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
Microsoft, Google Making Federal Cloud Moves
Posted February 26th, 2010 by John Moore
There’s high-level support for cloud computing in the government space so, unsurprisingly, vendors are following the money. The latest to do so is Microsoft. The company this week rolled out a federal-specific version of its Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). And you can bet Google and Amazon Web Services will be making some federal cloud moves as well. Here are some of the details and implications.
Eucalyptus, Terracotta Make Next Cloud Move
Posted February 12th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Eucalyptus Systems, the open-source cloud platform vendor that’s positioned itself as the free, private alternative to Amazon Web Services, told me they were going to spend most of 2010 looking for new business opportunities. It looks like they’ve found one, as they announce a partnership with Terracotta to provide enhanced data scalability and application performance for enterprises using their private cloud. Here’s the scoop.
CommVault Launches Cloud Connector for Backups
Posted February 1st, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: A backup and archive software vendor announces that their trademark solution is getting an upgrade to integrate seamlessly with a who’s-who of cloud storage providers. This latest example involves CommVault, and their Simpana 8 software joining the hybrid backup solutions club. Here are the specifics.
Eucalyptus Continues Private Cloud Momentum
Posted January 27th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Back in October 2009, I wrote a bit about Eucalyptus Systems — which develops open-source cloud computing software. In some ways, it’s positioned as an open, private cloud alternative to Amazon Web Services. Fast forward to the present, and Eucalyptus seems to be showing some momentum. Here’s an update, including perspectives from Eucalyptus CTO and co-founder Rich Wolski.
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.
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.
Nimsoft Launches Unified Dashboard for On-Premise, Cloud Monitoring
Posted October 20th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Nimsoft has launched a Unified Monitoring dashboard (shown above) that allows managed service providers to track the health of on-premise systems and cloud applications — from Google Apps to Salesforce.com. In recent months, several vendors have told me they’re working on similar dashboards but I saw a demo of the Nimsoft offering last week and it seemed to work as advertised. Here are some quick thoughts on the effort.
CA Takes Closer Look At MSP Partner Strategy
Posted October 8th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
CA Inc. continues to accelerate its managed services partnership with Ingram Micro Seismic. And CA Senior VP and GM Adam Famularo confirms more moves are coming — including a version of XOsoft business continuity software that MSPs can host on their own. Here’s a bit more on CA’s emerging disaster recovery strategy for MSPs and VARs, including a FastChat Video with Famularo.
Cloud Computing Explained In Four Paragraphs
Posted September 21st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Cloud computing. The definition for that two-word term varies greatly depending on who’s doing the talking. But during Atlanta Linux Fest, held Sept. 19, Canonical’s John Pugh offered a simple definition that brings order to cloud computing, SaaS (software as as service), platform as a service (PaaS) and some other hot terms in IT. Here’s the scoop.
SaaS Stocks Slip 2.19% for Week Ending April 24
Posted April 25th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
After a two-month hot streak, software as a service stocks cooled off for the week ending April 24. Our SaaS 20 Stock Index slipped 2.19 percent for the one-week period. Amazon.com and Salary.com were the index’s biggest weekly winners; Omniture and RightNow Technologies were the biggest weekly losers. Here’s what went wrong — and right — for SaaS during the week.
Vembu: StoreGrid Online Backup Meets Amazon Cloud
Posted April 21st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
I must admit: I can’t keep pace with the number of software companies pushing their applications into Amazon’s cloud. The latest example comes from Vembu Technologies, which has launched their StoreGrid Online Backup virtual appliance for Amazon Web Services. Here is some info from Vembu plus the bigger picture for managed service providers.
Top Nine Channel Stories From The VAR Guy: April 10, 2009
Posted April 10th, 2009 by The VAR Guy
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.
- Canonical vs. Microsoft: Netbook Cat Flight
- PlumChoice: Remote Tech Services for MSPs
- The Open Source Channel Nears Tipping Point
- Amazon’s Cloud Plus Open Source: One VAR’s Model
- Which Windows Server Is Best for Your Small Business
- Windows Server Foundation: Big Opportunity for Small Biz VARs?
- Channel Marketing: Viral Video Generates DroboPro Storage Buzz
- Novell SUSE Linux, PlateSpin: So Happy Together
- 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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NetSuite Launches Cloud for ISVs
Posted March 24th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
I overlooked this piece of news from last week — until I spotted it on Jeff Kaplan’s blog: NetSuite, one of the better-known ERP software as a service (SaaS) providers, has launched a cloud for ISVs (independent software vendors) to develop and deploy new applications. But this isn’t the only way to build a cloud service.
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.
Where Cloud Services Are Heading Next
Posted February 10th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Still skeptical about the convergence of open source, software as a service (SaaS) and cloud services? Take a minute to read this story. It’s one of the first examples of a solutions provider meeting customer needs by embracing open source and Amazon Web Services. And I think it’s a sign of things to come for VARs and managed service providers.
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.
Will Microsoft Azure Catch On With MSPs?
Posted October 29th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft’s new cloud service — known as Azure — has multiple implications for managed service providers and the IT channel.
Amazon.com Lifts SaaS 20 Stock Index for Week Ended July 25
Posted July 26th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
A strong financial report from Amazon.com lifted the SaaS 20 Stock index a tiny 0.20% gain for the week ended July 25. The index has now climbed almost four percent since early July. Are software as a service (SaaS) stocks ready to continue a rally? We’ll find out on July 30, when RightNow (RNOW) is scheduled to announce 2Q results after the market closes.
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