MSPmentor

When it comes to vertical industries that MSPs can specialize in, healthcare has been at the top of the list. But so-called meaningful use guidelines have been a thorny mess for healthcare organizations and MSPs to navigate. Now healthcare-oriented IT service providers can get a look at the government’s proposed rules for running the second phase of its electronic health record (EHR) incentive program.

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As a descriptive term, “SMB” covers a lot of territory. Roughly speaking, small-to-mid-sized businesses are those with 1,000 or fewer employees, although that number is not set in stone. Regardless of exactly how a company is defined as an SMB, MSPs in this market tend to focus their efforts on companies that have at least a few dozen employees. But this leaves out a potentially lucrative SMB niche: the “microbusinesses” with 1-10 employees.

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Level Platforms officially made both on-premise and cloud-based versions of Managed Workplace 2012 generally available today, offering several new features that have been at the top of MSP wish lists for the RMM platform. Those new features include mobile device management, a managed workplace NOC and help desk, a Mobile service manager and a One-click support assistant.

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Big data-oriented ISVs have begun to emerge, adding another layer on a developing software stack and opening opportunities for service providers. A case in point: RainStor, a software vendor with offices in San Francisco and the United Kingdom, specializing in big data management.

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Apple caused quite the buzz last week officially unveiling the new iPad. The latest enhancements to Apple’s tablet help to further drive home the company’s theme of a “Post-PC Revolution.” We wanted to set aside some time to talk mobile, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), and what this means for the channel. As we close in on the first quarter of 2012, it seems like escaping the buzz surrounding BYOD is next to impossible. Mobile devices are synonymous with BYOD, thus resulting in an up and coming opportunity for MSPs to capitalize on mobile device management.

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ManageEngine, the IT management software provider, continues to develop and upgrade its IT management solutions at a record pace during the first half of the 2012 calendar year. ManageEngine finished last week by upgrading its Password Manager Pro solution to allow the company’s enterprise customers to launch browser-based Windows RDP, SSH and Telnet sessions from iOS mobile devices. Now the IT software provider has shifted its focus to its auditing capabilities, something that ManageEngine President Raj Sabhlok says has been a focus of discussion among ManageEngine’s business customers.

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Azaleos, an MSP with a particular expertise in Microsoft applications, is continuing to focus on developing cloud solutions that easily integrate with Microsoft SharePoint. The managed services provider’s latest development? Azaleos Managed Enterprise Search — a new addition to the company’s Managed SharePoint Services portfolio that lets the company’s enterprise business customers more easily deploy Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 within their own business networks.

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Still more news to bring you from ManageEngine, the IT management software provider that recently added mobile device management (MDM) software to its Desktop Central solution for service providers, among a host of other recent solution developments. This time, ManageEngine has added Amazon S3 data backup and recovery services to its MSP Center Plus network monitoring solution for managed services providers.

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VerityThree is continuing to build and expand its technology consulting and managed services brand within the United States. This week the MSP opened a technology support center in Washington, D.C. The announcement comes nearly two months after VerityThree expanded into Dallas, Texas in order to take advantage of business customer acquisition opportunities outside of its Chicago metropolitan area home region.

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Ingram Micro, the IT distributor for managed services providers and business end-users, has expanded its cloud solutions portfolio with two new solutions aimed at offering unified communications (UC) as a service.

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Breakthrough Technology Group (BTG) is making quite the name for itself as a managed services provider. The IT and telecommunications solution provider was recently named AT&T’s top revenue-generating MSP for the second year in a row.

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EarthLink is continuing its push to become a full-fledged managed services provider (MSP). The company’s latest move? The company most commonly known strictly as an Internet Service Provider (ISP) has developed a new IT service suite to help their customers streamline their internal IT resources.

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SMBs are highly mobilized, but not highly prepared to manage their mobile environments, according to interim results of a recent study from mobile security provider MobiliSafe. The study, which mapped 38 million SMB employee mobile device connections, revealed that on average, more than 80% of SMB staffers are already using smartphones and tablets.

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Futura Healthcare Technology, a technology solutions and managed services provider (MSP), has officially changed its name to Futura Mobility, LLC as part of the company’s expanded services suite. Futura is now offering mobility and IT services in effort to capitalize on the emerging need for mobile security and mobile device management (MDM) solutions. By adding the term “mobility” to its name, Futura is trying to become a recognized name and trusted provider for mobile security solutions among North American enterprise companies.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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