MSPmentor

I just landed in Boston and I’m heading over to a managed services luncheon hosted by Do IT Smarter, Xerox and several other players. A few dozen VARs will attend the event, which seeks to help solutions providers transform their businesses into true MSPs. I’ll share some observations and attendee perspectives later in the day.

If you’re located near Boston and want to dive into the managed services discussion, join me at a luncheon on Dec. 12 hosted by Xerox and Do IT Smarter. During the event, hosted at the Seaport Hotel, I’ll be researching a feature about VARs and hardware providers transitioning into the MSP space. You can find more info about the event on Do IT Smarter’s Web site.

MSP Alliance President Charles Weaver spent some time telling me about the organization’s new accreditation program during a conference last month. Sounds like the program is gaining some traction.

So far, eight vendors have received the accreditation, including Asigra, Dell/SilverBack, Do IT Smarter, Intel, LiveCargo, N-able, Untangle and XRoads Networks, according to Web Host Industry News. Roughly 50 vendors are on track to receive the accreditation by the close of 2007, Weaver told WHIN. So what’s the upside for managed service providers? The accreditation appears to offer four clear benefits to MSPs and their customers. Read More >

Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Jake and Elwood Blues. Heck, even Xerox and Do IT Smarter love a good road trip. I hear the duo is hosting a Managed Service Provider road show with stops in Charlotte, N.C. (October 11), Houston, Texas (October 17), New Orleans, La. (October 24) and Hollywood, Fla. (October 25). SonicWall and MX Logic also are joining the event series, which offers practical tips for selling managed services. For details, check out the Do IT Smarter event site.

This just in: Do IT Smarter has selected LPI Level Platforms’ Collaborative Ecosystem MSP Platform to “drive the growth of their full service offering for solution providers,” according to press release that just hit the wires. The move reinforces several points raised by Do IT Smarter at today’s MSP Alliance conference in San Jose.

Do IT Smarter offers a an outsourced hosting center, remote help desk and sales and marketing support to VARs that are embracing managed services. In contrast, Level Platforms specializes in remote monitoring and management software for solution providers offering managed services to their small and midsize customers. Level Platforms is the latest in a growing list of relationships for Do IT Smarter.

As a general rule, our team holds a lot of business meetings at Starbucks. But today the business chatter started in Kinkos — when I bumped into Todd McKendrick, VP of sales at Do IT Smarter. McKendrick shared several pieces of news about the company, which is working closely with Xerox, MXLogic, SonicWall, Silverback and other MSP platform providers. Read More >