MSPmentor

GFI Software, the London-based provider of infrastructure solutions for SMBs, has launched a Building Blocks channel program, designed to help IT support companies make the transition to providing real managed services. The company’s strategy reinforces the familiar theme of moving from break-fix to recurring revenue. Here are some perspectives.

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Call it the MSP paradox: You have a growing business but you’re not quite ready to hire more full-time employees. As a stop-gap, plenty of managed services providers tell me they would gladly hire temporary help and interns — if only there was a simple way to find that talent. Perhaps a new web site, called Urban Interns, can help.

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Back in October 2009, some MSPs were chatting up ChannelCloud, a forthcoming platform that may help VARs and managed services providers provision cloud and SaaS applications. Fast forward to the present and there are signs ChannelCloud is nearing an official launch.

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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.

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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.

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As we launch this year’s MSPmentor 100 survey, we figured it was a good time to check in with many of last year’s MSPmentor 100 companies. Today, we connect with PMV Technologies Partner Scott Goemmel (pictured). Here’s an update from the Madison Heights, Mich.-based MSP.

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As Apple marches forward in the consumer market, we decided to check in with MSPs to see if they’re increasingly specializing in Apple products and/or Apple-related services. So far, major MSP and VAR peer groups — like HTG Peer Groups — say they aren’t seeing an uptick in demand for Apple-oriented solutions. But if you look hard enough there is a small Apple MSP niche. Here’s some perspective.

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Managed colocation aims to provide customers with a bit more than the core infrastructure of cages, racks, power and Ethernet drops. A case in point: Prominic.Net Inc., a managed hosting services provider, has rolled out its take on managed colocation. The company’s ColocationPlus service launched this month. Here’s a look at the strategy so far.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.

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Imagine managing 14.1 million web sites, 57,000 Dell servers and the second largest number of Red Hat hosting licenses in the country.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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Some technology vendors are canceling face-to-face events to conserve cash. Other technology pundits are embracing telepresence to drive video conference discussions.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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