When I mentioned the clear connection between digital signage and managed services back in February 2008, a lot of readers said “tell me more.”
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C-nario Introduces Managed Digital Signage Services
Posted June 16th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Hosting Face-to-Face Events: Worth the Risk for MSPs?
Posted June 12th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
An aspiring managed service provider recently sent me an email, asking me the following question: What is the best way to plan a face-to-face event, where you can educate potential customers about the value of your managed services? I mulled the question a bit, and also forwarded it Erick Simpson, co-founder of MSP University.
Join Me Today At 2pm Eastern
Posted June 12th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
It’s finally here. I hope you’ll join me at 2pm eastern today (Thursday, June 12) for MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange. When we began planning this managed services webcast, we made a conscious decision to avoid vendor hype and product pitches. Instead, we’re going to explore how you can maximize your managed services revenue — without necessarily adding headcount to your company.
Reminder: Join Us This Thursday
Posted June 11th, 2008 by MSPMentor
There’s still time to register for MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange, scheduled for this Thursday, June 12 at 2pm eastern. During the interactive Webcast, you’ll have the chance to ask top managed service provider CEOs your most pressing questions.
Nirvanix Takes Aim At Amazon.com Simple Storage Service (S3)
Posted June 6th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Nirvanix, an online storage provider, is making some interesting head-to-head claims against Amazon.com’s Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3). Specifically, Nirvanix claims that its Storage Delivery Network offers downloads that are roughly 200 percent faster than S3. The data is based on testing done by 3Tera Inc.
Tech Data vs. Ingram Micro on Managed Services
Posted June 5th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
I just spoke with Joe Quaglia, senior VP of US marketing for Tech Data Corp. Quaglia heads up Tech Data’s managed services strategy — known as VARChoice. The conversation gave me a better feel for Tech Data’s business plan in the MSP space, especially as it relates to Ingram Micro’s Seismic strategy.
Do MSPs Need Service Level Agreements?
Posted June 5th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
During a panel discussion at the Kaseya User Conference, an interesting debate popped up: Do managed service providers really need to offer service level agreements (SLAs)? And if so, how should they be written? I heard a range of opinions, but here are the three I heard most often.
Managed Services: Two Views On the Economy
Posted June 5th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
I attended two different conferences this week, one located in San Francisco and the other hosted in Las Vegas. While one conference was filled with upbeat attendees, the other event was clouded by economic uncertainty.
Kaseya User Conference: 30 Highlights (10 to 1)
Posted June 3rd, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Here’s the final portion of our Top 30 Highlights from the Kaseya User Conference in Las Vegas.
Hardware as a Service: Dead On Arrival?
Posted June 3rd, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
During the Kaseya User Conference here in Las Vegas, several managed service providers mentioned that they have absolutely no plans to embrace hardware as a service (HaaS). But does that mean HaaS is dead? No exactly. Let me explain.
Kaseya User Conference: 30 Highlights (20 to 11)
Posted June 2nd, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Here’s part two of our top 30 highlights from the Kaseya User Conference in Las Vegas. This portion focuses on Kaseya CEO Gerald Blackie’s keynote, for the most part.
Kaseya CEO Gerald Blackie: We Won’t Go Public
Posted June 2nd, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Kaseya CEO Gerald Blackie says the company has no debt, no venture capital and absolutely no plans to pursue an initial public offering (IPO). Why stay private in the rapidly expanding managed services market? Blackie provided some thoughts June 1 during a poolside chat with me at the Kaseya User Conference.
Kaseya User Conference: 30 Highlights (30 to 21)
Posted June 2nd, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
A range of managed services trends are surfacing here at the Kaseya User Conference in Las Vegas. We’ll be counting down the top 30 trends and takeaways over the next two days. Here are items 30 to 21 on our list:
Meet MSPmentor’s Editor at Three Events…
Posted May 28th, 2008 by MSPMentor
MSPmentor Editorial Director Joe Panettieri is scheduled to participate at several upcoming executive conferences, and he will also host two Webcasts this June. If you’d like to meet Joe and engage in some lively discussions about the managed services industry, you can find him at the following events:
- June 1-3, Las Vegas, Kaseya User Conference (more info)
- June 12, MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange Webcast, featuring CEOs representing MSPmentor 100 companies (more info)
- June 25, MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange Webcast, featuring Autotask CEO Bob Godgart and top MSP CEOs (more info)
To contact Joe directly about meeting him in Las Vegas at the Kaseya User Conference or at future events, email him: joe [at] ninelivesmediainc.com.
Nimsoft Seeking Talent, Talking at Financial Conferences
Posted May 28th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Nimsoft CEO Gary Read says one of his biggest challenges right now is finding talent to fill key company positions. Read isn’t alone. Many other managed service platform providers and business automation specialists have expressed similar needs to me.
Is Geek Squad’s Friend Your Enemy?
Posted May 27th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
The Geek Squad is providing managed online backup services through a company called Data Deposit Box. Now, Data Deposit Box is seeking resellers to support its online backup services. Will any managed service providers take the bait?
Mingle With MSP CEOs On June 12 and 25
Posted May 22nd, 2008 by MSPMentor
Want to ask successful managed service provider (MSP) CEOs your most pressing questions? Join us for MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange on June 12 and June 25. These fast-moving, interactive Webcasts start at 2pm eastern, and are designed like radio call-in shows, where we make sure our guests cover your top questions.
June 12, 2pm eastern, register now
Our discussion (”Lift Your MSP Revenue — Without Hiring More Staff”) will feature:
- Scott Goemmel, co-founder and partner at PMV Technologies (#15 on the MSPmentor 100)
- Nick Vossburg, CEO of TechAssist (#20 on the MSPmentor 100)
- Jim Alves, executive VP of marketing, Kaseya
- Joe Panettieri, editorial director, MSPmentor
- Register now for our June 12, 2pm eastern Webcast
June 25, 2pm eastern, register now
Our discussion (”Escape Commodity Pricing Through Business Automation”) will feature:
- Chad Massaker, CEO of Carceron Systems Group (#84 on the MSPmentor 100)
- Bob Godgart, CEO, Autotask
- Joe Panettieri, editorial director, MSPmentor
- A surprise guest: Stay tuned!
- Register now for our June 25, 2pm eastern Webcast
Don’t miss this refreshing approach to online discussions. Check the MSPmentor events calendar for more information about MSPmentor Live: CEO Exchange as well as third-party industry events.
Managed Services Aren’t Just For VARs
Posted May 16th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
At first glance, managed services platforms represent the perfect business opportunity for VARs. But take a closer look — and talk to companies like Kaseya and Nimsoft — and you’ll discover a completely different target customer for MSP-centric systems. Here’s the scoop.
MSPmentor Live: Podcast 005, Featuring PR Guru Cheryl Snapp Conner
Posted May 15th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Welcome to MSPmentor Live: Podcast edition.
- Episode #: 005 (May 15, 2008)
- Featured Guest: Cheryl Snapp Conner, managing partner, Snapp Conner PR.
- Topics Covered: Why small MSPs need PR strategies; how Web 2.0 technologies are impacting PR; when and why MSPs should launch their own PRs; the biggest PR mistakes small tech companies make; how to measure the effectiveness of your PR efforts.
And check the MSPmentor Live: Podcast Center for additional weekly podcasts.
MSPmentor Live: Podcast 005, Featuring PR Guru Cheryl Snapp Conner: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadHow Much Are MSPs Worth?
Posted May 13th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
It’s a question I get asked all the time: How much is a managed service provider (MSP) business worth, and what metrics should MSPs use to set their company valuations?
Weak Economy Begins to Impact Managed Service Providers
Posted April 30th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
I’m not ready to press a panic button or sound an alarm. Generally speaking, the managed services market remains healthy and growing rapidly. But the weak US economy is starting to impact some managed service providers, according to a recent MSP roundtable attended by Axis Business Solutions.
Dell Prepares to Brief Managed Service Providers
Posted April 29th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Dell on May 1 is set to host a webinar for its certified managed service provider partners. The company is working overtime to brief press (including MSPmentor) about the webinar.
Sun Launches Software as a Service Blitz
Posted April 23rd, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Sun made a major software as a service (SaaS) announcement today involving the Solaris operating system. But I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. There’s a high probability, I believe, that Sun will rapidly expand its SaaS efforts to include the MySQL database (near term) and potentially Ubuntu Linux (long term). Here’s why managed service providers should care.
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