MSPmentor

TeamLogic IT, the the IT services franchise, plans to promote managed security services from Network Box USA to SMB customers. The solutions include a unified threat management (UTM) appliance; network operations centers (NOCs) that monitor and manage the UTM appliances; and push-oriented security response software.

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NetEnrich Inc. and Ingram Micro have partnered to offer MSPs servicing small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) an infrastructure management solution. Here are the details:

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In some ways, Penton Media’s buyout of Nine Lives Media and its brands reminds me of a big, well-established IT company buying a small MSP. On the one hand, the big IT company wants to accelerate the small MSP’s growth in a strategic market. On the other hand, the buyer doesn’t want to mess up the small MSP’s existing business model. The key requirement: Balancing “business as usual” with integration issues, existing operations and some potentially new business initiatives.

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Yes, we’ve done a lot of things right at Nine Lives Media (now a division of Penton). But people who truly know me have witnessed plenty of mistakes, failures and goof ups. I typically don’t dwell on those mistakes. But I certainly learn a lot from them. Here are some of the biggest blunders in my career and what I ultimately learned.

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Apparently, Abiquo enjoyed the first half of 2011. The enterprise cloud management company claims that it has tripled its business quarter over quarter. The reason: Abiquo’s hosting provider customer base continues to grow, but enterprise adoption is also accelerating, according to Abiquo VP of Global marketing Wendy Perilli (pictured). Here’s the update.

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Add Cloupia to the ever-growing list of companies unveiling new solutions at VMworld 2011 in Las Vegas this week. The company introduced Cloupia CloudGenie, an iPad application for managing both physical and virtual infrastructures.

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Cloudsoft, a cloud mobility solutions developer, evangelizes “middleware as a cloud enabler,” according to Cloudsoft Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Alex Heneveld. Cloudsoft believes that its Monterey Middleware platform can simplify the complexities that enterprises face once they move beyond traditional web applications. At first glance, Monterey is for software developers that want to design applications that dynamically extend across multiple machines, locations and clouds. But a closer look makes us wonder if managed services providers (MSPs) will consider Cloudsoft for their own public and private cloud initiatives.

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Ingram Micro has launched the Ingram Micro Healthcare Partner Network for Ingram Micro VARs and MSPs. Predictably, the effort seeks to help IT service providers to partner up and unlock deeper opportunities in the healthcare sector.

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N-able Technologies is seeking to help managed services providers (MSPs) with virtualization management.  A case in point, N-abe’s N-central software is now “VMware ready,” according to Director of Product Marketing and Management Robert Grapes. The announcement surfaced at VMworld, held this week in Las Vegas. Here are the implications for MSPs.

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I spend considerable time covering IT mergers and acquisitions. Now, it’s time for me to shift the spotlight directly onto our business. Specifically, Nine Lives Media Inc., the company behind MSPmentor, has been acquired by Penton Media. Effective immediately, the Nine Lives Media brands — MSPmentor, The VAR Guy and Talkin’ Cloud — are part of Penton’s Technology Group. But don’t call it an exit strategy. This is an acceleration strategy. Here’s why.

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Generally speaking, SMB customer networks across the U.S. east coast are running well following Hurricane Irene. But flood waters and extended power outages have complicated the recovery process for some managed services providers (MSPs). Nearly 5.5 million people lack power/electricity on the U.S. east coast, and in some cases power providers say repairs could require a week of work.

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Brocade is trying to engage channel partners and service providers that prefer monthly recurring revenue (MRR) pricing models and cloud services pricing models. At VMworld 2011, Brocade this week will reveal a new network subscription model for Brocade partners, and its newest wave of Cloudplex solutions. Brocade VP of Global Channels Barbara Spicek and Brocade Solutions Marketing Group Senior Manager Robert Grasby briefed me ahead of this week’s announcements. Here’s the strategy.

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During VMworld 2011 this week, watch for Net Optics to launch Phantom HD. Net Optics Director of Virtualization and Cloud Solutions Ran Nahmias claims Phantom HD is “a game-changing solution for virtual environments.” Phantom HD is designed to help branch offices lower their IT costs and increase security of their virtualized networks. With that remote design in mind, perhaps there are some opportunities here for managed services providers.

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Virtual Computer, which develops distributed desktop virtualization software, has launched NxTop 4. The virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) software will allow channel partners and IT departments to more effectively manage VMs.

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At first glance, Hurricane Irene caused less damage than expected on the U.S. east coast. Still, at least 25 people in eight states lost their lives in the storm, which likely caused billions of dollars in damages and lost business. Now, the recovery effort begins as MSPs check in with customers up and down the U.S. east coast.

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My week started with a minor earthquake. Apparently, it will end with a hurricane. As Hurricane Irene heads up the U.S. east coast, most of my neighbors here on Long Island are securing their yards and loading up on water, batteries… you know the drill. As for me? I’m blogging — and delegating Hurricane Preparation Duties to my always-reliable wife. So, what should managed services providers be doing right now? Here’s the checklist.

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How are small and midsize businesses (SMBs) spending their marketing and advertising dollars? BIA/Kelsey has some answers. The Company says the typical SMB now uses nearly 5 different forms of media for advertising and marketing, nearly double from 2009. And yes: MSPs may be able to help SMB customers with this changing advertising and marketing landscape. Here’s how.

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According to a recent study by CIT Group Inc., 62% of value-added resellers say SMBs don’t fully understand the benefits of managed services. But here’s the twist: Do the best MSPs actually promote “managed services” to their SMB customers?

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StillSecure, the managed network security solutions provider, has released a multi-tenant managed security services. The new solution is an effort to meet the many different needs of StillSecure’s service provider partners, according to StillSecure Chief Technology Officer James D. Brown.

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Virtela, which claims to be the world’s largest independent cloud services provider, has partnered with India-based Aircel. Together, the companies plan to offer India’s first global cloud-based application acceleration service for the enterprise space. We’re curious to see if this is a sign of things to come in North America, Europe and elsewhere.

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Treehouse Interactive has updated its SaaS-based Partner Relationship Management (PRM) platform, which helps to build closer channel relationships through coordinated marketing campaigns. Treehouse Interactive Director of Sales Reagan Wilson described some of the updates to me…

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True Influence, which claims to be the the largest business-to-business (B2B) lead generation and email marketing firm in the world, wants to lend a helping hand in the SMB market. The company recently reported some key milestones stemming from the launch of the True Influence Relevance Engine roughly one year ago. But can True Influence help managed services providers (MSPs) to track down new customers?

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The MSPmentor 250 report — a single, comprehensive 52-page PDF — is available for you to download and read. While our online coverage offers you a multi-page look at the MSPmentor 250 honorees, the MSPmentor 250 PDF is a single, in-depth document.

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