MSPmentor

How can a managed service provider differentiate itself from Microsoft’s own hosted Exchange Server offering? Azaleos, an MSP in Seattle, has found one potential answer. The company has launched security services to safeguard its Exchange email customers. Here’s some background. Read More >

Microsoft is spending considerable time this week talking up Forefront “Stirling,” a suite of integrated security products for desktop, server and network management. Although Stirling won’t arrive until the first half of 2009, I wonder if it will evolve to become a managed security service platform.  Read More >

Ubuntu, the fastest-growing version of Linux, is starting to attract interest from the managed services industry. One prime example: Untangle, which develops security solutions for managed service providers, is preparing to add support for Ubuntu within the next few months, MSPmentor has learned.

For MSPs, leveraging open source provides some cost-effective ways to introduce new services while connecting with fast-growing developer communities.

Here’s some more background on Ubuntu, along with emerging details about Untangle’s strategy for the operating system. Read More >

Ben Yarbrough has seen it. Bob Walters has seen it. And now, hundreds of managed service providers are starting to see it. What exactly is “it”? The simple answer: The convergence of open source with managed services.

Yarbrough, CEO of Calyptix Security, is seeking 100 managed service providers to embrace his company’s open source-based security appliance this year. Similarly, Bob Walters, CEO of Untangle, has bet his business on an open source network gateway, which is starting to attract strong interest from MSPs. Read More >

GigaFin, a 40-person networking start-up, is swimming aggressively into the managed services market. The company, formerly known as Mistletoe Technologies, is joining the MSP Alliance, launching a new partner portal, and introducing a management console to help managed service providers remotely administer customer networks, according to company representatives.

During a brief phone chat yesterday, GigaFin CEO William Thomas and Director of Marketing Mervyn Alamgir provided MSPmentor with a quick overview of the company. Read More >

Microsoft. It’s one of the few companies that could potentially change the managed services competitive landscape overnight.

For months, pundits — including MSPmentor — have wondered if the software giant would start to buy up MSP platform providers. But for now, Microsoft continues to partner in the MSP space. The company’s latest move involves an expanded relationship with N-able.

Read More >

Add Datacastle to the list of endpoint security specialists targeting managed service providers. The Seattle-based company has announced an endpoint data protection platform that MSPs can offer to their customers.

Datacastle enters a growing — but crowded — market. Just about every traditional security software company is moving into managed endpoint security. And the 800 pound gorilla — Symantec — should be moving in soon by expanding its own Symantec Protection Network (SPN). Symantec insiders have told me to watch for security-related announcements with SPN later this year. Read More >

At 5:00 p.m. eastern, I was tied up speaking with MX Logic about their strategy for managed email security services. By 5:15 p.m. eastern, my inbox had more news pertaining to this market. Things certainly are getting hyper-competitive in the email security sector. Read More >