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Cisco OnPlus Service: Engaging Managed Services Providers?

Posted November 16th, 2011 by

Cisco Systems, armed with its emerging Cisco OnPlus Service, is quietly making a major push with influential managed services providers. The effort surfaced at last week’s IT Nation conference in Orlando, Fla., where Cisco networked up with MSPs that work closely with ConnectWise and HTG Peer Groups. Here’s why.

First, some background. The Cisco OnPlus Service is a cloud-based service that allows MSPs to access customers’ networks from anywhere to discover, monitor, and manage networked devices, Cisco claims.

I haven’t seen an official news announcement about OnPlus. But it was discussed at length at IT Nation. Marc Bresniker, senior product line manager at Cisco, apparently discussed the Cisco OnPlus Service during an IT Nation session.

I don’t think Cisco is trying to displace existing remote monitoring and management (RMM) platforms, since most of the OnPlus Service documentation focuses on supported Cisco devices. Also, it sounds like Cisco plans to integrate the OnPlus Service with third-party RMM tools. And sources say an integration with ConnectWise is already in place, though I’ve yet to confirm that with Cisco and ConnectWise.

Also in Orlando last week, Cisco apparently made some special trial offers to HTG Peer Group members, to get VARs and MSPs in that community up-and-running with Cisco OnPlus Service.

Generally speaking, I believe the Cisco OnPlus Service is designed for VARs and MSPs in the SMB market. The cloud-based tool sounds new, but Cisco has a lengthy history working with MSPs. The networking giant has an established managed services channel program, which helps customers to find MSPs that adhere to ITIL and other industry-standard best practices.

 

 

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5 Comments on “Cisco OnPlus Service: Engaging Managed Services Providers?”

  1. Lisa Jenkins Says:
    November 16th, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    This is definitely a cloud based service designed to take a deep dive in managing network devices, and an even deeper dive into Cisco network devices (backup configs, automating firmware upgrades and managing service contracts). OnPlus is a compliment to any solution provider’s current RMM tool and integration is in the works with these ecosystem partners. We are ramping up to highlight and work with ConnectWise and HTG partners in creating user groups to develop future roadmap for OnPlus. We are CHANGING THE GAME for SMB managed services.

  2. Arlin Sorensen Says:
    November 16th, 2011 at 10:17 pm

    HTG is excited to be working closely with our vendor sponsors, and the most exciting thing at our meeting last week was the way Cisco engaged with our members. Each attendee company was provided the OnPlus device to take home and test. Cisco has been listening.

    They are working to provide true SMB solutions for the first time in a long time, maybe ever. They are also finding ways to compliment our MSP offerings rather than trying to replace what we are doing.

    Kudos to Cisco for finally breaking out of the enterprise pushed down to SMB mode that most big companies never seem to overcome. I have to give credit where due – the Cisco SMB team has been working hard to get it right. Lisa Jenkins, Jeff Edwards and others have focused and driven the message to corporate. Their managers and VP’s have taken a chance on SMB. We are excited to see where 2012 will take us as we continue that journey together.

    Arlin Sorensen – CEO/Founder HTG Peer Groups

  3. Joe Panettieri Says:
    November 17th, 2011 at 8:37 am

    Lisa, Thank you for shedding more light on the strategy. As OnPlus achieves various milestones please let me know.

    Arlin, I appreciate your candor in terms of how CSCO and HTG have been working together.
    -jp

  4. Mit Patel Says:
    November 18th, 2011 at 9:56 am

    I think the Onplus service will definatley help drive more efficiency on MSP service desks.

    Currently most RMM packages have SNMP to get monitoring out of devices such as network switches.

    Cisco Onplus will be a bit like Sonicwall GMS offering in that you can actually control and manage switches which is a great feature.

    Only problem I have is that its not coming to the UK until Q2 next year !

  5. Joe Panettieri Says:
    November 18th, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Mit,

    Thanks for explaining the potential value to your business. When Cisco overhauled its MSP partner program about two years ago, it seemed like the company was really starting to understand SMB service providers. Perhaps OnPlus is the next example of that…
    -jp

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