MSPmentor

On the one hand, sales of Microsoft Dynamics — CRM, ERP and accounting applications — continue to rise swiftly. On the other hand, more and more MSPs continue to adopt PSA (professional services automation) software. So could Microsoft Dynamics and PSA software be on a collision course within the managed services provider community? Perhaps yes.

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Every once in a while we hear about partnerships between two IT companies that have nothing to do with technology, yet those partnerships leave a lasting impression on the technology space at large. Such is the case with IT services vendor NetEnrich and solution provider Heartland Technology Solutions, which have paired to help out the victims of the devastating tornado that hit the Joplin, Mo., area in May 2011.

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OKI Data Americas, the document management and printer company, has partnered with Agiliant, the managed IT services provider, to expand its Total Managed Print (TMP) initiative. OKI’s TMP offering, along with its entire portfolio of printing solutions, will now be offered through the Agiliant Affiliant Network (AAN).

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Many managed services providers continue to hurt themselves with poor pricing practices and lack of price integrity, according to a new 2112 Group research report sponsored by N-able Technologies and NetEnrich. Generally speaking, MSPmentor believes the report’s conclusion is on the mark.

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I’m still gathering data and proof points, but anecdotal evidence suggests GFI Software is gaining momentum with managed services providers (MSPs). One reason: The company’s GFI Max organization continues to diversify its product portfolio. And the latest GFI Max offering to watch is Monitis, a cloud and website monitoring platform.

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Windows Intune, Microsoft’s cloud-based PC management and security platform for Windows PCs, is off to a slow start with top managed services providers. The evidence: Only 1.5 percent of top MSPs leverage Windows Intune, according to preliminary data from the fifth-annual MSPmentor 100 survey, which closes Dec. 23, 2011.

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Here’s a quick question: Would you sell your managed services provider business for 10 to 12 times EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)? In other words, if your earnings were about $200,000 in 2011, would you sell your MSP business for $2 million to $2.4 million? Before you answer consider this update from Mike Jones, CEO of ETG, one of North America’s top MSPs serving the health care vertical. Jones recently reached an intriguing decision.

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We’re wrapping up the fifth-annual MSPmentor 100 survey on Friday, Dec. 23. Participate and your company could be ranked among the world’s top managed services providers. Here’s why you should complete the survey before deadline day arrives.

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SolarWinds, which recently formalized its managed services partner program, has delivered upgrades to its network monitoring and network configuration platforms. The new IT management software arrives as SolarWinds’ revenues continue to grow about 30 percent — but so far I think most of the momentum involves enterprises and midsize businesses, with some MSPs mixed into the picture.

On the product front, SolarWinds has updated and further integrated SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM, starting at $2,475), and SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM, starting at $2,495).

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Thousands of managed services providers (MSPs) are striving to build profitable sales strategies. But very often, MSPs don’t realize the key responsibilities that their business development and sales leaders must manage. With that in mind, here are 15 key responsibilities that profit center employees — CEOs, sales leaders, business development leaders, etc. — must oversee.

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Life apparently is good for BMC Software, which recently released the newest version of its Atrium Discovery and Dependency Mapping (ADDM) solution. But the BMC  news doesn’t stop there. The company’s roughly one-year-old RemedyForce Service Desk platform has attracted 100 customers to date. That, according to BMC Software Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Marc Ferrentino, has far exceeded the company’s initial expectations.

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SysAid Technologies, an IT service management software and help desk solution provider, has a message for IT staff looking forward to taking a few days off during the holidays: Not so fast. According to the software provider, there is no more ideal time for IT administrators to evaluate company IT systems than during the holiday season when most employees are out of the office and usually not logging-in to company networks via mobile devices to work remotely.

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Virtela, a cloud-based mobile device management (MDM) provider, continues to evolve to address customer trends. The latest focus area involves management services for Apple iOS, Google Android, tablets and smartphones in corporate environments. Here’s what’s driving the effort.

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Join the Channel Expert Hour webcast, hosted by MSPmentor, today at 2:00 p.m. eastern. The topic: Five best practices for MSPs that are selling cloud services. We’ve got three dynamic, expert speakers confirmed to speak on today’s Webcast. They include Savvis VP Martin Capurro, Mycroft CISO Liz Mann, and CA Technologies Senior Advisor Wendy Petty (CA is the event’s sponsor). We’ll take your questions throughout the webcast.

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After months of quiet development, Cisco Systems has officially launched the Cisco OnPlus Service — a cloud-based service that allows MSPs to monitor SMB customers’ network infrastructure. At $5 per network location per month, the Cisco OnPlus Service hopes to carve a niche between PSA (professional services automation) and RMM (remote monitoring and management) platforms. Here’s why.

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When Continuum (formerly Zenith RMM) yesterday announced a BDR (backup and disaster recovery) storage partnership with Datto, nearly 1,000 managed services providers (MSPs) and VARs signed up to gain early access to the platform, according to Continuum CEO Michael George. Still, MSPmentor raised five questions about the Continuum-Datto relationship and its potential implications for MSPs. George and his management team late last night spoke with MSPmentor and offered deeper insights. Here’s the update. Among the key takeaways: Continuum isn’t just getting into the BDR market, the company “wants to dominate it,” said George.

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It’s been a busy end of the 2011 calendar year for MobileIron, the mobile device management (MDM) and security provider for the enterprise. In late November the MDM provider partnered with Gijima, a South African IT services provider for large enterprises in its region. And days later MobileIron announced the general availability of MobileIron 4.5 for mobile Android devices.

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Integra Telecom, the business telephone and Internet service provider, has named Kevin O’Hara as its new CEO. Integra’s search for a new CEO began in October 2011 when former CEO Tom Casey left the company for another opportunity.

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Think the holidays is the off season for employers bringing aboard new hires? Think again! The MSPmentor Job Board is busy as usual this week, as new opportunities for consultants and sales representatives have surfaced. So now is the time to take action and start the new year with a new career.

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When Continuum (formerly Zenith RMM) partnered with Datto today, it was the latest in a series of moves that could influence the backup and disaster recovery (BDR) market for managed services providers. But the Continuum-Datto relationship potentially raises as many questions as it answers. In fact, here are five follow-up questions MSPmentor is pursuing.

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Zenith RMM, which spun off from Zenith Infotech in September, has rebranded as Continuum and will now compete with its former parent in the BDR (backup and disaster recovery) market. Indeed, Continuum has partnered with Datto to launch Continuum Vault — a BDR solution that will debut in January 2012.

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MSPs can thank the stagnant economy for the surge in SMB adoption of managed services and outsourced IT services — a trend that will continue, believes Mark Cattini, president of Autotask.

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ManageEngine, the managed services software provider: has integrated two of its signature products: Desktop Central and ServiceDesk Plus. The integrated desktop management and service desk offerings signals the company’s continued move toward a fully integrated IT operations offering for MSPs.

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