MSPmentor

And so it begins. Microsoft has started to promote noteworthy Windows Intune wins, describing how the cloud-based PC management and security service is helping small, midsize and large organizations. Key Windows Intune adopters, Microsoft notes, include Save the Children, geotzpartners and eLitigation Solutions (a managed services provider, by the way). The key question: Are those isolated Windows Intune wins, or is the Microsoft’s cloud service really gaining momentum?

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When Symantec (SYMC) delivered record Q3 results today, there were two news hooks for MSPmentor to consider. On the one hand: Wall Street is worried because Symantec forecast future sales that aren’t all that impressive. But on the other hand: I was surprised to hear Symantec describe the strength of its managed security services business. Were MSPs listening to that chatter?

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When CA Technologies kicks off its MSP Symposium (Jan. 29-31, Miami, Fla.), the company will arrive with considerable momentum. Indeed, CA announced surprisingly strong Q3 results yesterday. Revenues rose a healthy 10 percent to $1.263 billion. Dig a little deeper and you’ll see managed services and cloud services platforms like Nimsoft and AppLogic gaining momentum with partners. So what’s next? The answers will likely surface at CA’s MSP Symposium.

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Gartner has created one heck of a brand with its Gartner Magic Quadrant research. Hundreds of vendors scramble to qualify for the Magic Quadrant — which identifies top technology companies in dozens of different markets. CIOs, in turn, often use Gartner’s Magic Quadrant research to help select IT products and services. Sounds great — but some of Gartner’s Magic Quadrant Leader picks make me scratch my head. Here’s one example…

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How can MSPs connect the dots between their help desks, online chat capabilities and remote support technologies? Get the answers today (Jan. 25, 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT) during our next Channel Expert Hour webcast, hosted by MSPmentor. Our guest speakers will include…

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Apple delivered insanely great quarterly results today. Take a closer look at the latest Apple and Google earnings, and you’ll see just how big the mobile device management (MDM) opportunity could be for MSPs that master Apple iOS and Google Android.

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When LabTech Software launched a cloud edition yesterday, it completed a ConnectWise Capital triple play. Indeed, ConnectWise now essentially has at least three cloud services — ConnectWise Cloud, LabTech Cloud and Quosal On Demand — that MSPs can piece together into an extended business management platform. The net result: I think ConnectWise CEO has found a way to further increase ConnectWise’s valuation.

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The lines between managed services software, NOC (network operations center) services and help desk services continue to blur. The latest example involves Level Platforms introducing NOC and Help Desk services tied to its Managed Workplace platform for MSPs in the small business IT services market. This is part of a growing trend in the MSP market.

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Bradford Networks, which specializes in Network Access Control (NAC) security solutions, remains committed to  small managed services providers (MSPs) as SMB channel partners, though the company no longer has a dedicated, separate group to pursue that market, according to CEO Dan Haley.

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LabTech Software is the latest managed services software company to introduce a cloud edition. Indeed, LabTech’s flagship RMM (remote monitoring and management) software is now available as a LabTech Cloud edition. CEO Matt Nachtrab offered additional perspectives.

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This week unfolded a little differently than I expected. I had been scheduled to meet Avnet Technology Solutions in New York on Tuesday before heading up to Connecticut to talk shop with Amy Katz (my business partner) on Wednesday. But before I hit the road my sister-in-law went into labor… and I finally started to act like a family guy. Perhaps HTG Peer Groups‘ focus on life-work balance is finally starting to sink in with me. Here’s why.

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The MSPmentor team just returned from Juniper’s first-ever global partner conference. Next up, we’ll be attending a private CA Technologies gathering of MSPs in Miami. But in the meantime, here are seven managed services blogs and MSP news stories the MSPmentor team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending January 20, 2012.

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Datto Inc., which promotes backup and disaster recovery (BDR) storage solutions to MSPs and channel partners, says annual revenues grew 300 percent in 2011 vs. 2010. It’s the third consecutive year Datto has generated a 300-percent growth rate, the company asserts. The big question: Can Datto maintain that momentum amid fierce storage competition in 2012?

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How can MSPs like you create a world-class help desk that both keeps your team close to your customers, while enabling your customers to better manage employee and customer support costs in the face of increasing expectations? Get the answers during our next Channel Expert Hour webcast (Jan. 25, 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT). You’ll gain facts, tips and insights from an MSP who’s built an effective help desk that leverages optimized remote support systems and methodologies for desktop, remote and mobile customers. Also, learn how the concept of “unified customer care” is evolving, including insights from LogMeIn (the webcast’s sponsor). Register now.

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MSPmentor 100 companies, representing the world’s top managed services providers, grew their recurring annual revenues to $1.04 billion in 2011, up 28 percent from 2010. Here’s a preliminary look at our fifth-annual MSPmentor 100 survey results.

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The MSPmentor team is just about ready to unplug for the weekend. Of course, we’ll be around if any big news — or rumors — hit our inbox. But in the meantime here are seven managed services blogs and MSP news stories that MSPmentor’s editorial team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending Friday, January 13, 2012.

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Level Platforms grew its customer base 45 percent in 2011. Now, the company is preparing a major managed services road show and developing enhancements for Managed Workplace, Level Platforms’ flagship remote monitoring and management (RMM) software, said Dan Wensley (pictured), VP of partner development and marketing. Key to those efforts: Plugging Dave Sobel, the newly hired director of partner community, into Level Platforms’ business starting on January 23. Here’s the strategy.

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Shockey Monkey 2.0 — also dubbed Shockey Monkey Reloaded — debuted this week. It’s a free PSA (professional services automation) software platform for managed services providers and their end-customers. The man behind Shockey Monkey is Vlad Mazek — the executive who also built the ExchangeDefender business. So what makes Shockey Monkey unique in a fiercely competitive software market segment? Mazek offered some insights.

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Instead of trying to pitch and sell mobile device management (MDM), perhaps managed services providers (MSPs) should simply spend more time listening to incoming customer requests and queries. The reason: Fully 70 percent of MSPs say their customers are asking about MDM, but nearly 20 percent of MSPs say they don’t have an MDM solution in place to meet the inbound customer inquiries.

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In a blog to Kaseya’s managed services partners, CEO Gerald Blackie looks back on 2011 and offers a preview of 2012. After reading Blackie’s blog, MSPmentor zeroed in on at least seven themes and moves that are worth a closer look. Here’s a summary for MSPs.

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Before you schedule your first customer meetings of 2012, you need to develop a mobile device management (MDM) strategy. Get control of smartphone and tablet management. And drive monthly recurring revenue along the way. To do so, join us for our next Channel Expert Hour webcast (Today: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT). Also, check our complete webcast schedule — which now includes the fifth-annual MSPmentor 100 webcast.

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Former Evolve Technologies CEO Dave Sobel (pictured) is set to join Level Platforms as director of partner community, reporting to VP of Partner Development and Marketing Dan Wensley, according to sources allegedly in the know, Level Platforms has now confirmed. Here’s the chatter.

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When outsourceIT and GoBeyondIT merged today, MSPmentor went seeking more information from outsourceIT CEO Craig Guice. We’re curious to know how the combination of a managed services provider (MSP) and cloud services provider (CSP) will ultimately move forward. Guice says the combined company will be an MSP plus a cloud services provider that works with VARs and channel partners. Plus, outsourceIT may be close to buying at least two more companies. Here’s why.

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