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Help Wanted: Jobs for Managed Services & Cloud Services Pros
Posted August 16th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
The MSPmentor Job Board has received several new help wanted listings. The positions typically require technology, sales or marketing expertise with a focus on managed services and/or cloud services. Here’s a look at the latest listings…
The Most Critical Managed Service: Help Desk Services?
Posted August 16th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Managed services providers (MSPs) spend considerable time focused on next-generation opportunities like cloud computing and mobile device management (MDM). But for some MSPs, I suspect it’s time to get back to basics. Among my recommendations: Take a close look at your help desk services. Here’s why.
Small Businesses: Stockpile Cash or Invest in the Business?
Posted August 16th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
As some folks worry about a potential double-dip recession, small business owners face an inflection point: Is it time to pump more money back into the business? Or should entrepreneurs stockpile cash? The second-annual Brother Small Business Survey offers some intriguing insights.
eGestalt Promotes PCI Security and HIPAA Compliance to MSPs
Posted August 16th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
eGestalt Technologies, which develops PCI compliance and HIPAA security tools, is opening its arms to managed services providers (MSPs). But what makes eGestalt’s SecureGRC platform unique in a market full of security and compliance solutions for MSPs? eGestalt’s VP of Sales Jim Hare and President Anupam Sahair offered MSPmentor some insights.
NetSuite OpenAir and CommitCRM Make PSA Pitches
Posted August 15th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
The PSA (professional services automation) software market is getting increasingly crowded. Among the latest moves: NetSuite is finally pitching OpenAir — a SaaS-based PSA platform — more aggressively to channel partners. Plus, Commit Business Solutions is making new PSA moves to engage MSPs, IT service providers and computer repair professionals.
Level Platforms Managed Workplace 2011 R2: An MSP Encore?
Posted August 15th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Fueled by strong demand for Managed Workplace 2011, Level Platforms‘ revenues are up roughly 41 percent over the same period last year. Now, Level Platforms is hoping to play an encore with Managed Workplace 2011 R2, an updated managed services software release available on-premise and in the cloud.
Computer Sciences Corp. Stumbles Badly With Managed Services
Posted August 15th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Anecdotal evidence suggests the managed services market is experiencing healthy growth. But the situation looks alarming at Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC), which is struggling in the managed services market amid missed SLAs (service level agreements), accounting adjustments and contract terminations, according to an SEC filing. CSC’s business challenges have triggered rumors that the company may break itself up.
The ABCs of Managed Services – B is for Cloud Backup
Posted August 15th, 2011 by Ted Roller
Welcome to Part III of the series, The ABC’s of Managed Services, focused on B for Backup, including cloud backup and online backup services. As some of you undoubtedly know, I work for Intronis. This blog, however, is more about building a backup and disaster recovery practice, and less about the specific tools you use to get there.
Kaseya Releases Mobile Device Management v1.0
Posted August 15th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Managed services providers (MSPs) could face mobile device management (MDM) challenges as smart phones and tablet computers continue to infiltrate small businesses and large enterprises. With that challenge in mind, Kaseya has launched Kaseya Mobile Device Management (MDM) 1.0.
StillSecure Focused on Cloud, Mobile Device Management
Posted August 15th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
StillSecure, which develops network security software, is preparing to unveil a cloud offering that will likely debut at the Hosting and Cloud Transformation Summit (Sept. 25-27, Las Vegas). StillSecure Chief Technology Officer James Brown gave me some clues about the strategy on Aug. 12.
ClearCenter, Level Platforms Develop Cloud Monitoring for ClearOS
Posted August 15th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Level Platforms, Inc., the managed services software provider, has partnered with ClearCenter to offer a cloud-based monitoring solution for MSPs and hybrid service providers. The solution is designed for ClearCenter’s ClearOS Enterprise Linux.
Seven Managed Services Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write: Aug. 12
Posted August 14th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Greetings from MiFi (mobile WiFi). I’m in email catch-up mode and also sorting through some of the big news that will surface the week of August 15. But before we look ahead to the new week, here’s a look back at seven managed services blog entries the MSPmentor team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending Aug. 12, 2011.
Fujitsu Signs Managed Services Contract with Horizon Power
Posted August 12th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Earlier this year, Fujitsu and Ingram Micro partnered to offer North American MSPs and VARs the Ingram Micro Service Desk. Now, Fujitsu is showing some managed services momentum of its own. Specifically, Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand has signed a three-year managed services contract with Horizon Power. Horizon is Western Australia’s state government-owned utility company, which provides electricity for over 4,200 customers throughout Western Australia.
ManageEngine: On-Demand Apps Meet Active Directory
Posted August 12th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
ManageEngine, the manged services software provider, has bolstered its ManageEngine On-Demand applications by adding Active Directory (AD) integration to ServiceDesk Plus On-Demand. The added feature is part of ManageEngine’s quest to “seamlessly integrate applications within the corporate boundary,” according to ManageEngine Director of Product Management Rajesh Ganesan.
MSPmentor 250: Erin Arnold Climbs NextStep Ladder
Posted August 12th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
The fourth-annual MSPmentor 250 report includes executives who made conscious decisions to enter the managed services business. But some MSPmentor 250 members — such as NextStep Networking President Erin Arnold — were just looking for a job out of college. And the long-term results have been startling.
N-Able, Ingram Micro Partner on Freemium Managed Services Software
Posted August 12th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
N-able Technologies and Ingram Micro continue to extend their managed services software partnership. The latest effort involves N-able promoting its freemium software strategy to Ingram Micro channel partners. Under terms of the relationship, Ingram partners can receive an unlimited number of N-Able N-Central Essentials Licenses, five Security Manager and Endpoint licenses, five Professional Licenses and the new N-Able MSP Sales and Marketing Digital Binder, all through the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace.
LabTech Software Prepares Cloud and Hosted Strategy
Posted August 11th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
LabTech Software, the on-premise remote monitoring and management (RMM) provider, is gearing up to support MSPs in the cloud. LabTech CEO Matt Nachtrab says his company is still formulating a strategy for hosted LabTech software — but it sounds like the R&D efforts for LabTech in the cloud are under way.
Level Platforms Revenues Grow 41%; Hybrid Cloud Next?
Posted August 11th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Demand for Level Platforms‘ managed services software platform — called Managed Workplace — is on the rise. The key evidence: Revenues at Level Platforms are up 41 percent over the same period in 2010, according to CEO Peter Sandiford. Looking ahead, Sandiford thinks Level Platforms can help MSPs manage cloud applications, declaring that client-server is dead and all computing will be hybrid cloud.
Asigra Cloud Backup 11 Supports Smartphones, Mobile Tablets
Posted August 11th, 2011 by Sponsored Video
Understanding a vast amount of employee productivity occurs outside the office, cloud backup and recovery provider Asigra has extended its Cloud Backup offering to support mobile devices including smartphones and tablets.
How to Acquire New Customers: Five Sales Tips for MSPs
Posted August 11th, 2011 by ManageEngine Guest Blog
Selling isn’t easy. However, if you adopt a systematic approach, support new technologies, and offer best-of-the-class services, you can really accelerate your sales. The following five points provide insights into such things and help you win new customers.
MSPmentor 250: Carey Balzer’s Texas-Sized Acquistion Strategy
Posted August 11th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Carey Balzer, an MSPmentor 250 member, is bringing order to Texas’s managed services market. As president of White Glove Technologies, an MSPmentor 100 company, Balzer has led a decade-long acquisition strategy. The result: White Glove now ranks among the top MSPs in Texas.
Logicworks Deploys ScienceLogic for Cloud Monitoring, Management
Posted August 11th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Logicworks, a cloud services provider, has embraced ScienceLogic‘s EM7 platform for IT monitoring and management capabilities. The Logicworks Network Response Team and Operation Center engineers will gain a 24/7 view of the company’s hosting and database infrastructure.
StillSecure Enhances Patching, Authentication Features of Safe Access
Posted August 11th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
StillSecure Safe Access — a Network Access Control (NAC) solution from StillSecure — got a recent makeover. The major changes include Common Access Card (CAC) authentication support for U.S. Department of Defense Smart Cards and faster Microsoft patching capabilities.
