MSPmentor

Synnex, in a potential competitive move against Ingram Micro Seismic, has tapped former MSP Services Network (MSPSN) CEO Amy Luby to assist the distributor’s managed services efforts. The initiative also involves itControl Solutions Inc. Here are some preliminary details.

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If you still doubt the power — and influence — of peer groups then check out a recent announcement involving CompTIA and HTG Peer Groups. The relationship is the latest indication that big associations and vendors see peer groups — comprising VARs and MSPs — as fertile ground for growth. Here’s why.

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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.

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As the ConnectWise Partner Summit kicks off in Orlando, Fla., MSP Services Network (MSPSN) is touting recent integration with the ConnectWise platform. But instead of betting her business on one relationship, MSPSN CEO Amy Luby is developing partnerships and relationships with a range of software providers and associations. Here’s an update on MSPSN’s strategy.

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If you check in with enough sources close to Google, you start to get the feeling that the search giant is preparing to accelerate an enterprise-oriented SaaS (software as a service) push in Q4 2009 or early 2010. Here’s what apparently is coming — and the potential implications for managed service providers.

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MSPAlliance President Charles Weaver (pictured) has offered up his thoughts regarding CompTIA’s acquisition of MSP Partners (the deal was announced earlier today). Here’s a recap of Weaver’s perspectives, plus my two cents.

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I just returned home from Red Hat Summit. Great event, but it consumed a lot of my week. Once again my inbox is filled with tips, rumors and news. Here are seven quick managed services headlines I didn’t have a chance to write during the week ending August 28.

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MSP Services Network (MSPSN), an Omaha-based Master MSP that also promotes industry collaboration, is partnering with CompTIA to develop content for three regional managed services workshops. The effort emphasizes business and financial education rather than technology talk. Here’s a look at the MSPSN-CompTIA relationship, plus a broader look at conferences and educational efforts across the managed services industry.

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MSP Partners is set to debut MSP Pro — an online exam that allows managed service providers to “demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Managed Services Best Practices,” according to a press release that will hit the wires May 26.

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Numerous anecdotes suggest that managed service providers (MSPs) are holding up better than traditional resellers in the recession. Now, CompTIA (the Computing Technology Industry Association) is backing up those assumptions with research. Here’s a look at some of CompTIA’s latest findings about the MSP industry.

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Question: When do you know a technology industry is starting to grow up? Answer: The technology vendors themselves begin to offer vendor-neutral business education. The latest case in point involves N-able, which has launched online training tools called Business e-Training Essentials. Here’s a bit more about N-able’s move based on a phone chat with CEO Gavin Garbutt (pictured), and the broader MSP education market.

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I’ll avoid the temptation to call it a managed services war or a battle. But there is a clear difference of opinion between the MSPAlliance and MSP Partners regarding managed services accreditation. And the story (actually non-story, I believe) reached new heights a few hours ago. Pull up a chair and take a seat. This is a long blog entry.

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A quick observation: Larger, more successful managed service providers continue to embrace SAS 70 II (Statement of Auditing Standards No. 70), an American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) standard for auditing service organizations. The latest example involves FusionStorm, an MSPmentor 100 company that says it has completed SAS 70 Type II certification.

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This just in: The MSPAlliance plans to offer SAS 70 audits for its members — a smart move considering the growing list of managed service providers, Web hosts and data center providers that are expressing interest in SAS 70. But the MSPAlliance isn’t the only association expanding its accreditation and certification efforts. The grapevine says CompTIA and MSP Partners continue to prepare a managed services accreditation program that could be announced within hours or days.

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Despite the recession, some managed service providers continue to attract investment dollars. One example: Zayo Group, which specializes in fiber-based network services and managed services, says it has raised $128 million in Series B funding. Here’s a bit more about the company’s financial performance, along with some tips on how you can track where IT investment dollars are flowing.

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CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, plans to host a Managed IT Services Summit in Palos Verdes, Calif., from Oct. 6 to 8, MSPmentor has learned. It’s the second major MSP-focused conference announced this week.

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The MSPAlliance this week offered more details about its new Green IT Certification strategy. According to the association’s Website, MSPs must take the following steps (and potentially other steps) to achieve the green IT certification:

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Open source is starting to influence portions of the managed services market. But can MSPs really trust open source?

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The MSPAlliance says it plans to unveil a Green IT certification for managed service providers during the organization’s conference next month in Las Vegas.

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CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, is launching a Managed Service Provider Thought Leadership Group. The group, spearheaded by CompTIA Vice President Robert Biddle (pictured), will seek to educate VARs that are marching toward a managed services business model.

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I spent some time with Erick Simpson, VP and CIO of MSP University, during the Kaseya User Conference in Las Vegas last month. Even before we met, I knew Erick had written some best-selling books on managed services. But I wanted to learn a bit more about where MSP University had been … and where it’s going.

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During a discussion at CompTIA’s recent SMB Summit in Florida, some VARs mentioned that Cox Communications — the cable company — is attempting to push into managed services and develop closer relationships with small and mid-size businesses. Cox isn’t alone. Cable companies across the country are starting to offer managed IP services, which means solutions providers need to maintain face-time — and account control — with their customers.

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I witnessed a rather interesting debate earlier this week at CompTIA’s SMB Summit. During the event, hosted in Bonita Springs, Fla., about 120 VARs debated the true definition of managed services. Eventually, attendees reached two clear conclusions: First, managed services are either (A) delivered remotely or (B) delivered on site — yes, on site. The real trick, all attendees agreed, is to deliver the remote or on-site services as part of a monthly contract/service fee.

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