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Kaseya SaaS Pricing: A Debate About Nothing?
Posted March 8th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Some Australian managed services providers allegedly are in an “uproar” over Kaseya’s SaaS pricing vs. on-premise pricing. But take a closer look at the situation, and you’ll likely discover the SaaS “uproar” may actually involve an apples-to-oranges price comparison of tools that offer vastly different capabilities. Here’s some perspective.
Alert Logic Reveals Cloud Strategy, Partner Program
Posted February 24th, 2010 by John Moore
Managed security services providers (MSSPs) sometimes act as master MSPs, seeking out channel players as marketing allies. See here and here. Alert Logic follows a similar track, although the company believes it offers a different approach. The Houston-based firm targets a range of channel partners — hosting providers, MSPs, and VARs — with security offerings delivered as a service. Here are some new details.
HP Managed Security Services: A Closer Look
Posted January 26th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
When Hewlett-Packard this week launched a security services portfolio, the announcement included a brief mention of managed security services. No doubt, HP promotes managed services to large enterprises. But is the hardware giant starting to take a closer look at channel-centric managed services? Here are some thoughts.
Cisco’s Managed Services Program: Gaining Momentum?
Posted January 21st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
It’s not a tidal wave yet, but a growing number of managed service providers are diving into Cisco Systems’ partner program. The latest example involves MegaPath Inc. earning Managed Services Master Certification from Cisco. Here’s the bigger story.
Buyout: MSP Services Network Acquired
Posted December 8th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
MSP Services Network, one of the industry’s best-known master MSPs, is about to be acquired. A deal involving High Street Technology Ventures is expected to be announced today (December 9). Who will run MSPSN and what does this mean for the broader managed services market? Here’s some analysis — including an interview with MSPSN’s incoming CEO, and some thoughts on the Master MSP sector.
ConnectWise Partner Summit: Six Managed Services Videos
Posted November 9th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During the ConnectWise Partner Summit, MSPmentor sat down with a range of managed services experts. In the following MSPmentor FastChat videos, we covered such topics as hardware as a service (HaaS), MSP-to-MSP collaboration, sales and business development, online marketing for MSPs and email security. Here are six FastChat videos with a range of MSP industry experts…
Cisco to MSPs: Think Bigger
Posted September 1st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
At first glance, Cisco Systems’ revamped Managed Services Partner Program allows small VARs to leverage NOCs (network operation centers) from larger Cisco partners. But Cisco has another key message for larger MSPs that want to move into new markets.
Ingram Micro Seismic, Nimsoft to Partner On Managed Services
Posted August 28th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The Ingram Micro Seismic team on Aug. 31 is expected to announce plans to offer Nimsoft’s software to VARs and managed service providers targeting mid-market and large enterprises. But this isn’t just a “reseller” deal. Here are some early details plus some observations about the evolving Master MSP and remote monitoring markets.
SMB Technology Network, Virtual Administrator: Let’s Partner
Posted August 21st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The dance between user groups, IT franchises and MSP software specialists continues. The latest example involves SMB Technology Network — an organization representing roughly 650 solutions providers — stepping onto the dance floor with Virtual Administrator. Here’s the news, plus some bigger-picture trends.
An On-ramp to Managed Services?
Posted July 17th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
What’s the fastest way to become a managed service provider? Are there certain steps you can take to accelerate your success? I weighed those questions while meeting with Virtual Administrator, a Master managed service provider, at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference 2009 (WPC09) in New Orleans this week. Here’s a recap.
Master MSPs Bolster Managed Storage Efforts
Posted June 23rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Do IT Smarter, a master managed service provider (Master MSP), is adding CompuVault’s online data backup services to its suite of offerings. The relationship is the latest in a series of storage-centric moves across the Master MSP landscape. Here’s a look at recent activity.
Branding Your Managed Services Business On the Web
Posted June 12th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Alpheon and Do IT Smarter, two members of the MSPmentor 100, are proving there’s more than one way to brand a company in the managed services market. Both managed service providers have revamped their web sites and customer messaging in recent weeks. And in some cases, the efforts avoid the need to mention managed services. Here’s some perspective.
Tech Data: We Won’t Emulate Ingram Micro Seismic
Posted June 12th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Even as Tech Data inks reseller relationships with managed services software providers, the distributor has no plans to emulate rival Ingram Micro’s Seismic master managed services strategy, according to eChannel Line. The Tech Data and Ingram Micro strategies seem as different as night and day. Here’s some perspective.
Autotask, Zenith Infotech: Shaking Hands
Posted May 19th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
A tip of the hat to Mark Crall, founder of Charlotte Tech Care Team, a managed service provider. In his personal blog, Crall notes that Autotask plans to more closely integrate its software with Zenith Infotech. This is part of a bigger picture race between software companies to embrace so-called open APIs (application programming interfaces). Here are some perspectives.
N-able Launches Midmarket MSP Partner Program
Posted May 19th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
How can managed service providers (MSPs) successfully target midmarket customers that have internal IT departments? The answer to that question depends on whom you ask. I’m raising the issue today because N-able Technologies is the latest MSP software provider to launch a midmarket push. And unlike some rival moves, N-able’s strategy is all channel, all the time. Here’s where MSPs fit in the picture, along with several other midmarket MSP trends.
Podcast: Security Accreditation for VARs, MSPs
Posted May 15th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During the Ingram Micro Seismic Partner Conference in Dallas earlier this month, I spoke with CompTIA VP Robert Biddle. Our discussion focused on the CompTIA Security Trustmark accreditation, and its potential implications for VARs, managed service providers, solutions providers, IT vendors and end-users.
Level Platforms Monitors Microsoft Cloud Applications
Posted May 14th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
It’s the question I hear all the time: Can managed service providers truly profit from Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) cloud applications? And if so, where will MSPs add value? Apparently, Level Platforms wants to provide the answer to that question.
Kaseya Connect User Conference: Five Questions Worth Asking
Posted May 14th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The Kaseya Connect User Conference kicks off May 26 in Las Vegas. I plan to blog live from the event. If you have questions for Kaseya’s management team, customers and partners, feel free to email them to me (joe [at] ninelivesmediainc.com) or post comments below. In the meantime, here are five key questions I hope to have answered at the event.
Managed Services: Using Video for Marketing
Posted May 12th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
If you’re a managed service provider seeking to leverage low-cost video marketing, blogs and other social media, steal some ideas from Scott Spiro (pictured), president of Computer Solutions Group Inc. Spiro and I met during the Ingram Micro Seismic Partner Conference, and his simple — but effective — approach to video-driven PR impressed me. Here’s a look at his strategy so far.
PR 101 for Managed Service Providers
Posted May 11th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Sometimes I get so tied up talking technology, I forget that managed service providers also like to talk about business basics — including public relations (PR) strategies. That was the case last week, when MSPs started asking me for some basic PR and social networking techniques during the Ingram Micro Seismic Partner Conference in Dallas. Here are the PR recommendations I shared.
Two Tips for Mid-Market Managed Services Success
Posted May 6th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
No more Mr. Nice Guy. If you’re a managed service provider targeting small and mid-market customers that have small IT staffs, here are two rather timely pieces of advice that I picked up at the Ingram Micro Seismic Partner Conference.
The Biggest Managed Services Question of All
Posted May 5th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Sometimes a seemingly complex question has a simple answer. For instance: If managed services is the future of the channel, how many so many resellers have yet to really thrive as managed service providers? That question came up (yet again) during the Ingram Micro Seismic Partner Conference in Dallas. I considered some data points, looked at the numbers then drew my own conclusion.
Top 10 Tips to Improve Your Managed Services Sales Process
Posted May 5th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During the Ingram Micro Seismic Partner Conference in Dallas, VP Justin Crotty offered 10 tips for improving your managed services sales process. Crotty credited a specific managed service provider for the tips. Alas, I missed the MSP’s name — but I will ask Crotty for the company name shortly. In the meantime, here are those top 10 tips…
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