Looking back, 2011 was rocked by scandals, deaths, incredible new products, underwhelming new products, and more. The year had a lot to say to businesses, if we were listening, especially about data protection, backup and disaster recovery, and more. Here then are three ways 2011 reminded us of the importance of business continuity.
2 comments
3 Ways 2011 Reminded Us We Need Business Continuity
Posted January 9th, 2012 by StorageCraft Guest Blog
MSP Backup Software: Red Hat Executive Named Acronis CEO
Posted December 1st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Just Say No to Business Disruption
Posted November 21st, 2011 by Eric Townsend
What’s worse: A hurricane or a hard drive soaking in coffee? An early season blizzard that knocks out power lines or the dreaded blue screen of death? I suppose it depends on your perspective. But if you’re like most MSPs with whom I meet, a hard drive steeped in coffee or the blue screen of death seem worse than a “little weather.”
SunGard Expands Data Center to Meet Cloud Demand
Posted October 6th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
SunGard Availability Services, the disaster recovery and managed IT services specialist, has expanded a Philadelphia, Pa., data center to meet growing demand for cloud services. At times we wonder if the world has too many data centers and too few cloud customers amid all the cloud hype. But SunGard’s data center investment appears to eliminate our concerns.
Hurricane Irene Clean-up: Electricity Is Key Challenge
Posted August 29th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Generally speaking, SMB customer networks across the U.S. east coast are running well following Hurricane Irene. But flood waters and extended power outages have complicated the recovery process for some managed services providers (MSPs). Nearly 5.5 million people lack power/electricity on the U.S. east coast, and in some cases power providers say repairs could require a week of work.
The ABC’s of Managed Services (Part 2)
Posted July 8th, 2011 by Ted Roller
Last month we talked about what I consider the three foundational elements of a successful MSP business. A is for Availability, and last month I composed a list of questions that MSPs and aspiring MSPs might want to consider as they build and grow their MSP practice. So this month, let’s dig deeper into the tactics associated with trying to achieve 100% uptime at your customer’s site with my special guest, MJ Shoer, founder and President of Jenaly Technology Group.
Weather Crises Equal (Sensitive) Opportunity for MSPs
Posted July 7th, 2011 by Dan Berthiaume
It’s not a matter of popular imagination, or increased news coverage. Climate scientists have confirmed that severe weather, such as tornadoes and floods, is on the rise both in the US and around the world. Everyone has surely seen footage of the devastating tornadoes and floods that have wreaked havoc in the Midwest in the past month or two, and even states with low tornado risk like Massachusetts have recently been hit hard. The turbulent times certainly provide business continuity opportunities for MSPs that are sensitive to customers’ business needs before, during and after times of crisis.
The ABCs of Managed Services Success (Part I)
Posted June 10th, 2011 by Ted Roller
Every successful MSP business should offer three critical deliverables that apply to almost any IT VAR / Reseller business, but each can be crafted and honed to perfection as part of a managed services practice. Over the next several months I plan to leverage my ongoing guest blog to explore each of those items in more depth and discuss ways to create opportunities from each deliverable. In this post, I’d like to introduce these concepts and get the discussion started. What are the ABCs of MSP success? They are…
HTG Launches Emergency Fund, Support for Member MSPs
Posted May 4th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
HTG Peer Groups, as expected, today launched Hands That Give — an emergency fund and support network that helps member managed services providers (MSPs) during times of business or personal crisis. At first glance, Hands That Give is an emergency insurance policy for HTG’s members. But take a closer look, and you’ll discover Hands That Give involves MSPs and several IT vendors giving time and support to peers, notes Arlin Sorensen (pictured), founder of HTG. Sorensen unveiled the program during the HTG Peer Groups Spring Conference in Dallas, Texas, this morning.
Business Continuity: Key to Long-term Client Relationships
Posted April 5th, 2011 by Maurice Saluan
No matter how good your intentions for preparing for a crisis, no one is really ever quite prepared for the worst. This probably has something to do with human nature and an innate inability to contemplate a truly worst-case scenario. Yet, prepare we must because the consequences can be dire. I’m sure most, if not all, of you are familiar with the statistics on companies that suffer major data losses: Most of them go out of business. I bet many of you have used such statistics to make a case for business continuity strategies.
Actifio Launches Data Management Partner Program for MSPs
Posted January 17th, 2011 by John Moore
Actifio, which focuses on data management software, has unveiled a partner program cultivates ties with resellers and managed services providers. Here’s a snapshot look at Actifio’s partner strategy.
Business Continuity: QuorumLabs Gets New Channel Chief
Posted December 14th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
QuorumLabs, providers of all-in-one business continuity applications, gets a new channel chief today in the form of Chris Moore, an industry veteran whose new job as senior VP of sales and business development will oversee the company’s efforts to reorganize and re-prioritize its partner program. I had the chance to chat with Moore briefly ahead of the announcement. Here’s the skinny:
Mimecast Extends Security and Archiving to Microsoft Cloud
Posted November 16th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Mimecast, which already provides cloud-based email security, continuity, archiving and policy control, now plans to support the Microsoft BPOS SaaS productivity and collaboration suite. The company says the new support has seeks to solve customers’ migration headaches. Here are the details.
Lawson Launches Cloud-based Disaster Recovery Service
Posted August 25th, 2010 by John Moore
Back in April 2010, Lawson Software identified Scott County, Minn., as an early user of the company’s cloud services. The county had tapped the cloud for disaster recovery. At the time, Lawson didn’t expect disaster recovery to be the typical cloud use case. But this week Lawson debuted Lawson Disaster Recovery, a cloud service targeting business processes such as payroll, finance, accounts receivable/payable, inventory management and procurement. Here are the details.
Intronis Veteran Eric Webster Joins Cloud Specialist Doyenz
Posted August 19th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Eric Webster (pictured) is leaping from one cloud upstart to another. After leaving online backup specialist Freemiums: Should MSPs Give Some Services Away for Free?
Posted August 16th, 2010 by Sam Gutmann
Though cloud-based media companies have pioneered the freemium model, there’s been some chatter lately about the use of freemiums in the managed services space. The reasoning behind the model is that there’s value in giving something away for free in hopes of snagging a fatter cow — i.e., super users — who are willing to pay for extra features (Skype), advertising-free content (Pandora), or unlimited use (Flickr). But can the freemium model work with MSPs? I’m skeptical. Here’s why.
Bluehawk Networks: Dell Partner Makes Managed Services Push
Posted August 2nd, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
When it comes to the managed services, Dell partners have been mostly quiet in recent months. But listen closely and you’ll hear some managed services and cloud chatter from Bluehawk Networks, a Dell partner that’s making acquisitions to expand its SMB and Fortune 1000 customer reach. Here are the details.
SMB Crisis Management: Address Smoke Before There’s Fire
Posted July 29th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
If I seem tired, it’s because my hotel had two false fire alarms last night. All of the hotel guests, including me, had to exit the hotel twice during the middle of the night. Exhausted parents. Tired kids. Burned out bloggers. The situation could have turned ugly. But the hotel addressed potential customer complaints before the sun rose that morning. Here’s how.
Last Call: SaaS Sales Tips Webcast – 2:00pm Eastern Today
Posted June 9th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
As you begin to evaluate white label SaaS solutions for your customers, VARs and MSPs must also develop a SaaS sales pitch to help articulate your value proposition. To get started, listen and submit your questions during The VAR Guy Live’s webcast at 2:00 p.m. eastern today (Wednesday, June 9). The topic for today’s webcast: How to Sell Initial SaaS Solutions. Here are some more details.
SaaS Sales Tips: June 9 Webcast
Posted June 8th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
As you begin to evaluate white label SaaS solutions for your customers, VARs and MSPs must also develop a SaaS sales pitch to help articulate your value proposition. To get started, listen and submit your questions during The VAR Guy Live’s Wednesday, June 9 webcast. The topic for this week’s webcast: How to Sell Initial SaaS Solutions. Here are some more details.
MSPs Drill for Dental Office Engagements
Posted May 6th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Forgive the terrible headline. I’m waiting for a flight and dragging a bit today. But I did stumble across a rather interesting tip that could help managed services providers (MSPs) to work more closely with dentist offices. The tip comes from Intronis CEO Sam Gutmann, and it involves an emerging group called the Dental Integrators Association. Here are the details.
Zenith Infotech Plans 124 MSP Events
Posted December 30th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Zenith Infotech plans to host 124 U.S. Open Houses in the first quarter of 2010 — part of a push to promote managed services infrastructure and business continuity services to solutions providers targeting small and mid-size companies. Take a closer look and you’ll notice this is part of a larger trend that’s accelerating across the managed services market: Software companies hitting the road and holding face-to-face engagements, open houses and user group gatherings.
Storage Guardian Launches Free 30-Day Online Backup Trial
Posted March 17th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
A quick update involving the online storage market: Storage Guardian is the latest software company to launch an online data backup and business continuity partner program for managed service providers (MSPs) and VARs. The service is designed, in particular, for partners that specialize in Exchange Server, Small Business Server, SharePoint Server and Active Directory customers. You can find a free 30-day trial here.
