Burning out. Stretched thin. Feeling overwhelmed. Instead of worrying about their wallets, some managed service providers are starting to worry about their personal health and family well-being. During the HTG Peer Group meetings in Orlando this week, plenty of MSPs are talking about achieving a better life-work balance. Here’s how they plan to do it.
MSPmentor 100 Survey Attracts Global Response
Posted October 22nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
More proof that the managed services market has gone global: 44 percent of the initial MSPmentor 100 survey participants reside outside the United States. We launched the third-annual MSPmentor 100 survey earlier this week. The survey is free, and managed service providers worldwide can participate. Using the survey results, we will produce the annual MSPmentor 100 report, which tracks the world’s most progressive managed service providers — using a range of financial and business metrics. Here are some more details about the survey.
The MSP Industry’s Dirty Little Secret
Posted August 7th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
If you still think managed service providers (MSPs) are immune to the recession, here’s an eye-opening recap of my breakfast conversation with the CEO of a major MSP software provider. Although the executive remains optimistic about the overall managed services market, he conceded that the industry currently suffers from a dirty little secret.
Updated: Managed Services Videos
Posted July 31st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
MSPmentor’s FastChat Video Center continues to grow. Our latest interview features Symantec Senior VP Francis deSouza describing a strategy to simplify Symantec’s security business around four product suites. Also in the video center: Zenith Infotech describes its cloud strategy; Autotask reaches out to Microsoft and Cisco Partners; and Virtual Administrator describes an on-ramp strategy for aspiring MSPs. Watch for more FastChat Videos to debut across MSPmentor and The VAR Guy during CompTIA Breakaway and future conferences.
Virtual Help Desks: Freeing You Up for Sales
Posted July 20th, 2009 by Maurice Saluan
Today as technology providers grapple with a weak economy, anything less than an all-out effort to increase sales — either by attracting new customers or earning additional business from existing clients — is short-sighted. IT Solution Providers need to refocus on becoming sales-driven organizations. You can start by resetting your in-house priorities. Delegate non-demand generating activities to external support specialists by using a virtual help desk. If you don’t offer this service, this is a good time to do so as long as any added cost is tied to added revenue.
Are MSPs Really Pro-Active?
Posted July 2nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Conventional wisdom says managed service providers are pro-active. But a new survey, commissioned by Kaseya, shows that most VARs and MSPs remain in reactive mode. So are pro-active managed services a myth — or a goal that hasn’t been achieved yet? Here’s some more on Kaseya’s study.
Five Ways MSPs Can Engage Customers During Transition Periods
Posted June 30th, 2009 by Andrew Pohran
I can’t really say that I look forward to transition periods. Activities like searching for a new job, taking on a new role at work, or moving to a new place of residence equal long hours and (often) sleepless nights. But there’s also something I like about transition, something fascinating: I can control the outcome of the activity. I can choose a new job. I can create structure and processes in a new role at work. And I can paint walls, install flooring, and make numerous renovations in a new home.
Can MSPs Really Keep Innovating?
Posted June 26th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
When you launched your business, you wanted it to be “different” from rival computer consultants and managed service providers. You had clear goals. But somewhere along the line you got tied up running your business. You stopped innovating. You became just another VAR or MSP. So what went wrong — and how can you start innovating again?
Pure Cloud MSPs: A Near Future Possibility?
Posted June 26th, 2009 by Devanand
Will there be a day when a managed service provider offers every service from the cloud? Before you answer that question consider some recent trends.
SaaS Won’t Kill On-Premise Software – Take Two
Posted April 6th, 2009 by Lori Salow Marshall
When it comes to choosing SaaS (software as a service) or an on-premise solution, one size does not fit all. Indeed, enterprises and small businesses have different IT needs and considerations. As a managed service provider, here are some key issues you need to keep in mind as you formulate your own SaaS, cloud and on-premise solutions.
Four Things Your MSP Doesn’t Want You to Know
Posted March 19th, 2009 by Justin Crotty
Managed services as an IT service delivery model is here to stay. Now for the risk: As with any other relatively new market, the SMB managed service space is highly fragmented. There are hundreds of existing application and service vendors and just as many new entrants to the industry competing for solution providers’ mind share and market share. So how do you tell the good partners from the bad ones?
Transform Data Protection Policies Into Deeper Customer Relationships
Posted January 27th, 2009 by Ron Faith
As regulation creeps into all phases of data lifecycle management, managed service providers are assuming greater data protection responsibilities on behalf of their customers. While many customers understand that they have regulatory compliance gaps, challenges persist in how to translate these requirements into data protection policies that are actionable, enforceable, and auditable. The natural place for businesses to turn to is you, their trusted MSP partners to help them translate their data protection requirements into actionable policies that can be centrally managed, enforced and tracked.
How to Reinvent Yourself In 2009
Posted January 5th, 2009 by Mitch York
I recently spoke with a B2B publishing expert. Her predicament is similar to the challenge facing some VARs and solutions providers: She knows her industry cold, as well as the suppliers and the entire value chain. But she asks a good question: so what? Are the skills relevant to the future economy? Let’s be conservative and say no. But her knowledge can be turned into something very valuable. If I were coaching this person, I’d ask her to consider these suggestions:
N-able: Record Managed Services Momentum?
Posted December 31st, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Despite gloomy economic forecasts across much of the globe, N-able Technologies yesterday offered some upbeat perspectives to managed service providers. The Ottawa-based company says 2008 was a “record year” for N-able in terms of revenue, international growth and partner success.
The Planet: Web Hosting Meets Managed Services
Posted December 17th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Imagine managing 14.1 million web sites, 57,000 Dell servers and the second largest number of Red Hat hosting licenses in the country.
Are You A Green Managed Service Provider?
Posted November 24th, 2008 by Dan Shapero
A recent survey by Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) of hundreds of professionals reveals work station drainage poses a prevalent power consumption dilemma. Every day, workstations consume power for hours on end, devouring millions of dollars worth of energy. In addition, survey respondents report that 69% of them use more than one workstation and 24% stated that they keep their stations powered on around the clock. For every 10,000 workstations, more than $1.26 million in energy costs is wasted each year.
Winners and Losers In Managed Services 2.0
Posted November 20th, 2008 by Peter Sandiford
There is a new wave of technology that is washing over the SMB IT world. A fundamental shift is taking place from device-based to network-based architectures, facilitated by widely adopted new standards. The MSPs that embrace and manage these more complex IT environments will emerge the winners as managed services moves solidly into this next stage – MSP 2.0.
Verizon Business Surpasses 4,000 Managed Services Customers
Posted November 13th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
It’s time for MSPmentor to shift gears and spend a bit more time covering the emerging world of managed unified communications. There, big service providers such as Verizon are managing Cisco-oriented solutions for large enterprises.
Level Platforms Links Virtualization to Managed Services
Posted November 6th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Virtualization was supposed to simplify IT. But as companies consolidate their physical servers, virtualize their applications and push some services into the cloud, it’s getting more difficult to track and manage all of those virtual assets.
How the President Should Help Entrepreneurs
Posted November 4th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Generally speaking, I have little interest in online slideshows. They’re often lame excuses by media companies to drive more page views. However, this slideshow from BusinessWeek features a range of experts describing how the President should help entrepreneurs.
September: Best Month Yet for Ingram Micro Seismic
Posted October 29th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
This just in: Ingram Micro Seismic, the distributor’s family of hosted services for VARs, signed up 52 new partners in September — the largest single month for net new partners, according to Ingram VP Justin Crotty.
Service Level Agreements: Five Tips for Managed Service Providers
Posted October 27th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Mathew Dickerson, author of SLAM (service level agreement model), has taken the stage at the Managed Services International Seminar Series here in Melbourne, Australia. Many of the tips he’s sharing are applicable worldwide.
MSPmentor Lands In Australia
Posted October 27th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Hello from Melbourne, Australia. We’re touring the country — making additional stops in Sydney and Brisbane — while exploring Australia’s growing managed services market throughout this week.
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