LabTech Software, the remote monitoring and management (RMM) software provider, has developed a software certification program for the company’s MSPs, VARs and IT service providers. Such certification efforts are part of a growing trend in the managed services software market.
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Managed Services Software Certification: A Growing Trend?
Posted January 19th, 2012 by Nicholas Mukhar
Managed Services: 7 Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write, Jan. 6
Posted January 6th, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
We’re six days into the New Year. I’m caught in a technology paradox — still feeling optimistic but also feeling a little burned out. Perhaps I’m just tired of chasing this week’s merger and acquisition news in the managed services market. Either way, here are seven managed services blogs and MSP news stories MSPmentor’s team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending January 6, 2012.
Managed Services Acquisition: Network Depot Buys Evolve Tech
Posted January 1st, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
Network Depot has acquired Evolve Technologies, MSPmentor has confirmed. The New Year deal combines two well-known managed services providers (MSPs) that support SMB customers in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Here are the initial details.
Use Business Recovery as a Gateway to Cloud Storage
Posted December 1st, 2011 by Maurice Saluan
IT service providers that have been selling cloud-based business continuity solutions surely have noticed data backup and recovery is one of the most popular cloud-based offerings with end users. In fact, according to a recent study by CompTIA, storage and backup solutions are the most popular cloud applications, with 71 percent of small and midsize businesses (SMB) currently using the technology. The data points don’t end there.
Managed Services: Tech Cost Savings vs. Productivity Gains
Posted October 28th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
A recent study conducted by CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the IT industry, finds that companies using IT managed services are seeing significant cost savings. But I’ve got to wonder: Are managed services really about cost savings — or is the real benefit predictable business operations for both the customer and the MSP?
Xerox Debuts Free Mobile Print, Wireless MFP
Posted October 12th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
The managed print services market continues to see small signs of progress. One example: Xerox has unveiled a free mobile print and wireless MFP solution for its reseller partners. The announcement reinforces managed print moves that the company unveiled at Xerox Partner Summit back in April 2011. Here’s the update.
Anecdotal Growth in the Channel
Posted October 7th, 2011 by Ted Roller
Last week was a pretty interesting time in the channel and, as usual, much of the interesting news was announced at SMB Nation. Some of it was made publicly, and some of it was not. What were some of the interesting trends — and the potential implications for MSPs? Read on.
CompTIA Study: Managed Print Services On the Rise
Posted September 21st, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Managed print services (MPS) finally seem to be gaining moment but the market for MPS services will still face some challenges, according to a recent study by CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association.
How to Master Consultative Value-based Selling
Posted September 19th, 2011 by Ted Roller
As a managed IT services provider, it’s important for your team to have strategic consulting skills and effective processes, which ultimately lift sales. Think about the following words: Proficiency. Expertise. Talent. Skill. Art. Knowledge is power. Working with the most knowledgeable and talented people on the planet is a great way to relieve stress, move your business forward, and sleep well at night. As a business owner, working with experts whose expertise and integrity you trust is a truly magical experience. Check the box, move on to the next problem. These guys have my back.
Geeks on Call: Making an IT Services Franchise Comeback?
Posted September 12th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Geeks On Call apparently has overhauled its IT services franchising model. At its height in 2007, Geeks on Call claims it had more than 300 IT services franchises across the United States. But by 2009, the company fell off a cliff and SEC filings revealed deep financial problems. But by late 2010, there were signs that new owner Glenn Davis was overhauling Geeks on Call. Fast forward to the present and Geeks On Call is introducing a new IT services franchising model. Will VARs and MSPs give it a look?
Kaseya Certified Engineers: Will MSPs Ask for Them By Name?
Posted August 23rd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Roughly 90 technology professionals — including managed IT services providers and corporate IT managers — are now Kaseya Certified Engineers, estimates Brendan Cosgrove, Kaseya’s director of social media and community. Kaseya launched the certification for IT automation professionals in May 2011. But are MSPs ready for another software-centric certification? Here’s the update?
MSPs Can Assist Healthcare Industry
Posted August 8th, 2011 by Dan Berthiaume
MSPs, many of whom are SMBs themselves, are in a position to assist the US healthcare industry advance its use of new IT tools, according to a recent white paper from non-profit IT industry association CompTIA (Computer Technology Industry Association). Industry estimates project spending in the healthcare IT market at more than $34 billion this year, and about one half of healthcare practices surveyed expected to increase IT expenditures in the next year.
Education is the Key to Cloud Adoption
Posted July 19th, 2011 by Maurice Saluan
Do your customers know what the cloud is? Chances are they have some vague ideas about cloud computing, but if you pressed them on how the cloud fits into their IT needs, most would stumble.
CompTIA Breakaway 2011: Seven Trends Worth Tracking
Posted July 18th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
My next business trip is CompTIA Breakaway 2011 (Aug. 1-4, Washington, D.C.). Predictably, the worlds of cloud services and managed services will converge at Breakaway. But I expect several other trends to emerge at the conference. Here’s a preview, along with seven trends that I hope to track at CompTIA Breakaway.
Seven Managed Services Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write: May 20
Posted May 20th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Loyal MSPmentor readers know the story: It’s the end of the week. Time for the MSPmentor staff to unplug just a bit. But before we do here are seven managed services blog entries our team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending May 20, 2011.
A Closer Look: CompTIA’s New MSP Partners Trustmark
Posted May 20th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
CompTIA President and CEO Todd Thibodeaux is scheduled to attend Autotask Community Live (May 22-24, Miami). Among the items on his agenda: Discussing the new MSP Partners Trustmark. I wouldn’t call the trustmark a certification or accreditation. Rather, I think it seeks to be like a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for the managed services industry.
Autotask Community Live Preview: 10 Themes Worth Tracking
Posted May 18th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
More than 700 people — mostly managed services providers and VARs — are registered to attend next week’s Autotask Community Live conference (May 22-24, Miami, Fla.). There will be a flood of news announcements. But what’s really going on behind the curtains? And what key questions should attendees be asking? Here are 10 trends, themes and potential news nuggets that MSPmentor will pursue at the conference.
Telecom Agents Seek Managed Services Opportunities
Posted April 4th, 2011 by John Moore
A quarter century ago, there were computer VARs and telecom consultants and they existed mainly on parallel tracks. Telecom convergence slowly began to change that situation. Launching in the 1980s, the Integrated Services Digital Network pointed the way toward a voice/data future. IP telephony, unified communications and multimedia networking have done more to get computer and voice people working together. The voice and data businesses have something else in common: margin pressure. Eroding hardware profits helped push VARs into the MSP space. Similarly, voice specialists are encountering shrinking margins in carriers’ voice/data services.
Selling Managed Services: Find & Listen to Decision Makers
Posted March 29th, 2011 by Matthew Graven
In an economy of limited budgets and shrinking workforces, selling new services can be a tricky proposition. How can an MSP leverage the changing nature of how business is done as a value proposition for businesses to invest in new managed services?
Peer Groups: MSP Centrifuge Partners With Paul Dippell
Posted March 25th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
The MSP Centrifuge, an emerging managed services peer group, has partnered with Service Leadership Inc., Paul Dippell’s well-regarded consulting firm for solutions providers and channel-centric vendors. Meanwhile, the market for MSP peer groups appears to be growing. In addition to MSP Centrifuge and HTG Peer Groups, it sounds like Stuart Selbst is preparing to launch virtual peer groups (online gatherings) for MSPs in the SMB market. Here’s the update.
Seven Managed Services Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write: Feb. 18
Posted February 18th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
The MSPmentor team plans to unplug for a full three days as the U.S. celebrates Presidents’ Day Weekend. (Of course, we may surface if any big, breaking news happens over the extended weekend.) In the meantime, here are seven managed services blogs MSPmentor didn’t find time to write for the week ending Feb. 18.
Ask a Mentor: How Can I Compare Managed Services Software?
Posted February 1st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Each Tuesday, MSPmentor’s Ask a Mentor service publishes a reader question and invites you to weigh in with recommendations. This week’s question comes from a reader in Europe who is seeking information about managed services software — options and recommendations. Here’s the question and our reply…
CompTIA Prepares April 2011 Managed Services Effort
Posted January 27th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
CompTIA, which acquired MSP Partners in 2009, is making some adjustments and preparing some new moves that should surface by April 2011. Specifically, CompTIA is preparing a “managed services industry credential” that seeks to help top MSPs stand out from the masses. Interestingly, CompTIA does not use the term “accreditation” or “certification” to describe the forthcoming industry credential. Here’s the update.
