MSPmentor

In recent months, I’ve blogged quite a bit about MSPs moving up the stack from from managed infrastructure to managed applications. In fact, I’ve advocated an increased applications focus. But a recent move by NaviSite, Inc. has me rethinking the managed applications market. Here’s why.

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Many MSPs are trying to sort out their software as a service (SaaS) strategies — with an eye toward Hosted Exchange and Hosted SharePoint. The big question: How do you continue to maintain customer control, even as SaaS platforms like Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) move into the market and launch low-ball pricing? Instead of living in fear, smart MSPs may want to start checking in with large web hosting providers — many of whom have already sorted out their SaaS and Hosted Exchange strategies.

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When RackSpace recently announced plans to offer hosted Microsoft SharePoint, it signaled both an opportunity and a warning sign for managed services providers. Is hosted SharePoint the next commodity SaaS service. Yes and no. Here’s why.

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Intermedia, which specializes in hosted Exchange, has unveiled a 100 percent data protection guarantee. But what exactly does the guarantee mean and will rival SaaS (software as a service) providers follow suit? Here are some fast facts and potential implications for managed service providers.

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Running a managed services practice is all about generating recurring revenue. Too many small IT providers get so hung up on the service part of Managed Services that they forget about the other ways to make recurring revenue. Here is my top ten list of ways to generate recurring revenue.

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If you’re an MSP trying to decide whether to cooperate or compete with Microsoft’s SaaS offerings, here’s another avenue for you to consider: Ingram Micro Seismic, the master managed service provider, has inked a co-marketing and sales agreement to offer Intermedia’s hosted Microsoft offerings — including hosted Exhange 2007, SharePoint and Dynamics 3.0. Here’s a closer look at Ingram Micro Seismic’s overall strategy, Intermedia’s business model and the emerging Microsoft SaaS industry.

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The ConnectWise Partner Summit kicks off Nov. 4 in Orlando, Fla. Roughly 900 managed service providers — including HTG Peer Group members — are expected to converge on the event. Here are five trends we’ll be tracking at the conference.

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How’s this for ironic: As Microsoft pushes ahead with its Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), some of Microsoft’s own SaaS partners say their hosted offerings are several steps ahead of Microsoft’s internal BPOS efforts. A case in point: Consider the situation at Intermedia, a major hosted application provider that’s working with nearly 5,000 channel partners.

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Windows no longer sits at the center of the IT universe. But Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC09) still knows how to attract a big crowd — including most of the major managed service software providers and MSPs themselves. Here are five MSP-centric topics MSPmentor will track at the event.

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Generally speaking, I respect Gartner’s research. I’ve quoted Gartner’s analysts since about 1992. But a recent Gartner report suggests businesses are only “somewhat satisfied” with software as a service (SaaS). I know SaaS has its flaws and challenges. But are businesses only “somewhat” satisfied with SaaS? Really?

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What comes after hosted Exchange and software as a service? Managed service providers like Azaleos Corp. and Intermedia Inc. continue to offer new answers to those questions. Here’s what to expect from both companies heading into Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2009 (WPC09) in New Orleans.

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It could be a sign of things to come. Heading into the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2009 (WPC09), Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) has agreed to resell Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). CSC’s move represents an inflection point for managed service providers, many of which are trying to decide whether to host Exchange and SharePoint on their own — or simply resell Microsoft’s own hosted services.

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Open-Xchange, which makes open source groupware, is quietly gaining momentum with European managed service providers and solutions providers that are moving into the hosting market.

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When it comes to hosted email, why zig when you can zag? That explains the strategy at EtomicMail, a managed service provider that’s hosting Zimbra — an open source email platform — rather than Microsoft Exchange.

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How can a managed service provider differentiate itself from Microsoft’s own hosted Exchange Server offering? Azaleos, an MSP in Seattle, has found one potential answer. The company has launched security services to safeguard its Exchange email customers. Here’s some background.

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