The times they are a changing. Our fourth-annual MSPmentor 250 list is set to debut the week of August 1. The MSPmentor 250 will help you to rapidly build a Rolodex containing managed services experts, entrepreneurs and executive names. But there are big changes to this year’s MSPmentor 250. In fact, here are eight well-known industry names who didn’t make this year’s edition…
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MSPmentor 250: Eight Former Members — Where Are They Now?
Posted July 28th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Kaseya, Ingram Micro Expected to Expand Partnership In Q4
Posted July 18th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Kaseya and Ingram Micro, which already work together in Australia, are set to expand their managed services partnership into North America sometime in Q4, a spokeswoman for the distributor confirms. Here are the potential implications for managed services providers.
Synnex Managed Services March Forward As Luby Departs
Posted June 29th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Synnex continues to build out its managed services business while confirming MSP veteran Amy Luby is no longer with the distributor. Here’s the update.
Is It Possible to Build a Global Master MSP?
Posted June 20th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
On paper, Master MSPs sound like ideal channel partners. Generally speaking, Master MSPs offer VARs and aspiring MSPs a range of recurring revenue services and IT solutions — everything from NOC (network operations centers) to turnkey remote monitoring platforms. But the Master MSP market has faced its share of challenges over the years. Now comes word that MSP1 of India is seeking to build a global Master MSP business. Can the strategy succeed?
Seven Managed Services Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write: June 3
Posted June 3rd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
I spent much of the week at Ingram Micro Cloud Summit in Phoenix, Ariz. There was plenty of managed services chatter at the conference. But as usual, we’ve got too many news leads and too little time. So here are seven managed services blog entries MSPmentor didn’t have time to write for the week ending June 3, 2011.
Managed Services and Cloud Computing: Ingram Micro Blurs the Line
Posted June 1st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
The second-annual Ingram Micro Cloud Summit is set to start later today (June 1) in Phoenix, Ariz. But if you take a closer look you’ll discover that the event was spun off from another annual gathering involving Ingram Micro Seismic MSPs. So what’s the difference between Ingram Micro Cloud and Ingram Micro Seismic? Less and less. Here’s why.
Synnex Managed Services: Chasing Ingram Micro or Truly Innovating?
Posted April 14th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
A new round of competition may be emerging in the managed services market. It goes something like this: Ingram Micro spent several years building its Seismic managed services business for VARs and MSPs. Now, Synnex — an Ingram rival — has launched its latest managed services initiative. So is Synnex chasing Ingram — or is Synnex truly innovating on its own? I’ve organized some thoughts based on this week’s Ingram Micro VTN (Chicago) and Synnex Varnex (Boston) channel gatherings.
Ingram Micro Services 3.0: Here’s What’s Next for MSPs
Posted April 13th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
At the Ingram Micro VTN conference this week, VP of Managed Services and Cloud Computing Renee Bergeron (pictured) generated plenty of dialog around managed services and cloud computing. But sometimes you need to read between the lines and listen carefully to what wasn’t said. Sometimes, silence in certain areas can tell you a lot about what’s next for a company and its channel partners. So, based on my own educated guesses, here’s what’s next for the Ingram Micro Cloud and Ingram Micro Seismic initiatives.
Synnex MSPs Pursue $100 Million Managed Services Opportunity
Posted April 10th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
New, confirmed details about the Synnex managed services channel strategy have finally emerged. The distributor is working closely with MSPs and VARs to pursue one million freemium managed nodes and a mid-market opportunity of at least $100 million. The catch: MSPs need to leverage the freemium software nodes by end of 2011. Confirmed partners in the Synnex managed services effort include Axcient, Intronis, Level Platforms, Symantec and Reflexion. Here’s the scoop.
Seven Managed Services Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write: April 8
Posted April 10th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
I’m hanging out at the Synnex Varnex conference today in Boston — and catching up on some work — before heading to Ingram Micro VTN in Chicago on Monday night. Among my key tasks today: Telling you about the seven blog entries MSPmentor didn’t have time to write for the week ending April 8, 2011. Here they are…
Ingram Vs. Synnex: Distributors Prepare Cloud, MSP Updates
Posted April 7th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
In the distribution market, rivals Ingram Micro and Synnex are preparing some cloud channel partner updates for VARs and managed services providers. The latest moves will likely surface at two separate conferences the week of April 10 in Boston (Synnex Varnex) and Chicago (Ingram Micro VTN). So what’s on tap? I expected plenty of updates from Ingram Micro VP of Managed Services and Cloud Computing Renee Bergeron (pictured) and Synnex Senior VP Robert Stegner. Here’s a preview.
Microsoft Office 365: 10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Posted March 23rd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft Office 365, a forthcoming cloud platform, remains in beta. But my phone is ringing off the hook with questions about Office 365, and the potential implications for MSPs, VARs and cloud service providers (CSPs). In response, here’s an Office 365 FAQ designed for channel partners. The FAQ will ultimately live on TalkinCloud, MSPmentor’s sister site. We’ll make updates and provide more perspectives as readers share more views with us…. and as Office 365 nears its official launch.
Level Platforms: The Buzz Sounds Real
Posted March 17th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Level Platforms, according to multiple managed services providers, has caught its second wind. The company, which develops remote monitoring and management software for MSPs, spent most of 2008 and 2009 stabilizing its platform. Fast forward to the present and multiple factors — a new software release, an improving economy, key software partnerships, and an emerging relationship with Synnex — apparently are giving Level Platforms a timely lift.
Intermedia Hosts 100,000 Exchange 2010 Mailboxes
Posted March 15th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Intermedia, a hosted Exchange specialist that works closely with VARs and MSPs, kicked off its annual partner conference this morning by sharing several business milestones. CEO Serguei Sofinski (pictured) told roughly 100 attendees that Intermedia now hosts more than 100,000 Exchange 2010 mailboxes. Plus, Intermedia’s channel has pushed beyond 6,500 partners. For MSPs sorting out hosted Exchange and hosted PBX opportunities, here are four highlights from Sofinski’s keynote.
Master MSPs: New Missions, Evolving Ambitions?
Posted February 28th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Master MSPs — which offer education and multiple hosted services to VARs and aspiring managed services providers — seem to be evolving in multiple directions. Some are becoming cloud aggregators. Others are expanding their SMB channel training services. But one thing is clear: No two Master MSPs seem to have the same business plan these days. Here’s why.
Ingram Micro, Synnex Prep Managed Services, Cloud Updates
Posted February 17th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Ingram Micro and Synnex, two large rival distributors, each are preparing more moves in the managed services and cloud computing markets. Some details may emerge the week of April 10 — when Synnex hosts Varnex in Boston and Ingram Micro hosts VTN Spring in Chicago. In the meantime, Renee Bergeron, VP of managed services and cloud computing at Ingram Micro, may provide some updates at the Parallels Summit in Orlando, Fla., next week.
Ask a Mentor: What Should A Managed Services Contract Cover?
Posted February 8th, 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 Western Massachusetts, who wants to know more about managed services contracts and service level agreements. Here’s the question and our reply…
24×7 Help Desk and NOC Support: Deeper Perspectives for MSPs
Posted February 7th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Last week I mentioned a few software companies that were shifting to 24×5 and 24×7 support for their managed services partners. To further the discussion I reached out to NOC (network operations center) and help desk providers to see if 24×7 support is now a requirement for MSPs and their end-customers.
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…
Synnex Lines Up Managed Services, Cloud Technology Partners
Posted December 16th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Synnex, the distributor, is preparing a one-million-node managed services freemium strategy, sources reiterated today. Those sources say Intronis, Reflexion and Level Platforms will likely participate in the effort, potentially empowering MSPs with online backup, spam filtering in the cloud, and remote monitoring and management (RMM) software. Here’s the story so far… and the potential implications.
Memo to MSPs: Don’t Be A Dung Beetle
Posted October 21st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
NetEnrich Senior VP and GM Justin Crotty says MSPs that build their own NOC (network operation center) services are behaving like dung beetles, feeding off messy customer problems when MSP time would be better spent focusing on strategic business activities. Predictably, Crotty is making his case for MSPs to outsource their NOCs to a third-party provider. Here’s why.
Ingram Micro Seismic Veteran Shifting to Europe
Posted October 13th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Jason Beal, a well-known veteran of Ingram Micro Services, North America and Ingram Micro Seismic, will soon shift his attention to Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Effective January 1, 2011, Ingram Micro EMEA will leverage Beal as senior director, software and services, Value Division. Beal’s new role is the latest update to Ingram Micro’s cloud, managed services and IT services strategy. Here’s the update.
Ingram Micro Managed Services VP: Why She’s Heading to Texas
Posted October 5th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Nearly 700 VARs and channel leaders attended this week’s Ingram Micro VTN conference in San Francisco. But this evening, Ingram Micro’s new VP of Managed Services and Cloud Computing, Renee Bergeron (pictured), is traveling from the VTN event to another conference in San Antonio, Texas. Her destination: The Rackspace Partner Leadership Summit. Why are scores of VARs and managed services leaders like Bergeron gathering at this annual Rackspace conference? Here’s the answer.
