MSPmentor

A new tool for remotely managing Linux desktops and servers will debut on March 5. At first glance, the tool is for enterprise administrators who want to remotely manage and troubleshoot PCs and servers running Ubuntu Linux. But if you take a closer look, you can imagine the tool — dubbed Landscape — evolving into a potential managed services platform for businesses that embrace open source. Read More >

The same day Microsoft announced its software as a service (SaaS) strategy, some managed service providers are putting their own spin on the hosted Exchange market.

For instance, Azaleos announced a flat-fee offer for midsize companies (up to 1,000 users) seeking to migrate Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise and Pre-2007 Exchange environments to its managed OneStop service.

Aspiring MSPs and established Microsoft partners can learn several key things from the Azaleos strategy. Read More >

Under development now, the MSPmentor 250 will identify the top leaders and innovators shaping the global managed services market. To nominate someone for the MSPmentor 250, simply visit our MSPmentor 250 center.

When you visit the center, you’ll notice that we’ve launched a global map, displaying many of our current nominees (Note: being nominated does not guarantee placement on the final MSPmentor 250 list).

We will publish the official MSPmentor 250 report and global map in July 2008. We expect our final list to include CEOs, CTOs, CIOs, association leaders, entrepreneurs, marketing wizards, sales pros, venture capitalists and other experts shaping the global managed services ecosystem.

For more info about the MSPmentor 250 and to nominate an expert — even yourself — visit our MSPmentor 250 center.

(Note: We’ll begin work on our next MSPmentor 100, which focuses on companies rather than individuals, in September 2008.)

It’s great to know you’re competing in a growing market, but sometimes big-picture hype can distract you from regional and local opportunities.

A prime example: The worldwide managed security market will exceed $4.8 billion by 2013, predicts Global Industry Analysts Inc. Impressive, but the report focuses mainly on Fortune 500-type organizations (AT&T, Cisco Systems, etc.) and their managed security services for massive customers. Read More >

Competition drives innovation. A case in point: Because the PC market is now wide-open to competition (Windows, Mac OS, Linux), managed service platform providers are working overtime to support customer choice. Kaseya’s latest platform release, for instance, embraces Intel vPro technology and Mac OS X. Going broad with Intel support and deep with Mac OS X support creates some compelling opportunities for MSPs. Here’s why. Read More >

Digital signage: At first, it was considered a hardware opportunity for VARs. But a second look reveals that it’s a recurring revenue and software-as-a-service (SaaS) opportunity for managed service providers.

MSPmentor said exactly that on February 6. Now comes word that Ingram Micro, the massive distributor, plans to offer a digital signage SaaS solution from BroadSign to more than 35,000 VARs across the U.S. and Canada.

Similarly, Cisco is helping partners to master new opportunities in digital signage.

N-able, the managed service platform provider, is looking to make a splash in Australia. Smart move. A few weeks ago, MSPmentor described how the managed services market is growing more than 20 percent annually in Australia. And N-able CEO Gavin Garbutt (pictured) estimates that there are nearly 2 million small and midsize businesses in Australia, providing fertile ground for managed service providers. Here’s how N-able — and some of its rivals — hope to grow that market.

Read More >

If you’re still skeptical about managed services and software as a service (SaaS), spend a day at Long Island’s Hofstra University. Roughly 13,000 Hofstra students have access to Google Apps Education Edition to collaborate online, according to Robert W. Juckiewicz, Hofstra’s VP of IT.

The university’s ongoing experience with SaaS — and Hofstra’s future goals — provide some clear hints about how the corporate software market may evolve.

Nobody is predicting the death of Microsoft Office, but it’s clear from case studies like Hofstra that Google Apps and Microsoft’s desktop productivity suite are on a long-term collision course.

Read More >