MSPmentor

White Glove Technologies, an MSPmentor 100 company, has acquired yet another managed services provider. The latest deal involves White Glove buying Primus Networks — which offers IT support, data center and hosting capabilities to law firms. White Glove and Primus both are located in Texas. This is the 16th managed services merger or acquisition MSPmentor has spotted so far in 2011. And it’s the latest in a growing list of acquisitions by White Glove. Here’s the update.

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Yes, the Microsoft cloud strategy will both compete and cooperate with managed services providers and managed hosting providers. But how and why did Microsoft decide to compete — in some cases — with partners? Our sister site, TalkinCloud, found the answer within a recent keynote speech from Microsoft GM Bill Staples. To be clear: Microsoft generates 95 percent of its revenues through the channel, so I think the company remains committed to channel partners. But there’s going to be some stress as partners sort out their cloud relationships with Microsoft. To understand Microsoft’s cloud mindset listen closely to Staples’ thoughts. That’s all I’ve got to say about that.

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The Talkin’ Cloud 50 global survey — which identifies the top 50 MSPs and VARs working in the cloud — ends today (Thursday, March 31). The survey is open to all MSPs, VARs, solutions providers, cloud service providers (CSPs) and cloud integrators worldwide. Our goal is to identify the top solutions providers that are (A) working on public and private cloud projects and/or (B) generating recurring revenue from cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS) and more. Here are some more details.

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Managed services veteran Sean O’Connell likes working with start-up software companies. And this time, O’Connell — a Kaseya veteran who also had a brief Nimsoft stint — has an opportunity to work with a software start-up in his home country of Britain. In a Skype chat earlier today, O’Connell described why he invested in CentraStage and why he ultimately joined the cloud software company. Here are highlights from the conversation.

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In recent weeks, numerous technology companies have promoted cloud PBX and hosted VoIP services. No doubt, some managed services providers (MSPs) are embracing those services. But a lengthy list of VARs and MSPs continue to promote on-premise unified communications systems. Why’s that? Jason Waldrop, CEO of Connected WorkPlace Solutions — an MSPmentor 100 company and Cisco partner — provided some insights in a recent MSPmentor FastChat Video.

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DocPath has spent most of its 18 years targeting large banks and insurance companies that need Internet document generation, electronic forms and other document software solutions. But DocPath President and CEO Julio Olivares wants to broaden the company’s focus.One example: DocPath now offers its document technology platform through channel partners as a month-t0-month subscription service with no up-front cost. It’s a move to target SMB’s in Europe, Latin America (from Mexico down to Chile), and the United States.

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Earlier this week, Graycon Group Ltd. and VODA Computer Systems Ltd. announced their merger. But what triggered the managed services combo, and which markets will the resulting company (known as Graycon) serve? I got an update a few minutes ago from Graycon Founder Douglas Gray (pictured). Here are the details.

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Say hello to the 15th managed services merger of 2011. The latest deal involves VODA Computer Systems Ltd. and Graycon Group Ltd. merging to serve six locations in Western Canada.

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Imagine the following business scenario: A hurricane knocks your managed services business offline. Your family suffers personal losses during the storm. And your customers are also in the dark. Could your business survive as you scramble to put the pieces of your own life back together? Instead of pressing the panic button, MSPs that participate in HTG Peer Groups will soon have an emergency help line. Here are some preliminary details.

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Here’s a final reminder: Today’s MSPmentor Live webcast starts at 2:00 p.m. eastern. Two MSPs — each with more than 10 years of recurring revenue experience — and Intel will join us. Register now and pose your questions. Here are the details…

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Looking to make a career change? Need to advertise a job opening (for free)? Our MSPmentor Job Board lists several new sales, marketing and technology positions in the managed services and cloud computing markets. Take a look at the latest vacant positions or post your company’s own career openings…

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N-able Technologies has introduced a free security tool called ACL Reporter, which is designed to help MSPs and IT managers with Windows Server security reporting. The software verifies, reports and confirms Windows NT file system (NTFS) and share permissions — allowing users to perform NTFS security audits. ACL Reporter is one of several free tools that N-able now offers to MSPs and corporate IT departments.

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Legal departments at large companies are looking to bring e-discovery in-house, but lack the infrastructure and, in some cases, the personnel to do so. That’s the view of D4 LLC, which recently launched a managed services offering for e-discovery. The East Rochester, N.Y.-based company’s eNtrust service aims to make e-discovery available under a fixed-cost, subscription-based model.

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Sean O’Connell, formerly director of EMEA marketing for Kaseya, has joined CentraStage as VP of global marketing. Moreover, O’Connell (pictured) is among the investors who recently pumped money into CentraStage, a cloud-based remote monitoring company in Europe. CentraStage says its customer base has more than doubled in the past 12 months, and the company is looking to accelerate business by integrating with PSA (professional services automation) software.

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Are you a top MSP profiting from cloud computing? Prove it — and potentially earn free publicity across our Web sites. Complete the Talkin’ Cloud 50 global survey. Deadline for participation is this Thursday, March 31. Here are the details.

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The next MSPmentor Live Webcast is this Wednesday. Two MSPs — each with more than 10 years of recurring revenue experience — will join us. Register now and pose your questions. Here are the details…

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In an economy of limited budgets and shrinking workforces, selling new services can be a tricky proposition. How can an MSP leverage the changing nature of how business is done as a value proposition for businesses to invest in new managed services?

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Give Hewlett-Packard credit. At the HP Americas Partner Conference this week, Channel Chief Stephen DiFranco (pictured) provided multiple updates on HP’s channel strategy. Plus, VP Meaghan Kelly described a successful SMB managed services engagement with Axcient. And CEO Leo Apotheker says an HP Cloud is on the way. But here’s the problem: Overall, I think HP’s cloud strategy is a bit late and may be too ambitious. Plus, I’m not really sure how smaller partners will potentially profit from the new HP CloudSystem Partner Program. You’ll find those perspectives and more on our sister sites, The VAR Guy and TalkinCloud.

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NetEnrich, best known for its NOC (network operations center) services, has recruited Jennifer Anaya as VP of corporate marketing. The move signals NetEnrich’s continued push beyond NOC services for MSPs and VARs. Anaya is well-known within the managed services industry, having previously assisted Autotask and Ingram Micro with various channel and managed services efforts.

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As the world shifts to more and more online meetings, iVenture — an MSPmentor 100 company in Jacksonville, Fla. — continues to promote monthly face-to-face events to drive customer education and qualified lead generation. The result: Roughly 20 percent of event attendees become customers, according to iVenture Director of Operations Joe Turso (pictured). Here’s the background.

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Verisign has announced a new service bundle designed to protect businesses against costly downtime caused by malicious attacks. Here’s some background for service providers seeking protection from DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks.

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A few weeks after launching an SMB storage partnership, Hewlett-Packard and Axcient say they’ve signed up roughly 200 managed services providers (MSPs) that now generate nearly $500,000 in combined annual recurring revenues. That revelation surfaced earlier today at the HP Americas Partner Conference in Las Vegas, where managed services discussions are far louder this year when compared to the 2010 event. Here’s the update.

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Network security specialist StillSecure has partnered with a pair of companies — CoreSite and XO Communications — to help push its security solutions into the managed security service provider space (MSSP), according to StillSecure Chief Architect Dave Greenstein (pictured). CoreSite and XO will develop the infrastructure needed for StillSecure to deploy its services.

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