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Palo Alto Networks: Partners Promote Managed Security Services
Posted August 23rd, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
Palo Alto Networks, a firewall provider, has partnered with five key security and networking vendors to deliver managed security services inside their next-gen firewalls. Punit Minocha, VP of corporate and business development for Palo Alto Networks, says the company has growing relationships with BT Global Services, Solutionary, Symantec, Verizon and Dell SecureWorks (initially launched in late July 2011). Here’s a closer look at the strategy.
Dell, Palo Alto Networks Partner on Managed Firewall Services
Posted July 29th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
Dell SecureWorks and Palo Alto Networks are partnering to promote managed firewall security services. The big question: Where do Dell PartnerDirect members — VARs, MSPs and even cloud service providers — potentially fit into the Dell-Palo Alto strategy? Here’s some insight.
Bocada Promotes Prism Managed Data Protection to MSPs
Posted May 19th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
We’ve previously covered Bocada‘s data protection and backup reporting moves on The VAR Guy. Now, Bocada is focusing on a managed storage initiative for MSPs. The goal: Help MSPs to use Bocada’s Data Protection Service Management (DPSM) model in a managed service environment.
Managed Print Services: OKI Data Focuses On Education
Posted May 9th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
At the recent Managed Print Services Conference in Orlando, Fla., I had a quick chat with Tim Brien, director of MPS at OKI Data Americas. Brien said VARs and managed services providers (MSPs) need infrastructure tools to succeed in the managed print services market. Not by coincidence, OKI is standing by to assist channel partners moving into the MPS market.
Managed Print Services: MSPs Can Own the Customer Relationship
Posted May 6th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
At the Managed Print Services Conference this week, I spoke to Photizo Group Senior Client Advisor David Cameron, who focuses on managed print channels and programs. He’s also president and CEO of Cameron Consulting Group. I asked Cameron to fill me in on the evolving managed print market. We also discussed how VARs and MSPs can overcome barriers to entry in the managed print market, while owning customer relationships for the long haul.
GreenPrint Software Assists MSPs With Managed Print Services
Posted May 5th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
At the Managed Print Services Conference in Orlando, Fla., this week, GreenPrint promoted three core pieces of software that may allow VARs and managed services providers to more effectively offer managed print services. Here’s the background.
Memo to MSPs: Charge for Your Managed Print Assessments
Posted May 5th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
The Managed Print Services Conference this week in Orlando, Fla., contained a swath of breakout sessions, with topics ranging from end-user experience panels to reseller practices. But what’s the key to success with managed print services? Gary McCone, CEO of Preo Software, says success starts with effective customer assessments. And by the way: McCone says customer assessments should not be free. Here’s why.
Managed Print Services: What Comes Next?
Posted May 5th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
Peter Sheahan, author of FL!P” and “Generation Y, spoke at the Managed Print Services Conference this week in Orlando, Fla. Sheahan’s premise: Business markets and industries are changing faster than ever. And that includes managed print services. So how can channel partners stay ahead of the curve? Sheahan offered a few ideas.
Managed Print Services: It’s All About Trust
Posted May 4th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
At the Managed Print Services Conference in Orlando, Fla., this week, Photizo Group CEO and Founder Edward Crowley and Auxilio CEO Joseph Flynn shared a familiar recipe for successful customer engagements: Dedication and trust, with a heaping tablespoon of education. Those seem to be the ongoing themes here, and the keynote was replete with ideas on how MSPs and VARs could start tackling managed print services (MPS) But wait, there’s more…
LabTech Updates iPhone App, Prepares iPad App
Posted April 12th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
LabTech Software, known for its RMM and automation solutions, has released an updated iPhone app. The free update, which is available now, has an enhanced VNC client. It includes…
APC Announces Updated InfraStruxure Software Version 6.2
Posted March 8th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
APC (by Schneider Electric), which specializes in power and cooling services, is going virtual — sort of. The latest version of the company’s InfraStruxure Management Software Portfolio 6.2 includes integration with VMware vSphere 4.1. Read on for the quick details …
Ready to Remotely Monitor and Manage SUSE Linux?
Posted January 26th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
Generally speaking, numerous remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools support remote Linux administration. But Opsview, an open source RMM solution, is making some noise in the SUSE Linux market. The noise comes as Attachmate acquires Novell, the keeper of SUSE Linux. Here’s the update.
MSPmentor 100: 7ticks, Owned By Interactive Data, Gets Transparent
Posted January 14th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
We’re set to unveil the fourth-annual MSPmentor 100 list during a February 16 webcast. In the meantime, MSPmentor is checking in with companies that landed on our third-annual list. Today’s profile focuses on 7ticks, now a subsidiary of Interactive Data. 7ticks is an MSP focusing on the global electronic financial market and offering an ultra-low latency trading infrastructure because “milliseconds matter,” according to the company. Scott Caudell, 7ticks co-founder and currently vice president of IT infrastructure at Interactive Data 7ticks, walked me through the latest goings on at the MSP.
LogMeIn Ignition Gains Android Tablet Support
Posted January 13th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
LogMeIn is bringing new remote access features to Android, specifically for the tablets. That’s good news for the Android community and good news for support on the whole for mobility and IT consumerization. Read on for the quick details about LogMeIn’s new capabilities that are available now.
Managed Services Acquisition: NetGain Buys DLP Technologies
Posted January 12th, 2011 by Dave Courbanou
Say hello to the sixth managed services merger or acquisition that MSPmentor has spotted so far in 2011. This one involves NetGain, No. 28 on last year’s MSPmentor 100 list, acquiring DLP to push into the Cincinnati, Ohio, market. Here are the details.
MSPmentor 100: All Covered Grows to Cover Even More
Posted December 17th, 2010 by Dave Courbanou
The fourth-annual MSPmentor 100 survey closes today, so we’re busy checking in with last year’s MSPmentor 100 companies to see how they’re performing. Today we look at All Covered, where growth — organic and inorganic — is an important element of the company’s success. Here’s the update.
MSPmentor 100: NetGain Maintains Managed Services Growth
Posted December 9th, 2010 by Dave Courbanou
While the fourth annual MSPmentor 100 Survey draws ever closer to a close (deadline is Dec. 17, 2010, folks), we continue our profiles of MSPs that made the third annual list. NetGain Technologies, which came in at No. 28, has had a year of modest growth spurred by some significant customer gains, although Mark Jacobson, NetGain’s CEO said it’s “not as strong as I’d like it to be.” We find those types of statements refreshing: Another eager MSP that’s always striving to improve their own performance. Here’s the update.
IBM Tivoli Launches SaaS Help Desk Software for Small Businesses
Posted December 8th, 2010 by Dave Courbanou
IBM has launched SaaS-based help desk software. Is this another enterprise cloud move by Big Blue? Hardly. IBM says the IT service management platform, launched under the IBM Tivoli brand, is designed for small and midsize businesses. The big question: Has IBM really developed a small business solution or is this yet another enterprise offering force-fit into the SMB market? Here are some perspectives.
MSP Mentor 100: Glowpoint Focuses On Video
Posted December 6th, 2010 by Dave Courbanou
The fourth-annual MSPmentor 100 survey continues through December 17. In the meantime, we continue to check in with managed services providers that landed on our third-annual MSPmentor 100 list. This time we’re taking a look at Glowpoint, which specializes in enterprise-level video solutions. I recently had the chance to speak with Anil Balani, senior VP of product, and Jonathan Brust, VP of marketing, about Glowpoint’s progress in 2010. They had two themes to share with me: growth and video. Read on for the details.
MSPmentor 100: Fandotech Launches RAIN Cloud Service
Posted November 24th, 2010 by Dave Courbanou
As we continue work on the fourth-annual MSPmentor 100 survey, it’s an ideal time to check in with managed services providers that landed in our third-annual report. This time we’re speaking with Fandotech President John Boyd (pictured). Fandotech has had the cloud, backup, recovery and virtualization game under their belt since 2003, with an eye on healthcare, government, education and horizontal SMBs. The company rode out the recession with minor pains, and a branded Fandotech cloud service — called RAIN — is helping the company to maintain clear focus and consistent messaging. Boyd certainly sounds upbeat about Fandotech’s business outlook. Here’s the update.
ServerCentral Launches Private Cloud Services
Posted November 12th, 2010 by Dave Courbanou
Chicago-based ServerCentral, a managead data center provider, has launched a Dedicated Private Cloud solution, or ServerCentral DPC for short. What does it offer? Well, cloud services, of course, but ServerCentral says that security, performance and scalability are paramount to their infrastructure. Read on for the cloudy details…
Secure Designs’ Red, White & Blue Tiered MSP Solutions
Posted November 9th, 2010 by Dave Courbanou
Secure Designs Inc, which specializes in managed security products and services, is feeling a little patriotic. The company is launching Red, White and Blue Tiered Network Managed Security Services Solutions. Even though it’s a mouthful, it’s actually a simple way to help MSPs get what they need. Read on for the solution details..
F5 Networks Introduces iHealth Remote Monitoring Tool
Posted October 28th, 2010 by Dave Courbanou
F5 Networks has launched iHealth, a web-based remote monitoring and management (RMM) tool that helps enterprises and channel partners to proactively manage corporate application performance. Is this yet another RMM tool for MSPs? Yes and no. Here’s why.
