The challenge: How can managed services providers (MSPs) continually show their business value and IT expertise to end-customers? One potential answer comes from Azaleos Corp., which has launched the Azaleos ViewX CIO Dashboard. The dashboard, available to end-customers, tracks the health of unified communications and other IT services that Azaleos manages.
Azaleos Launches ViewX CIO Dashboard for IT Customers
N-able Launches N-central 8.0 for SMB Managed Services Providers
N-able Technologies, as expected, has launched N-central 8.0 — the newest version of its remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform for MSP’s and IT departments. N-central 8.0 debuts amid intensifying managed services software competition — most of the major RMM providers have launched major software upgrades in recent months. But N-able has a loyal partner base plus a pure channel-centric sales model for MSPs and mid-market customers. Here’s a closer look at the N-able N-central 8.0 strategy.
Windows 7 and Managed Services: Microsoft’s Emerging Strategy
If the early reports are correct, Windows 7 is a dramatic improvement from Windows Vista (perhaps for these five reasons). Even so, I’m surprised Microsoft is doing so little to promote Windows 7 to managed service providers. Here’s what Microsoft is doing wrong — and right — with its MSP messaging so far.
Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference: Managed Services Central?
When Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference kicks off July 13 in New Orleans, I’ll be digging hard from an update on the software giant’s managed services partner strategy. Here’s what I know (or think I know…) so far.
Microsoft: Waking Up to Managed Services?
Another sleeping giant is waking up to the managed services opportunity. Microsoft has launched a managed services landing page on its partner web site, and is beginning to connect the dots between managed services, software as a service (SaaS) and the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS).
Windows 7: A New Opportunity for Managed Service Providers?
Microsoft plans to ship a Windows 7 release candidate this May, and Mary Jo Foley (the top blogger following Microsoft) suspects the completed Windows 7 will debut in the third calendar quarter of 2009. But I wonder: Will Windows Vista’s successor drive new revenue opportunities for managed service providers? Or are Windows upgrades now ho-hum events for MSPs and VARs alike?
Dell and Microsoft: Partnering On Managed Services?
Short term, Microsoft and Dell are launching joint marketing efforts for corporate IT management solutions. Long term, it’s clear to me that Microsoft — at some point — will make a subtle tweak to its System Center Management solution and begin to target managed service providers.
Why Do Managed Service Providers Keep Looking Back?
Why do so many managed service provides spend so much time looking in the rear view mirror? That question popped into my head while moderating a session at the N-able Partner Summit last week.
MSPAlliance, Microsoft Working Together To Promote Managed Services Accreditation
The MSPAlliance and Microsoft are working together on a reciprocal relationship, reports Redmond Channel Partner. As part of the relationship, Microsoft will promote the MSPAlliance’s Accreditation exam to channel partners worldwide. Likewise, companies that hold a Microsoft IT certification will receive credit for that expertise if/when they take the MSPAlliance’s Accreditation exam, according to the report.