There is a general sense in the business community that current database implementations are not providing enough “bang for the buck,” but there appears to be a lack of knowledge about how to improve the situation. According to a new InformationWeek survey of more than 750 business technology professionals, only 12% say their databases are a good deal.
Dimension Data Acquires on Xigo En Route to Becoming Full MSP
Posted February 8th, 2012 by Nicholas Mukhar
Dimension Data, an IT solutions and services provider, has acquired the Xigo, a telecom expense management (TEM) solution provider, as part of its broader plan to become a complete managed communications services provider.
SolarWinds Acquires EminentWare for Patch Management Software
Posted February 2nd, 2012 by Nicholas Mukhar
SolarWinds, the IT management software provider, has acquired EminentWare, a Windows server and workstation patch management software provider. SolarWinds VP of Network Management Sanjay Castelino offered MSPmentor some insights on where the company is heading next.
Managed Services Merger: Aldridge and Rafte Target Texas
Posted February 2nd, 2012 by Nicholas Mukhar
The Aldridge Company, a technology and cloud integrator for SMBs, has merged with Rafte & Company, a business and technology consulting firm, to offer a more comprehensive IT support offering. Financial terms were not disclosed. Here’s a little more background on both Texas-based companies, as well as what the merger means for both Aldridge and Rafte business customers.
Whaleback Adds Cloud-Managed Voice Services for Mobile Devices
Posted January 31st, 2012 by Nicholas Mukhar
Whaleback Managed Services has added managed voice support services for mobile devices to its CrystalBlue Cloud-based Managed Voice Services solution. The company made the announcement this week at IT Expo East in Miami, Fla.
NetEnrich: A Closer Look at Closet to Cloud Strategy
Posted January 26th, 2012 by Charlene OHanlon
You may or may not have heard of NetEnrich’s “closet to cloud” approach to IT operations. But it’s a simple concept: NetEnrich has a solution for MSPs to effectively monitor their customers’ IT infrastructure no matter where it’s located — on premise or in the cloud. And NetEnrich CEO Raju Chekuri believes such flexibility is critical as MSPs increasingly deal with closet infrastructure, cloud infrastructure or a combination thereof.
VerityThree Names CTO, Expands Managed Services into Dallas
Posted January 13th, 2012 by Nicholas Mukhar
VerityThree, a technology consulting and management services company, has named Erik Gustafson (pictured) as its new chief technology officer (CFO) and has opened a new office in Dallas, Texas. The move comes as several large managed services providers attempt to blanket the IT services market in Texas.
Best Buy and mindSHIFT: Why MSPs Need Not Worry
Posted November 22nd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
As Best Buy works to complete the mindSHIFT buyout by the end of 2011, I’ve reached the following conclusion: Small MSPs need not worry about the deal. Here’s why.
Xerox, British Airways Sign Managed Print Services Agreement
Posted November 18th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Xerox has signed a five-year enterprise managed print services agreement with British Airways. Through the agreement, Xerox hopes to cut British Airways’ printing costs by at least 25 percent annually. MITIE Business Services is partnering with Xerox on the deal.
ManageEngine Upgrades VoIP Management Solution
Posted October 13th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
ManageEngine , which develops managed services and IT service desk software, has launched three new products designed for MSPs and IT administrators. The featured product is the VQManager Distributed Edition, which helps MSPs maintain VoIP networks for customers. Here are the details.
PacketTrap Business Acceleration Program: MSP Profit Boost?
Posted April 27th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
How much should MSP’s charge for their services? How should you market and sell your offerings? How are you supposed to map out your SLA’s to best support their client base? For the past 18 months or so, Quest Software’s PacketTrap has been helping MSP’s answer those questions through their Business Acceleration Program. Here’s the update, including perspectives from PacketTrap Director of MSP’s Mike Byrne (pictured).
Technology Capital Investors: VC and Cloud Coaching for MSPs
Posted April 12th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
OS33 President Jacob Kazakevich (pictured) has joined the Board of Directors of Technology Capital Investors (TCI). The move should help the New York-based investment group — and its portfolio of MSPs — map out cloud computing strategies. It’s a move that TCI Managing Partner Sam Attias called, “a natural progression.”
Spam Soap and MSP Veteran Rob Leon Plans Career Move
Posted April 5th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Rob Leon, formerly VP of Spam Soap and a well-known executive in the managed services market, is planning his next career move. Leon confirmed that he’s left Spam Soap (SaaS email security) and its sister company, Inhouse IT (an MSP). Here’s the update, plus perspectives on how Spam Soap itself is evolving.
Selling Managed Services: Find & Listen to Decision Makers
Posted March 29th, 2011 by Matthew Graven
In an economy of limited budgets and shrinking workforces, selling new services can be a tricky proposition. How can an MSP leverage the changing nature of how business is done as a value proposition for businesses to invest in new managed services?
IVenture: Face-to-Face Events Boost Managed Services Revenues
Posted March 29th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
As the world shifts to more and more online meetings, iVenture — an MSPmentor 100 company in Jacksonville, Fla. — continues to promote monthly face-to-face events to drive customer education and qualified lead generation. The result: Roughly 20 percent of event attendees become customers, according to iVenture Director of Operations Joe Turso (pictured). Here’s the background.
Email Encryption: The Next Big Move for MSPs?
Posted March 28th, 2011 by Matthew Graven
Over the past year, encryption has become an increasingly important conversation for MSPs. And the story has quickly turned to email encryption offered as a managed service. It’s an obvious evolution. Email carries data—often sensitive or confidential data—and businesses, big and small, have taken on greater responsibility for managing and securing this data. So how are MSPs dealing with email encryption? Here’s a look at a few companies that are addressing this growing need.
Where MSPs Fit in the Cloud Security Conversation
Posted February 7th, 2011 by Dan Dufault
Some industry pundits says there’s no critical information yet stored in the cloud — and that cloud security in many ways today is largely unnecessary. I guess those pundits overlooked all the Fortune 500 companies that now keep their payroll, talent recruitment, internal HR, CRM and more in the cloud. I don’t know about you, but I would consider information about my people, their salaries, potential hires and my customer base pretty critical. So how can MSPs lock down that information for customers?
MSP M&A: Logicalis Acquires Network Infrastructure Corporation
Posted December 3rd, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
UK-based billion-dollar MSP Logicalis has announced the acquisition Network Infrastructure Corporation (NIC), an American service provider with clients in the K-12 education, state and local government, and gaming and hospitality verticals. Here’s the scoop.
Ingram Micro Cloud Gains GoGrid IaaS
Posted November 22nd, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
The Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace for MSPs and VARs is getting cloud hosting solutions by way of new corporate ally GoGrid. The idea is to bring cloud infrastructure services mainstream for the IT channel, and the alliance represents the relatively small GoGrid’s first major relationship with a distributor. Here are some details.
From the Creative Team That Brought You MSPmentor…
Posted November 4th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Something new? Check out this video…
MSPmentor 100: Thrive Networks Grows on Customer Service
Posted October 6th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Sure, Thrive Networks, the IT services arm of Staples Advantage is planning on enhancing its virtualization play over the next several months. But President of Thrive Networks Jim Lippie (pictured) says that what’s really led them to the kind of growth that let them claim spot 38 on the MSPmentor 100 2010 list is a focus on the customer, not so much the technology. Here’s the scoop.
Continuity Centers Launches MobileVault Cloud Backup
Posted September 8th, 2010 by Dave Courbanou
Continuity Centers, which provides disaster recovery solutions, has launched a MobileVault data protection service powered by Asigra. Here’s a closer look at Continuity Centers’ strategy.
Gone Green: First Data Center Achieves Energy Star Rating
Posted August 20th, 2010 by Dave Courbanou
How green can you get? Apparently, Consonus, which provides data center hosting, has achieved the coveted rank and highest honor for energy efficiency: The EPA’s Energy Star. Congrats. So what’s all this hype about? And will more MSPs pursue the Energy Star rating? Read on for details…
