Not every MSP can leverage the Google Apps Marketplace, and not every solutions provider has cloud applications ready to go. Enter AppsOnCommand, a new white label solution that lets you host any application and deliver it as software as a service (SaaS).
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AppsOnCommand: Windows Apps Meet SaaS
Posted March 10th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Carpathia Launches InstantOn Cloud Platform
Posted March 2nd, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Carpatia Hosting is putting a new twist on cloud computing, pushing beyond managed hosting and colocation services. Specifically, the company has introduced InstantOn — a cloud platform apparently designed with corporate compliance and security in mind. Here are some quick details.
Kaseya Launches Global SaaS Partner Program
Posted February 25th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Kaseya has launched a global Software as a Service partner program. Known as KSP (Kaseya SaaS Partner Program), the initiative allows partners to “promote, refer and market” Kaseya’s SaaS and IT offerings to their respective channels. It’s easy to see what’s in it for Kaseya. The bigger question: What’s in it for partners? And what are the implications for the broader managed services software market? Here are some thoughts.
Mark Logic Brings XML to Amazon EC2
Posted January 20th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Yet another software firm is stepping into Amazon’s cloud. The latest example: Mark Logic, best known as developers of information infrastructure technology, has announced its intentions to bring their XML server solution to the cloud, starting with MarkLogic Server for Amazon EC2. Here’s the scoop.
SaaS Stocks Up 53 Percent So Far In 2009
Posted November 29th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
With one month remaining in 2009, software as a service (SaaS) stocks remain red hot. Nine Lives Media Inc.’s SaaS 20 Stock Index is up 53.74 percent so far this year — with 19 of the 20 index members seeing their shares rise. Here’s a look at the index’s year-to-date winners, plus the reason why Rackspace Hosting Inc. is joining the SaaS 20 Stock Index.
Google: Managed Services Shifting to Applications
Posted November 5th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
When Google takes the stage at the ConnectWise Partner Summit, channel manager Jeff Ragusa will deliver a key message: The managed services market is poised to expand beyond infrastructure management to application management. Regardless of your stance on Google Apps, Ragusa’s message is dead-on: It’s time for MSPs to figure out their application management strategies.
Eucalyptus: Another Cloud Effort Worth Watching
Posted October 29th, 2009 by Matthew Weinberger
We’ve already conceded that most MSPmentor readers have yet to try major clouds like Amazon Web Services. But if you’re just starting to give Amazon a look you might also want to keep one eye on Eucalyptus Systems Inc. — an open source system for private and hybrid clouds. Here’s why.
Amazon Web Services: The Big MSP Disconnect
Posted October 27th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Talk about two extremes: Yesterday, Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth (the guy behind Ubuntu Linux) said Amazon Web Services has emerged as a de facto cloud standard until open, vendor-neutral cloud standards can be developed. Yet only three percent of MSPs leverage Amazon’s cloud, according to our ongoing MSPmentor 100 survey. What’s behind the disconnect? Here are some thoughts.
Beware the Hosting Hype Cycle
Posted May 21st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Frequent MSPmentor readers know I talk and blog about the Managed Services Hype Cycle (based on Gartner’s own Technology Hype Cycle chart). All technologies go through a maturity curve (a cycle of sorts) that involves a bit of pain (or lots of pain) for customers and MSPs. Now, some folks are starting to talk about a Hosting Hype Cycle. And it’s an important discussion.
Managed Services Meet Linux Clouds
Posted May 19th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
At first glance, emerging software companies like Level Platforms and Canonical have little in common. The former develops managed services software; the latter promotes the Ubuntu Linux distribution. But take a closer look and you’ll find Level Platforms and Canonical heading in somewhat similar cloud directions.
Amazon Web Services: Can MSPs Profit?
Posted April 14th, 2009 by MSPMentor
If you’re a managed service provider trying to potentially profit from Amazon Web Services, Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) or Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) then please join us for The VAR Guy Live, a webcast scheduled for April 15 at 2:00pm eastern. During the webcast, one VAR will describe his work in the Google Apps Reseller program. And two solutions providers will describe how they profit from Amazon Web Services.
Webcast: Can You Profit From Google Apps?
Posted April 7th, 2009 by MSPMentor
A friendly reminder: If you’re a solutions provider trying to understand how to profit from Google Apps and software as a service (SaaS), then please join me for The VAR Guy Live, a webcast scheduled for April 15 at 2:00pm eastern. During the webcast, one VAR will describe his work in the Google Apps Reseller program. And two solutions providers will describe how they profit from Amazon Web Services.
Webcast: VARs Working In Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2)
Posted March 25th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
A friendly reminder: If you’re a solutions provider trying to understand how to profit from Amazon Web Services, Google Apps and software as a service (SaaS), then please join me for The VAR Guy Live, a webcast scheduled for April 15 at 2:00pm eastern. Two progressive solutions providers will describe their experiences launching CRM and BI (business intelligence) applications in Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2). And one VAR will describe his work in the Google Apps Reseller program. It should be a lively discussion about SaaS business models in the channel.
Can MSPs Profit From Google Apps And Amazon’s Cloud?
Posted March 18th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
I’m tired of SaaS (software as a service) hype. So I’ve reached out to three solutions providers to see whether they’re profiting from some early work with the Google Apps Reseller program and the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2). Those VARs will share their stories with me (and you, if you register) during The VAR Guy Live, a webcast scheduled for April 15 at 2:00pm eastern.
Microsoft’s Windows Azure Cloud: Dark for a Day
Posted March 17th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Windows Azure — Microsoft’s cloud platform — went dark for nearly 24 hours last weekend. Let’s keep the darkness in perspective: Azure is not a production network yet; it’s merely a test cloud environment that Microsoft is still optimizing. But 22 hours of darkness doesn’t inspire peace of mind in cloud systems. And I’m starting to think that Amazon.com — backed by loads of open source applications — is the cloud to beat.
The SaaS Bubble Already Burst (But Don’t Panic)
Posted March 17th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Examiner.com openly wonders if software as a service (SaaS) is the next tech bubble that will burst. The piece was written March 13 — a day after I asked if the MSP bubble would pop. But I think the Examiner’s views are painfully out of date. In fact, our own SaaS 20 Stock Index shows the SaaS market bubble burst in early 2008. Now, I think the SaaS industry is on the road to recovery and doing just fine, thank you. Here’s why.
Top Nine Channel Stories From The VAR Guy: March 13, 2009
Posted March 13th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
MSPmentor’s sister site — The VAR Guy — reveals what’s next in the IT channel. Here’s a look at the top nine headlines on The VAR Guy’s blog this week.
- Novell’s SUSE Linux Netbook Surprise
- A Successful Partner Program Shouldn’t Be A Guessing Game (part 2)
- Dell Takes Foolish Shot At Lenovo Partner Program
- Open Source Integrators Meet Amazon’s Cloud (Again)
- Pentaho Preps Open Source Partner Conference
- Riverbed Rewards Partners Using PRM Software
- Microsoft Launches 175 Partner Events
- Openbravo: Small Conference, Big Partner Event
- Dell Offers 0% EqualLogic Financing
- Sorry, this is a top nine list. Get to know The VAR Guy and you’ll realize he doesn’t play by the rules.
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Amazon Web Services: MSPs Keep An Open Mind
Posted February 5th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Can Amazon Web Services and other cloud services from the online retailer catch on with managed service providers? The vast majority of MSPs are keeping an open mind as Amazon continues to expand its cloud, according to MSPmentor’s latest weekly reader poll. Take a look at the results.
SaaS Stocks Fall Nearly 7 Percent In January 2009
Posted January 30th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
First, the good news: Software as a service (SaaS) stocks performed better than the Dow Jones Industrial Average (down 8.84 percent) and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index (down 8.57 percent) in January 2009. Now the bad news: SaaS stocks still fell almost 7 percent during the month, according to our SaaS 20 Stock Index. Here’s a look at the biggest monthly SaaS winners and losers, plus a SaaS market forecast from IDC.
Managed Cloud Services: Build vs. Rent
Posted January 26th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Should you build your own cloud computing system or simply leverage a third party cloud service? The answer to that question depends on which managed service provider you ask.
Windows Server, SQL Server Move Into Amazon Cloud
Posted October 1st, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
It was only a matter of time. Amazon.com’s Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) will soon support both Windows Server and SQL Server, according to this blurb on the Amazon.com Web site.
Red Hat Partners With Amazon.com On SaaS
Posted June 17th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
When I added Amazon.com to our SaaS 20 Stock Index, a few readers asked me whether the online retailer is really a software as a service (SaaS) company. My answer: Absolutely. And a growing number of tech companies agree with me.
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