Competition among remote monitoring and management (RMM) software providers is beginning to heat up in 2012. And as is usually the case, intense competition is leading to rapid software solution innovation. The latest example? The RMM provider Level Platforms has introduced its signature Managed Workplace 2012 edition with one of the hottest new business management software features on the market today — mobile device management (MDM) software.
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Level Platforms Managed Workplace 2012: RMM Meets MDM
Posted February 10th, 2012 by Nicholas Mukhar
ManageEngine to Debut iOS MDM at Mobile World Congress
Posted February 9th, 2012 by Nicholas Mukhar
ManagEngine, the IT management software provider owned by Zoho Corp., hopes to make some noise at Mobile World Congress (Feb. 27-March 1, Barcelona, Spain). Indeed, ManageEngine is set to debut its mobile device management (MDM) solution for Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad) devices at the event.
NTRglobal and N-able Extend Help Desk Deal to the Cloud
Posted February 8th, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
N-able Technologies and NTRglobal have a longstanding relationship that helps MSPs with remote control and help desk services. Now, N-able and NTRglobal are extending that relationship into the cloud.
Managed Services: 7 Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write, Feb. 3
Posted February 3rd, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
The Super Bowl kicks off in 52 hours. But I’m a bit distracted, plugging away on the fifth-annual MSPmentor 100 report — which debuts Feb. 15. In the meantime, here are seven managed services blogs and MSP news stories the MSPmentor team didn’t have a chance to write for February 3, 2012.
Datto: Profitable, Growing and Partnering on BDR Storage
Posted February 1st, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
Datto, the backup and disaster recovery (BDR) storage specialist, has a concise message for managed services providers (MSPs). Specifically, Datto is profitable, growing and in hiring mode. But what potentially sets Datto apart in the fiercely competitive BDR market? CEO Austin McChord offered MSPmentor some insights.
MSPWorld Tackles Cloud Computing, Cloud Services, SLAs
Posted January 30th, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
When the MSPWorld conference kicks off this week (Feb. 1-3, Miami, Fla.), a healthy portion of the event content will focus on cloud computing and cloud services. That’s hardly surprising, considering nearly 60 percent of top MSPs now offer cloud and SaaS services to their customers, according to our fifth-annual MSPmentor 100 report. But what cloud trends will be on display at MSPWorld? Here are some guesses.
Level Platforms: Help Desk Meets Managed Services Software
Posted January 23rd, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
The lines between managed services software, NOC (network operations center) services and help desk services continue to blur. The latest example involves Level Platforms introducing NOC and Help Desk services tied to its Managed Workplace platform for MSPs in the small business IT services market. This is part of a growing trend in the MSP market.
LabTech Software Introduces Managed Services Cloud Edition
Posted January 23rd, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
LabTech Software is the latest managed services software company to introduce a cloud edition. Indeed, LabTech’s flagship RMM (remote monitoring and management) software is now available as a LabTech Cloud edition. CEO Matt Nachtrab offered additional perspectives.
Datto Backup & Disaster Recovery Storage Business Grows 300%
Posted January 19th, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
Datto Inc., which promotes backup and disaster recovery (BDR) storage solutions to MSPs and channel partners, says annual revenues grew 300 percent in 2011 vs. 2010. It’s the third consecutive year Datto has generated a 300-percent growth rate, the company asserts. The big question: Can Datto maintain that momentum amid fierce storage competition in 2012?
Managed Services: 7 Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write, Jan. 13
Posted January 13th, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
The MSPmentor team is just about ready to unplug for the weekend. Of course, we’ll be around if any big news — or rumors — hit our inbox. But in the meantime here are seven managed services blogs and MSP news stories that MSPmentor’s editorial team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending Friday, January 13, 2012.
Level Platforms Grows Partner Base 45 Percent
Posted January 12th, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
Level Platforms grew its customer base 45 percent in 2011. Now, the company is preparing a major managed services road show and developing enhancements for Managed Workplace, Level Platforms’ flagship remote monitoring and management (RMM) software, said Dan Wensley (pictured), VP of partner development and marketing. Key to those efforts: Plugging Dave Sobel, the newly hired director of partner community, into Level Platforms’ business starting on January 23. Here’s the strategy.
Confirmed: Dave Sobel Joining Level Platforms
Posted January 10th, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
Former Evolve Technologies CEO Dave Sobel (pictured) is set to join Level Platforms as director of partner community, reporting to VP of Partner Development and Marketing Dan Wensley, according to sources allegedly in the know, Level Platforms has now confirmed. Here’s the chatter.
ConnectWise Capital: Two Years Later
Posted January 3rd, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini and President David Bellini have spent the past two years preparing for software industry convergence and competitive wars. The result: ConnectWise and its investments — most notably LabTech Software and Quosal — have been in growth mode. But ironically, the anticipated MSP software wars never fully emerged. Here’s the back story.
Cisco OnPlus Service: Remote Monitoring for $5 Per Network Per Month
Posted December 13th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
After months of quiet development, Cisco Systems has officially launched the Cisco OnPlus Service — a cloud-based service that allows MSPs to monitor SMB customers’ network infrastructure. At $5 per network location per month, the Cisco OnPlus Service hopes to carve a niche between PSA (professional services automation) and RMM (remote monitoring and management) platforms. Here’s why.
Managed Print Services: Nearing A Tipping Point?
Posted November 30th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
For the third time in recent weeks, MSP software providers are pushing the managed print services (MPS) market forward. The latest example comes from Level Platforms, which offers managed print and cloud management capabilities in the new Managed Workplace 2011 R3 release. Somewhat similarly, LabTech Software and N-able Technologies have also been talking up managed print services in recent weeks. After several false starts, MSPmentor believes the managed print services market is finally poised for considerable channel growth. Here’s why.
Mobile Device Management and RMM Software: Set to Converge?
Posted November 21st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Brace yourself. The worlds of mobile device management (MDM) software and RMM (remote monitoring and management) software are on a collision course. The reason: MSPs want a single dashboard to manage servers, desktops, notebooks, tablets and smartphones. Moving beyond Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, top MSPs must now add Apple iOS and Google Android to the management mix. But when will that dream — RMM platforms blended with MDM software — become a reality?
Level Platforms CEO Looks to Maintain Momentum In 2012
Posted November 21st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Anecdotal evidence suggests 2011 has been a strong year for Level Platforms. But can the MSP software provider continue that momentum in 2012 — especially as competition between RMM (remote monitoring and management) software providers intensifies? I’ve gathered some clues from Level Platforms CEO Peter Sandiford.
A Closer Look Inside the ConnectWise Capital Family
Posted November 18th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Now that the IT Nation conference is over, I’ve had some time to think about the continued evolution of ConnectWise and its sister companies — CharTec, LabTech Software and Quosal. I hesitate to say ConnectWise “owns” each of those companies, since I hear investment terms — organized through ConnectWise Capital — are likely different for each company. Also, each ConnectWise Capital investment has a different mission and market focus. So how will the ConnectWise Capital portfolio members evolve in 2012? I’ve got some educated hunches.
Symantec Confirms Managed Services Partner Strategy
Posted November 10th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Symantec confirmed its managed service provider strategy today at ConnectWise’s IT Nation conference in Orlando. The Symantec MSP effort includes security and storage software integrations with RMM (remote monitoring and management) software providers, and growing promotion of service provider licensing. Is the effort radically new or different? Perhaps not. But Symantec’s moves are worth noting. Here’s why.
Managed Services Software: Like The 1980s PC Software Market?
Posted October 14th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
N-able Technologies CEO Gavin Garbutt remains on message. For the past two to three years, Garbutt has described a 100 percent IT coverage model: He wants managed services providers to blanket every SMB and every IT device on the planet with monitoring and proactive support. It’s a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Crazy stuff. But so was Bill Gates’ original vision for a computer on every desktop and in every home. With that thought in mind, I believe today’s managed services software market is a lot like the 1980s PC software market, though on a smaller scale. Here’s why.
Managed IT Services: 7 Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write, Sept 30
Posted October 2nd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Amy Katz and I spent much of the week in Fort Collins, Colo., meeting with Penton Media‘s technology editors and staff, and discussing some long-term strategies. Penton, as you may recall, acquired Nine Lives Media and its brands (MSPmentor, The VAR Guy and Talkin’ Cloud) in August 2011. Now, I’m heading to Oracle OpenWorld (Oct. 2-6 San Francisco). But before I arrive, here are seven managed IT services blogs the MSPmentor team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending Sept. 30, 2011.
Managed IT Services: Seven Blogs We Didn’t Write, Sept. 23
Posted September 23rd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
I have to admit: I’m burned out on Hewlett-Packard CEO news. I’m looking forward to re-focusing my efforts on SMB and managed IT services issues over the next few days. In the meantime, here are seven managed IT services blogs the MSPmentor team didn’t have time to write for the week ending Sept. 23, 2011.
Autotask Cloud Software In 6 Languages Signals Global Push
Posted September 20th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Autotask Corp.‘s global strategy is now fully unveiled. After weeks of hints, the business management software provider has confirmed plans to localize Autotask’s cloud platform in at least six languages (in addition to English) across Europe and Asia.
