MSPmentor

Bob Vogel, most recently executive director of demand generation at Autotask, has left the company to launch B2 Marketing, which offers “specialized marketing products and strategic marketing consulting, exclusively for MSPs, VARs, IT Solution Providers, Systems Integrators and IT consultants.” Vogel’s departure is the latest change at Autotask since the company hired CEO Mark Cattini in December 2010. Here’s the update.

Read More >

OS33 is busy again, this time partnering with Cloupia, a cloud-computing automation and management software provider, in order to power OS33′s new Virtual Datacenter Controller for MSPs.

Read More >

StillSecure has been offering a PCI-compliant Penetration test as part of its PCI Complete solution for the last several months. Now the company is letting its managed services customers purchase the penetration test as a standalone service.

Read More >

Savant Protection, an application whitelisting solution provider for end point users, is taking its first crack at marketing a solution for MSPs. It’s called Savant Enforcer — a product designed to let end users, not just IT admins, add applications to their computers.

Read More >

Synnex continues to build out its managed services business while confirming MSP veteran Amy Luby is no longer with the distributor. Here’s the update.

Read More >

Our next MSPmentor Live webcast is Wednesday, July 20 at 2:00 p.m. eastern. The topic: Building Your Service Desk to Build Business. During the webcast we’ll cover five tips for success, delivered by two MSPs and an expert from Nimsoft (the webcast’s sponsor). We’ll take your questions throughout the webcast, which will help MSPs to understand how service desks can lift customer satisfaction and actually increase customer spending. Please register now before you unplug for the extended July 4 holiday here in the U.S.  Our team looks forward to your questions and comments during the live July 20 webcast.

Read More >

Over the past three years I’ve received regular briefings from NTRglobal, which develops software for remote support. But I could never determine if NTRglobal was fully committed to managed services providers or merely dabbling in the market. Along the way NTRglobal has made management changes and strategy changes. Fast forward to the present and I suspect NTRglobal has finally sharpened its MSP focus. Here’s why.

Read More >

When ConnectWise Capital invested in LabTech Software back in 2010, plenty of readers asked MSPmentor if LabTech would continue to integrate with Autotask and Tigerpaw Software — two software platforms that compete with ConnectWise. The answer remains yes. Here’s the update.

Read More >

Here’s a change of pace for the managed services crowd: Panorama Software, which works closely with Microsoft in the business intelligence market, is connecting the dots between social media and BI. The effort involves Panorama Necto, which tracks a user’s interests and then suggests they talk with other Necto users who have similar interests. Here are the potential implications for MSPs.

Read More >

Cogeco Cable, a cable operator and telcom company serving Canada and Portugal, has acquired Quiettouch Inc., a  managed service provider in Toronto. The deal signals continued consolidation between telecom companies, managed services providers and cloud service providers.

Read More >

Within the managed services market two key executive changes caught MSPmentor’s attention today. First, sources say Amy Luby is no longer with Synnex, which has been building a managed services platform for MSPs. Second, Ted Hulsy is making the leap from SonicWall to join eFolder as VP of marketing in July. Here’s some background on both developments.

Read More >

Yes, Microsoft launched Office 365 today. We’ve developed an extensive Office 365 FAQ to help MSPs understand Microsoft’s cloud strategy and the potential implications for channel partners. Overall, we think Office 365 divides channel partners into four camps. But what exactly are MSPs and MSPmentor readers saying about Office 365? Here’s a sampling of opinions from five managed services industry leaders, followed by an MSPmentor reality check.

Read More >

The file integrity monitoring space, like any other, has many players offering their own file monitoring solutions. So it’s no surprise that after profiling StillSecure’s file monitoring solution in mid-June I was quickly contacted by Alert Logic, a security SaaS provider that has focused on file monitoring for the last 4-5 years. Here’s the upshot from Urvish Vashi, VP of marketing at Alert Logic.

Read More >

PlumChoice, Inc., which was acquired in May, has unveiled a partnership with Intel Corp. as part of its SAFElink Anti-Theft Service release.

Read More >

Novosoft LLC has launched a new partner program for resellers of Handy Backup, an automated backup application for restoring critical data. The program comes less than a month after Novosoft released the newest version of Handy Backup, featuring a smart interface, cloud storage options and new plug-ins.

Read More >

Could the Supreme Court’s recent decision to toss out a huge class-action lawsuit against Wal-Mart have the consequence of spawning more rather than fewer suits? The answer could eventually filter down to MSPs and software vendors active in the e-discovery space.

Read More >

Roughly 50 banks have failed so far in 2011, according to FDIC. The lending and financing markets remain tight. And small business loans are difficult to secure… leaving some MSPs searching for alternative funding options. One potential solution: So-called peer-to-peer loans.

Read More >

Servoyant is fighting for some elbow room in the very crowded market for remote monitoring and management (RMM) software. Having completed integrations with the three major PSA software provider, Servoyant is now seeking pursuing international expansion. The company’s cloud-based platform is offered in the United States in Mexico. But Servoyant CEO Enrique Krajmalnik says the company is pursuing partnerships to help expand its offering into Latin America and Europe.

Read More >

Insigma US, an IT service provider, has partnered with Qualedix, Inc. to provide the healthcare testing organization with a managed services solution that addresses the challenges with ICD-10 testing. Here’s the update.

Read More >

After a relaxing weekend it’s time to get back to business. But before the MSPmentor staff looks ahead to the new week, here are seven managed services blog entries we didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending June 24, 2011.

Read More >

We realize you may not have time to track all conversations across our websites: MSPmentor, The VAR Guy and TalkinCloud. So, here are the 15 most read channel blog entries across our channel blog network for the week ending June 24, 2011.

Read More >

Can a vendor-agnostic tool propel printer dealers and VARs into the realm of managed print services? Oki Data Americas seems to think so. The company this week previewed its Total Managed Print Portal, which it says will help partners migrate to the services side. an official announcement is slated for June 27. The portal, which pulls together a number of managed print tools, already has helped one partner land two managed print deals in a 24 hour period, according to Tim Brien, director of Managed Print Service at OKI Data Americas. That partner hadn’t previously sold a printer or toner cartridge, he added.

Read More >

Our fourth-annual MSPmentor 250 survey ends today (June 24, 2011). We use the survey to pinpoint the world’s top managed services experts, entrepreneurs and executives. The MSPmentor 250 typically includes experts in business leadership, sales, marketing, community development, coaching and more. Feel free to submit your nomination here. No need to stuff the ballot box — one submission per nominee is absolutely fine. We’ll unveil the fourth-annual MSPmentor 250 results in August 2011. The resulting list and report is a great asset for anyone looking to rapidly build a managed services Rolodex.

Read More >