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Data Management: CommVault Reports Record Q3 Revenue Amid Partner Momentum
Posted February 3rd, 2011 by Matthew Weinberger
CommVault, which provides managed service providers with information governance and architecture solutions, says Q3 of Fiscal Year 2011 generated new quarterly revenue record of $83.6 million, up 18% over Q3 2010 and up 11% from Q2 2011. The most important data point: CommVault credits channel partners for fueling the growth. Here’s the scoop.
24 Hour Support: The New NOC and Help Desk Norm?
Posted February 2nd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
For the second time in recent weeks, I’ve heard from a software provider that’s marching toward 24-hour support for VARs and managed services providers. It made me wonder: Is around-the-clock support the new norm for software partners and MSPs that offer help desk services and NOCs (network operations centers)? Here are some insights.
Can the Startup Visa Act Spur Tech Innovation in the U.S.?
Posted February 2nd, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
During our recent travels to Silicon Valley, some MSPmentor readers have asked us to take a closer look at the Startup Visa Act. In theory, the act could help foreign-born entrepreneurs to create more jobs here in the United States. How so? Take a look.
7 Ways to Break the Rules… And Succeed as an SMB
Posted February 2nd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Nine Lives Media Inc. (MSPmentor’s parent) recently turned three years old. I don’t know the exact date we incorporated. We were in stealth mode in Q4 2007 (you can still see the raw MSPmentor beta site here). Both MSPmentor and The VAR Guy came online in January 2008. And we’ve been sprinting forward ever since. But we don’t always play by the rules. In fact, here are seven ways we broke the rules to (apparently) achieve success as a small business.
Join Us: The Fourth-Annual MSPmentor 100 Webcast
Posted February 2nd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
We’re set to unveil the fourth-annual MSPmentor 100 list and report during a webcast on February 16 at 2:00 p.m. eastern. During the webcast we’ll review the MSPmentor 100 global list, as well as regional MSP leadership lists for North America, Europe, Africa and Australia. But that’s not all…
MokaFive Signs Three New MSPs for Virtual Desktop Management
Posted February 2nd, 2011 by Matthew Weinberger
MokaFive, the self-described virtual desktop management company, has signed on three more MSPs as partners. Point of Care Solutions (POCS), RSPEED Inc. and Seasquall now can add managed MokaFive virtual desktops to their portfolio. Here’s the scoop:
Time Warner Buys NaviSite for SMB Managed Services Push
Posted February 2nd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Another giant is preparing to promote managed services and cloud computing into the SMB market. Specifically, Time Warner Cable Inc. has acquired NaviSite Inc., which has roughly 1,200 managed services customers. According to Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt, the broadband giant will use NaviSite to “more rapidly create a robust managed services offering for small and medium sized businesses.” Oh my. Should small MSPs be worried? Find a complete report on TalkinCloud (MSPmentor’s sister site) since I think Time Warner seems focused mainly on cloud services rather than pure managed services. Here’s why.
Storage Guardian Prepares Next Cloud Service Move for MSPs
Posted February 1st, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
In early October of 2010, Storage Guardian — an online data backup service provider — was selling its on-site data backup service for 25 cents. Maybe the price sounded a little crazy at the time, but offering to store a portion of a company’s backup files on-site made serious sense. And sure enough. over the last four months, Storage Guardian has sold over one million gigabytes of local backup storage to its roughly 1,800 enterprise customers, the company says.
Kaseya Extends Managed Services Brand Into Security, Storage
Posted February 1st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
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.
How Google Alerts Can Link MSPs to Customers
Posted February 1st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
While scanning my email inbox earlier today, I spotted a daily Google Alert focused on Virtualization. Near the top of the alert was a webcast invite. Was this yet another product pitch from VMware or the Microsoft Hyper-V folks? Hardly. This invite was from Evolve Technologies CEO Dave Sobel. Take a closer look and it’s a great example of a managed services provider (MSP) connecting the dots between thought leadership, search engine optimization (SEO), customer outreach and lead generation.
ConnectWise-LabTech War Against Kaseya Intensifies
Posted February 1st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Publicly, ConnectWise and Kaseya continue to cooperate in the managed services market. But privately, a war between LabTech Software (funded by ConnectWise Capital) and Kaseya has started to intensify, according to MSPs who are witnessing the action first-hand. To understand the high-stakes managed services showdown, turn your attention to a recent HTG CEO Forum meeting in Tampa, Fla. Here’s the scoop.
Ask a Mentor: How Can I Compare Managed Services Software?
Posted February 1st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Each Tuesday, MSPmentor’s Ask a Mentor service publishes a reader question and invites you to weigh in with recommendations. This week’s question comes from a reader in Europe who is seeking information about managed services software — options and recommendations. Here’s the question and our reply…
Help Wanted: New Positions Listed for Managed Services Experts
Posted February 1st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
What a difference a year makes. Rewind to early 2010. The job market still seemed frozen. But during my trip to Silicon Valley last week, I ran into numerous businesses that are in hiring mode — everyone from Axcient to SugarCRM. Heck, Google is out to hire 6,200 people and Microsoft is seeking more than 140 cloud experts. Closer to home, the MSPmentor job board now lists several new positions for sales, marketing and technology professionals in the managed services market. Take a look at the latest vacant positions or post your company’s own career openings…
LogMeIn Rescue Gets Facelift: Will MSPs Respond?
Posted February 1st, 2011 by Matthew Weinberger
Our fourth-annual MSPmentor 100 results (coming February 16, 2011) reveal a boatload of trends — including more MSPs leveraging various LogMeIn platforms. But LogMeIn doesn’t seem to be resting on its laurels. The company has announced a sweeping update to LogMeIn Rescue aimed at enhancing functionality and usability in one stroke. The headlining feature is support for Google Android tablets and smartphones. Here’s the update.
