As you strive to transform from a VAR to MSP, you’ll need to choose the most ideal managed services platform for your business. That’s no small task. There are dozens of MSP platforms from which to choose. Prices, features and functions vary greatly. Get Started: Register to enter our Resource Center, where you’ll be able to download guides to numerous MSP platforms. And check back often. We post new guides in the MSPmentor Resource Center every week.
For many MSPs with an SMB clientele, modifying complex enterprise systems, such as CRM or data warehousing, is a critical service offering. However, as demonstrated by the experience of specialty SaaS provider AppRiver, there is also a significant market for managed services and cloud services aimed at helping SMBs adapt more basic solutions to their specific needs.
Popular opinion holds that cloud computing is a technology area dominated by large enterprises, with a few brave SMBs dipping their toes in and the rest hanging back to see how things develop this year. However, at least one set of data contradicts this belief. Recent research from hosting and cloud services software provider Parallels indicates that SMBs are actually leading the way when it comes to cloud adoption.
SysAid Technologies, the IT Service Management (ITSM) and Customer Service Support (CSS) software provider, has released SysAid It 8.5. The IT help desk platform has enhancements that cover mobility, functionality, end-user satisfaction and the user Interface (UI). Here’s the breakdown on the four categories of improvement.
PacketTrap, which makes the PacketTrap MSP platform, is preparing to launch a major brand extension called PacketTrap PSA, which will compete with Autotask, ConnectWise, Tigerpaw Software and other promoters of professional services automation software.
Quest Software has acquired BlueFolder, a cloud-based provider of PSA (professional services automation) software. Quest will integrate BlueFolder with PacketTrap MSP, a remote monitoring and management (RMM) software platform. For managed services providers, this is the latest example of PSA and RMM software coming together under one vendor roof — somewhat similar to the ConnectWise-LabTech Software effort and Kaseya’s potential PSA ambitions. Here’s the analysis.
The main draw during Day Two of the Hewlett-Packard (HP) Global Partner Conference (GPC) in Las Vegas this week was the new look HP has given to Vertica — a subsidiary of HP Software that provides real-time business analytics. Vertica is a major component of HP’s larger IT services suite.
There is a general sense in the business community that current database implementations are not providing enough “bang for the buck,” but there appears to be a lack of knowledge about how to improve the situation. According to a new InformationWeek survey of more than 750 business technology professionals, only 12% say their databases are a good deal.
N-able Technolgies, the remote monitoring and management (RMM) software provider, has partnered with Hartco Distribution in order to expand its reach further into Canada. N-able’s plan is to target what N-able VP of Sales Mike Cullen [picture] referred to as “untapped opportunities for MSPs” in the Canadian market. Here’s more on the plan, as well as how Hartco fits in.
Competition among remote monitoring and management (RMM) software providers is beginning to heat up in 2012. And as is usually the case, intense competition is leading to rapid software solution innovation. The latest example? The RMM provider Level Platforms has introduced its signature Managed Workplace 2012 edition with one of the hottest new business management software features on the market today — mobile device management (MDM) software.
Hours after officially releasing its new VFCache Flash storage solution, EMC Corp. on Feb. 6 held a press conference in San Francisco, Calif., to discuss its enterprise Flash strategy. Mark Sorensen, senior VP of EMC’s Flash Business Unit , described how VFCache will work with EMC FAST and other products, and how the company’s international channel partners will help EMC push to the forefront of enterprise Flash solution development.
BMC Software‘s recent buyout of Numara Software, a SaaS company, has potential implications for the IT management market. And some potential rivals such as ManageEngine are responding with competitive statements.
eXo, which develops a content management system, has released eXo 3.5. The multi-tenancy platform could allow managed services providers (MSPs) and cloud services providers (CSPs) to offer customers dedicated portals for content and collaboration, social streams and services, and mobile access. eXo Founder and President Benjamin Mestrallet (pictured) described the strategy to me last week.
Novatrend is the latest hosting and managed services provider (MSP) to embrace CA Technologies’s AppLogic platform for cloud services. The news surfaces as roughly 100 MSPs prepare to attend CA Technologies’ MSP Symposium (Miami, Jan. 29-31). In recent months, a growing number of MSPs have embraced AppLogic. Here’s why.
Attachmate’s NetIQ division, which develops management software, has released NetIQ Cloud Manager 2.o. NetIQ hopes MSPs will embrace the software to managed Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) more efficiently.
ManageEngine, the IT management software provider and a division of Zoho Corp., has added Zoho Reports support to MSP Center Plus, a multi-tenant management environment for managed service providers. The software provider’s goal is to give MSPs a solution to create more comprehensive network environment reports and pull more detailed analytics to improve their network performance.
Avaya has expanded the reach of its Avaya Flare Communicator to include support for the Apple iPad. Avaya claims the Avaya Flare Communicator gives enterprise workers using mobile devices a secure, unified communications (UC) platform that can be used over Wifi and 3G networks.
Net Optics, which develops network monitoring solutions, has made two acquisitions in an attempt to expand its global reach and provide its customers deeper and more insightful network reports. Specifically, Net Optics acquired TripleLayer (an Australian technology distributor) and TripleLayer’s sister company nMetrics (a network and application software provider).
Earlier this week, GroundWork Inc., the monitoring software developer, released GroundWork Monitor Core — a free version of its GroundWork Monitoring Enterprise version. The release was really two moves in one for GroundWork — which wants to more effectively target the SMB market and managed services providers (MSPs).
GroundWork Inc., which develops monitoring software, has released a free version of its platform called GroundWork Monitor Core. It’s a move that GroundWork CEO and Co-Founder Dave Lilly says that the company has long been planning.
Boundary, a month-old SAAS monitoring service provider, has hired Gary Read as its CEO. Read is the former CEO of Nimsoft, a cloud-based networking monitoring provider that CA Technologies acquired in 2010. Here’s the scoop.
Bomgar, which makes remote support software, has released Bomgar 12.1. As MSPmentor expected, the upgrade focuses on security, mobility and productivity– with an emphasis on Apple iOS (iPad and Iphone), Android and Intel vPro support. Bomgar has 6,000 international corporate customers and MSPs as customers across 52 countries. Here’s an overview of Bomgar 12.1.
LANDesk Software, the systems lifecycle management, endpoint security and IT service management software provider, has launched LANDesk 7.5 — the newest version of its IT service management ITSM solution. The solution’s main new feature is the LANDesk Mobile Web Desk, which gives IT support staffs full access to all of their service desk functions via any iOS, Android or BlackBerry mobile device.
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