MSPmentor

Reflexion Networks, which develops cloud-based email security services, has turned cash-flow positive and generated record revenues in each quarter so far in 2011. In fact, Reflexion’s revenues will likely rise about 47 percent in 2011 vs. 2010, according to CEO David G. Hughes. All of that growth is directly tied to managed services providers that leverage Reflexion’s services. So where is Reflexion heading next?

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Cloud computing was only half the story at last week’s IT Nation conference in Orlando, Fla. Attendees — mostly MSPs and VARs — also focused heavily on mobile device management (MDM) and the growing influence of tablets in the workplace. But instead of talking cloud vs. on-premises or notebooks vs. tablets, it’s time for MSPs to focus their sales and business strategies on the complete end-user experience. Here’s why.

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So, you’ve spent the last five years building out a successful managed services practice. You’ve spent innumerable hours evaluating vendors, selected an RMM vendor (or two, maybe three?) that will allow you effectively remotely manage your customers. You’ve had to make staff changes, and probably had to edit your customer list a little bit in the process too. If you are like most, you either added or started with a PSA solution to manage the day to day activities of your team and clean up your processes, billing, etc. All this has prepared you to layer on some cloud based deliverables which will add revenue across your customer base and create opportunity to land new customers.

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Your customers have embraced tablets and smart phones — iPads, iPhones, Google Android and other mobile devices. But how are those devices being managed, protected and secured? Equally important: How can you monetize mobile device management (MDM), making sure you actually generate a profit from all of the new mobile tasks your company is managing? Ask your questions and get the answers during our next webcast, this Wednesday (Nov. 16) at 2:00 p.m. eastern. Register now to join us.

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It’s not often that businesses hire so close to the Holiday Season, but that’s exactly what we’re finding on the MSPmentor Job Board. New positions for sales professionals and IT engineers have popped up throughout the United States. So don’t quit the search over the Holidays. You never know what you’ll find when you least expect it.

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The legal case between Zenith Infotech and bond holders is expected to resume the week of November 21, according to the Times of India. In the meantime, Zenith Infotech apparently has promised the High Court that it will not sell or spin off its cloud computing business. That statement is not to be confused with Zenith Infotech’s recent spin-off of Zenith RMM. Here’s why.

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Agiliant, which is blending managed network services with managed print services, has now launched MITOS (Managed Information Technology and Output Services). So what’s the strategy? Agiliant VP of Marketing and Product Development Jim Shulkin shared some insights.

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At first glance, N-able Technologies and NetEnrich are partnering to offer managed services providers (MSPs) a “complete IT operations solution” that pushes beyond basic NOC (network operations center) and RMM (remote monitoring and management) solutions. But take a closer look at the relationship, and you’ll find some opportune timing as well as a mutual relationship with the Ingram Micro Cloud team.

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Avanade, the Microsoft-centric MSP, is partnering up with Accenture and Microsoft to develop and deploy enterprise solutions and services for Windows Phone. On the one hand, the effort isn’t surprising because Avanade was jointly launched by Microsoft and Accenture more than a decade ago. But on the other hand, we wonder if Avanade faces an uphill battle promoting services for Microsoft’s niche smart phone platform.

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The MSPmentor team is heading off to conferences hosted by Synnex and Intel this week. Plus we’ll closely track CA World in Las Vegas. But before MSPmentor kicks off another round of managed services coverage, here are seven blogs the MSPmentor team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending November 11.

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This week’s ConnectWise IT Nation conference in Orlando, Fla., attracted roughly 1,600 attendees. Multiple first-time attendees looked around and openly asked me: “How the heck did this conference and this community grow so large and so influential?” I’ve got a simple answer.

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Did the SMB managed services market grow 20 percent — or more — in 2011? That’s my early hunch, based on data from HTG Peer Groups and some anecdotal information I’ve gathered in recent weeks. I’m not suggesting that all MSPs are thriving. But concerns about the MSP market slowing down are overstated based on my observations at this week’s ConnectWise IT Nation conference in Orlando, Fla.

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It’s no secret that there’s more uncertainty in the IT world today than ever before. Some IT departments are becoming overwhelmed with mobile device management (MDM) demand from customers and even from fellow employees amid the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) craze sweeping across the workplace. Others are trying to figure out how they fit into cloud computing environments. EMC Vice President and Chief Technology Offer Chuck Hollis speaks with IT professionals as part of his job every day. And coincidentally, he’s one of us — a technology blogger. In one of his latest pieces, Hollis makes ten IT predictions for 2012. I spoke with Hollis about some specific predictions that caught my attention.

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At the ConnectWise IT Nation conference today, CEO Arnie Bellini demonstrated deeper integration between ConnectWise, LabTech Software and Quosal. The move reinforce’s Bellini’s vision to build a Microsoft Office-like suite for the IT Channel. But Bellini also evangelized continued integration with third-party RMM and quoting software platforms. Here’s a look at the keynote so far.

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At ConnectWise’s IT Nation conference yesterday, the MSPmentor team met privately with a range of managed services and channel influencers. So what are we hearing during the briefings and meetings? And what can attendees expect from ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini’s keynote later this morning? Here’s the chatter.

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The Zenith Infotech bond default case will apparently have its next court hearing on November 14. In the meantime, Summit Partners apparently is willing to share details about the Zenith RMM purchase from Zenith Infotech — if the details are not disclosed publicly. But will those details really emerge? Here’s the update.

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Roughly 1,600 resellers, VARs, MSPs and channel influencers are on hand for the ConnectWise IT Nation conference in Orlando. The conference has pushed far beyond traditional managed services discussions. In fact, here are eight discussions and trends that surfaced during the initial Exhibit Hall and Keynote gatherings at ConnectWise IT Nation.

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Instead of guessing what the future holds, MSPs should focus on so-called hard trends and customer trust to maintain or accelerate growth in the future, according to Daniel Burrus, author of Flash Foresight. During a keynote at ConnectWise IT Nation this morning, Burrus (pictured) offered several examples of hard trends and customer trust that can carry your business forward.

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Zenprise, the mobile device management (MDM) specialist, is trying to make life easier for channel partners and customers that need to manage the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend.

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SunGard Availability Services has created the SunGard Managed Recovery Program to help secure the availability of both cloud and on-premise applications. The goal of the Managed Recovery Program is to manage the entire application recovery lifecycle for SunGard customers.

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Symantec confirmed its managed service provider strategy today at ConnectWise’s IT Nation conference in Orlando. The Symantec MSP effort includes security and storage software integrations with RMM (remote monitoring and management) software providers, and growing promotion of service provider licensing. Is the effort radically new or different? Perhaps not. But Symantec’s moves are worth noting. Here’s why.

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Softchoice, the largest technology reseller in Canada, has acquired Unis Lumin, a Canadian managed service provider that works closely with Cisco Systems. The $17 million MSP acquisition accelerates Softchoice’s push into recurring revenues, managed services and cloud services. The deal is expected to be completed in December.

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TwinStrata, a cloud storage solution provider, has released CloudArray 3.0. The CloudArray line is the company’s signature cloud storage solution — a line of virtual and physical appliances designed to give enterprise companies secure and efficient iSCSI access to cloud storage.

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