TCI was looking for some regional leverage in North America and found what it was looking for in Savid, which is based in Chicago, Ill. According to TCI Managing Partner Sam Attias, Savid’s headquarters will become TCI’s “central hub” for its new North American security and compliance practice.

TCI is planning to launch the practice during Q1 2012, and its Savid Technologies acquisition appears to be the last piece to be put into place. According to Attias, TCI will leverage Savid’s security consulting expertise in order to build a fully integrated security offering for TCI’s North American partners to sell to their end-users.

Savid’s Security Expertise

Savid’s security expertise starts at the top with Savid Technologies CEO Michael A. Davis, who TCI refers to in its press release as an “industry renowned cloud security expert.” Davis will continue in his current role, as Savid will keep its own brand name and its leadership in place under the terms of acquisition.

More to Come in 2012

The Savid Technologies acquisition is the first major move of the year for TCI. If 2011 was any indication, then we should be hearing a lot more from the company this year. Adding OS33 President Jacob Kazakevich to its Board of Directors, teaming with MSPExcellence and acquiring Bravura Networks were just some of TCI’s major accomplishments last year. And as mentioned, the company plans on picking up steam by launching its North American security and compliance practice within the next month and half. We’ll be tracking the company’s progress throughout 2012.

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According to Gupta. the free MDM software will help protect some of the approximately 80 percent of enterprise companies that currently do not have any type of MDM solution in place. They’ll be able to use Amtel’s free MDM solution — Amtel Free Business Mobile Device Management — to enable mobile password security, detect compromised devices, gather device information and statistics, perform application discovery and build a central mobile inventory to manage all of their mobile assets. Businesses using the free service will also have access to a web-based console through which they can manage different Operating Systems (OS), including iOS and Android.

The ideas behind the free service is to expose enterprises to the basics of what MDM can provide them. Then companies can upgrade to Amtel’s premium MDM solution if they want to do things like wipe data from devices, generate alerts and expense reports with Amtel’s expense management capabilities, and have overall better control of their telecom expenses and use. It’s an interesting “freemium” strategy for a solution that’s extremely high in-demand. We’ll see if it pays off for Amtel, and if other MDM software providers follow suit.

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7. Dollars and Cents: Last I heard, Doyenz — the cloud-based backup and disaster recovery (BDR) specialist — was considering some potential venture capital moves. The company earlier this week scored a cloud-centric relationship with Symantec, helping to protect Backup Exec customers. Hoping to deliver a big-picture update on Doyenz soon.

6. Big Event Week: Most our blogging team will be spread out across the country the week of Feb. 13, covering the HP Global Partner Summit, potentially invading VMware Partner Exchange and checking in at Parallels Summit for cloud partner developments.

5. Executive Move: Mezeo, which develops cloud storage management solutions, has named Rahul Bakshi senior VP of sales. He’ll oversee enterprise, service provider and channel sales strategies.

4. Resignation Reconsidered: The VP of sales at a major MSP tendered his resignation on Monday. By Tuesday, the executive had second thoughts and humbly returned to his existing job. The reason: Venture capital at his “new” employer apparently had fallen through. True story folks.

3. Changes Afoot?: I spotted an email from Kaseya informing customers that “the salesperson who has traditionally been assigned to your account may have recently changed as a result of trying to align our people more appropriately.” It’s part of an “improved customer service” push at Kaseya, the company asserted, but I’m wondering if the changes mean something more… Checking…

2. Done Deals: MSPmentor has spotted several more M&A deals in the managed services market. Details hopefully coming the week of February 13.

1. That MSPmentor 100 report: It will debut during a webcast on February 15. All attendees will receive a 22-page PDF with in-depth details about the world’s top managed services providers and global trends in managed services. I hope you’ll join us.

That’s all for now. Thanks so much for reading MSPmentor.

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Despite this widespread dissatisfaction with database performance relative to cost, business IT professionals seem reluctant to take advantage of new database options that can vastly improve scalability and performance. For example, more than half (55%) of respondents say they will not take advantage of cloud technology and only 2% are currently using the open source Apache Hadoop software framework, although another 37% are considering doing so.

Where SMBs Fit In

The survey covers IT professionals at businesses of all sizes, and is not specific to SMBs. However, if concerns about database ROI are widespread across the general business community, in all likelihood they are even more pronounced in the SMB community, where installed database solutions are likely to be older.

In addition, resistance to employing new technologies is also likely even greater among SMBs, as resources to replace or upgrade outdated database implementations are more scarce than among the general business population.

Where MSPs Fit In

Presumed SMB reluctance to implement new database technologies may seem like an impediment to MSPs capitalize on this trend, but MSPs should focus on SMB dissatisfaction with their databases. This is a golden opportunity for MSPs to do a little customer education, demonstrating how by utilizing managed services, SMBs can actually reap the benefits of new database technologies and infrastructures, such as cloud and Hadoop, without the direct expense of development or hosting.

And even if SMBs may not want to implement the newest and shiniest managed database services, the fact that about nine in 10 SMBs are not happy with their current database situations still leaves MSPs a lot of wiggle room. A sales pitch can start with a hosted cloud database service, but does not have to end there. There is a strong need for new databases out there, who will step up to fill it?

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To begin with, the new partner program is broken down into the following four levels, beginning with the lowest level partnership:

• Standard StorageCraft Resellers (Entry Level)
• StorageCraft STAR Certified Reseller
• StorageCraft Engineer Certified Reseller
• StorageCraft Advanced Engineer Certified Reseller

Standard resellers will be able to develop relationships with new business customers, activate storage licenses, manage customers and process renewals, all through the StorageCraft Business Class Portal. Second level partners — STAR Certified Resellers — essentially have the sample capabilities. The difference is, STAR Certified Partners have undergone a half day StorageCraft technical training course and pass an online test. The top two partners conduct on and off site BDR as a service. Level two partners and above have their own StorageCraft Account Managers, free telephone support, free NFR software and bonuses for reaching a customer turnover target.

Keep in mind, no partner is stuck at any one level. Standard resellers can move up by passing a technical test, and STAR resellers can move up by meeting profit margins. The company’s goal with its new European partner structure is the same goal it had in mind when it restructured its storage partner program into three tiers back in August, 2011: reward its best-performing partners, increase sales, and expand the use of its BDR software solution.

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First off, Hartco Distribution is branch of Hartco Inc., a three-decade old Canadian IT services provider that will give N-able a trusted name to attach to when pursuing Canadian MSP customers. Hartco has more than 50 established, physical locations throughout Canada and serves a range of businesses, from SMBs to enterprise. So by partnering with Hartco, N-able will be able to expand the use of its RMM software throughout different-sized business markets in Canada.

As part of the partnership, N-able will have direct access to Hartco’s entire network of IT solution providers. The real beneficiaries of the N-able – Hartco partnership will be Hartco affiliates who will now be able to leverage all of N-able’s RMM solutions, including the N-central RMM platform.

N-able has big plans for the Canadian market, which N-able will heavily focus on in 2012. And even though Hartco’s reach gives N-able the opportunity to target larger companies, N-able will hone in on MSPs serving the SMB market. Cullen claims that the majority of the 1 million-plus SMBs in Canada are not managing their networks with an RMM platform. Translation? N-able wants to be the go-to RMM provider for SMBs throughout Canada, and it wants to develop relationships with Canadian managed service providers looking to provide an RMM software solution to its SMB customers.

One big benefit that N-able can now market to SMBs and MSPs in Canada? A new cloud-based help desk solution courtesy of its recent partnership with NTRglobal. N-able will also give Business e-Traning Essentials, Technical e-Training Essentials, Instructor-Led Product Training, Professional Services and other benefits to Canadian MSPs who buy an N-central license in order to help them better understand how to market and sell the RMM solution.

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Level Platforms’ new MDM feature will make its debut in mid-February when the RMM software company embarks upon its 2012 Global Road Show. And when it does, the MDM solution will allow the software provider’s customers to monitor and manage business networks from Apple, Google, Microsoft and RIM smartphones and tablets. Level Platforms managed service provider customers will be able to access this new MDM feature through their existing RMM dashboards via the new Level Platforms Mobile Service Manager that will be pre-packaged in Managed Workplace 2012.

Once a customer installs the new MDM software on a mobile device, they will be able to use that device to collect asset information, remotely configure devices, track location and restrict user access to business networks upon request. And if a device is lost or stolen, MSPs can remotely wipe, lock, or completely reset the device. In the end, Level Platforms hopes its MDM solution will give its MSP customers a complete RMM solution to add to their existing managed services offerings that will help them accelerate their revenue growth.

The news of Level Platforms’ new MDM capabilities comes about two weeks after the RMM software provider introduced its new NOC and help desk services. Shortly thereafter, N-able Technologies, another major RMM software provider, partnered with NTRglobal to offer a cloud-based help desk service. Then N-able made a regional expansion move by partnering with Hartco Distribution in order to target MSPs and SMBs in Canada. Now comes new of Level Platforms new MDM software offering included in Managed Workplace 2012. It’s a major RMM development, but it definitely won’t be the last we hear from Level Platforms, N-able or other RMM providers.

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ManageEngine President Raj Sabhlok told me last week that the mobile device revolution had captured ManageEngine’s attention in a big way. And in a prepared statement on Feb. 7, Sabhlok predicted that tablet sales would “further entrench and complicate security, bandwidth use, and asset management in the enterprise.”

In response, ManageEngine is trying to help IT organizations manage the overwhelming number of mobile devices entering their networks, beginning with iOS devices. The company is extending its Desktop Central solution to mobile iOS devices, including security, asset and configuration management. ManageEngine also is extending its IT360 solution to the iPad, empowering MSPs and corporate IT administrators to manage IT infrastructures straight from the tablet. Lastly, ManageEngine will be unveiling a new user interface (UI) designed specifically for iPad users. The company plans to releases similar MDM solutions for other mobile operating systems, though no timetable has been given yet.

ManageEngine’s launch strategy seems sound. Think about it — there’s really no better place to launch an MDM solution than the World Mobile Congress, where companies will release scores of new smartphones and tablets, and MSPs and enterprise businesses will be looking for solutions to manage all of these new devices.

A growing number of MSP-centric software companies have introduced mobile device management capabilities. Two recent examples: Kaseya launched a mobile device management module in 2011, and Level Platforms is planning to offer MDM as part of its Managed Workplace 2012 launch.

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Zenith Infotech CEO Akash Saraf says the company will ship a BDR upgrade — known as BDR Generation 12 — next week. The solution is platform agnostic, meaning that MSPs can use any remote management and monitoring tool to manage it.

Also, Zenith Infotech is prepping a SmartStyle cloud upgrade that will support Microsoft Hyper-V virtualization. Zenith Infotech also is debating a potential name change for the platform but it sounds like SmartStyle will very likely remain the brand for this launch. The upgrade is similar in concept to the VBlock and VCE effort promoted by Cisco Systems, EMC and VMware. However, Zenith Infotech will continue focusing its cloud efforts on partners that support small and midsize businesses; there are no plans to counter Vblock within enterprise datacenters.

Saraf said the new SmartStyle release will cost more than previous releases. MSPs running existing SmartStyle systems will be able to make one-to-one exchanges for the new SmartStyle offering if they so choose. MSPs that make the one-to-one exchange will have to pay Zenith Infotech the price difference between the old and new SmartStyle releases, Saraf said.

Meanwhile, Zenith Infotech is starting to see Vu Telepresence — its video conferencing platform — gain some traction with MSPs. The traction began when Vu Telepresence introduced interoperability with third-party telepresence systems (Cisco, LifeSize, Polycom, etc.) in early November 2011, Saraf said.

On the business and debt front, Zenith Infotech continues to negotiate with bondholders but Saraf said he has no new developments to share. Bondholders took Zenith Infotech to court after the cloud company defaulted on a debt payment in September 2011. Media speculation about the debt default has quieted down dramatically in recent weeks.

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First, the basic facts. For its Q2 ended January 28, Cisco reported:

• Net sales of $11.5 billion, up 11 percent
• Net income of $2.2 billion, up 48 percent

The figures essentially beat Wall Street’s expectations. In an earnings call, Cisco CEO John Chambers focused on a range of markets — including the service provider sector, where sales grew 12 percent year over year. Without mentioning Juniper by name, Chambers drew a clear line between Cisco’s progress and Juniper’s alleged challenges.

Chambers said:

“Our performance in the service provider market this quarter is proof of the power of our integrated architectural approach, and the benefits of our intelligent network in helping our customers to transform their business and capitalize on new revenue opportunities.

This architectural approach makes us a strategic partner to our top service provider customers globally, and it’s what differentiates us from our competitors. So while others talk about the decline in service provider CapEx, we are pleased with our performance and the alignment of our portfolio with our service provider customer’s spending priorities.”

He added: “Our Q2 revenue growth and guidance for Q3 appears to be proof points in how we’ve been breaking away from many of our competitors.”

Chambers’ words are an indirect attack on Juniper, which issued a financial warning in January 2012 — though Juniper did host a successful global partner conference that month as well.

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