MSPs. He’ll be speaking at a CIO-centric event, to describe the value of automation and managed services. N-able does not sell into corporate IT. Instead, the software company routes mid-market sales leads to channel partners.

2. Coming February 16: The fourth-annual MSPmentor 100 report will debut during a webcast. In addition to our Global 100 list, the report will include regional lists covering Europe, Australia and Africa.

1. Sorting Out a PSA Strategy: The three best-known providers of PSA (professional services automation) software remain Autotask, ConnectWise and Tigerpaw Software. But keep a watchful eye on NetSuite’s OpenAir. I suspect we’ll see some OpenAir moves during the NetSuite SuiteWorld conference (May 8-12, 2011).

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