MSPmentor

For the third time in recent weeks, MSP software providers are pushing the managed print services (MPS) market forward. The latest example comes from Level Platforms, which offers managed print and cloud management capabilities in the new Managed Workplace 2011 R3 release. Somewhat similarly, LabTech Software and N-able Technologies have also been talking up managed print services in recent weeks. After several false starts, MSPmentor believes the managed print services market is finally poised for considerable channel growth. Here’s why.

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When Google announced Chromebook price cuts a few hours ago, it was the latest inflection point for MSPs trying to figure out hardware as a service (HaaS). Yes, the HaaS market has had its share of hits. But HaaS has also had its share of setbacks in recent years.

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Brace yourself. The worlds of mobile device management (MDM) software and RMM (remote monitoring and management) software are on a collision course. The reason: MSPs want a single dashboard to manage servers, desktops, notebooks, tablets and smartphones. Moving beyond Windows, Linux and Mac OS X, top MSPs must now add Apple iOS and Google Android to the management mix. But when will that dream — RMM platforms blended with MDM software — become a reality?

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Anecdotal evidence suggests 2011 has been a strong year for Level Platforms. But can the MSP software provider continue that momentum in 2012 — especially as competition between RMM (remote monitoring and management) software providers intensifies? I’ve gathered some clues from Level Platforms CEO Peter Sandiford.

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Thrive Networks, the managed services business owned by Staples, continues to see double-digit growth in the services market. Some of that growth can be traced back to Thrive Networks’ relationships with Axcient and SonicWall, which power the MSP’s backup and disaster recovery (BDR) and managed firewall services.

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At first glance, N-able Technologies and NetEnrich are partnering to offer managed services providers (MSPs) a “complete IT operations solution” that pushes beyond basic NOC (network operations center) and RMM (remote monitoring and management) solutions. But take a closer look at the relationship, and you’ll find some opportune timing as well as a mutual relationship with the Ingram Micro Cloud team.

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Roughly 1,600 resellers, VARs, MSPs and channel influencers are on hand for the ConnectWise IT Nation conference in Orlando. The conference has pushed far beyond traditional managed services discussions. In fact, here are eight discussions and trends that surfaced during the initial Exhibit Hall and Keynote gatherings at ConnectWise IT Nation.

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Symantec confirmed its managed service provider strategy today at ConnectWise’s IT Nation conference in Orlando. The Symantec MSP effort includes security and storage software integrations with RMM (remote monitoring and management) software providers, and growing promotion of service provider licensing. Is the effort radically new or different? Perhaps not. But Symantec’s moves are worth noting. Here’s why.

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Next week is packed with multiple partner conferences, including an Avnet gathering in Las Vegas, the Cloud Channel Summit in Silicon Valley, and IT Nation in Orlando. But before our editorial team hits the road, here are seven managed services blogs MSPmentor didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending Nov. 4, 2011.

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SolarWinds, which develops IT management software, has launched a real-time bandwidth monitoring tool. The free monitoring software is part of SolarWinds’ broader strategy to promote dozens of free IT management tools, which may entice IT managers and IT service providers to embrace SolarWinds’ paid network management products.

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N-able Technologies CEO Gavin Garbutt remains on message. For the past two to three years, Garbutt has described a 100 percent IT coverage model: He wants managed services providers to blanket every SMB and every IT device on the planet with monitoring and proactive support. It’s a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Crazy stuff. But so was Bill Gates’ original vision for a computer on every desktop and in every home. With that thought in mind, I believe today’s managed services software market is a lot like the 1980s PC software market, though on a smaller scale. Here’s why.

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Several hundred managed services providers (MSPs) are set to attend this week’s N-able Partner Summit (Oct. 12-14, Scottsdale, Ariz.). What surprises will N-able CEO Gavin Garbutt and his executive team have in store for MSPs? Here are seven questions worth asking.

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Both N-able Technologies and Zenith RMM have embraced private equity funding in the past week or so. At first glance, the deals are similar: Two private equity firms are pumping money into managed services software companies. Plus, N-able and Zenith RMM compete with one another. But take a closer look and I think you’ll see the private equity approaches are quite different.

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Accel-KKR, a private equity firm, has made a minority investment in N-able Technologies, the managed services software provider. The news comes one week after Zenith Infotech spun off Zenith RMM in a private equity deal. The big questions: How will N-able Technologies leverage the cash infusion? And is the RMM (remote monitoring and management) software market set to accelerate or consolidation?

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N-able Technologies has released N-Central 8.1 — the newest version of its remote monitoring and management (RMM) managed services platform. The new release includes VMware remote monitoring; a mobile application for Google Android; and automatic warranty expiration monitoring. Those three capabilities are becoming increasingly common across the managed services market, as MSPs seek to master complex virtualization and mobile issues, without overlooking basic warranty-driven revenue opportunities.

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MSPWorld, part of IT Expo West, runs Sept. 13-15 in Austin, Texas, this week. So what exactly should managed services providers expect to see and hear at the conference? Here are six potential clues from MSPmentor.

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Geeks On Call apparently has overhauled its IT services franchising model. At its height in 2007, Geeks on Call claims it had more than 300 IT services franchises across the United States. But by 2009, the company fell off a cliff and SEC filings revealed deep financial problems. But by late 2010, there were signs that new owner Glenn Davis was overhauling Geeks on Call. Fast forward to the present and Geeks On Call is introducing a new IT services franchising model. Will VARs and MSPs give it a look?

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N-able Technologies is seeking to help managed services providers (MSPs) with virtualization management.  A case in point, N-abe’s N-central software is now “VMware ready,” according to Director of Product Marketing and Management Robert Grapes. The announcement surfaced at VMworld, held this week in Las Vegas. Here are the implications for MSPs.

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N-able Technologies is trying to ease the sales process for managed service providers (MSPs). Specifically, the company has introduced a new MSP Sales and Marketing Digital Binder, which is free for N-able MSP partners for a limited time only.

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N-Able Technologies VP of Marketing and Business Development Derik Belair , an MSPmentor 250 member, has spent over a decade interacting with MSPs and learning their businesses. He’s worked in and around the channel for two decades but most folks know him as one of N-able’s original employees since April, 2000. N-able has since grown to become one of the best-known providers of RMM (remote monitoring and management) software to MSPs. So what’s on Belair’s mind right now? Here are some perspectives.

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These are challenging economic times. But MSP software companies continue to issue momentum statements — reassuring managed services providers and signaling continued MSP industry growth. The latest example comes from N-able Technologies, which says its MSP partner base now manages more than 47,000 end-users, up nearly 150 percent since January 2010.

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My next business trip is CompTIA Breakaway 2011 (Aug. 1-4, Washington, D.C.). Predictably, the worlds of cloud services and managed services will converge at Breakaway. But I expect several other trends to emerge at the conference. Here’s a preview, along with seven trends that I hope to track at CompTIA Breakaway.

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Kaseya and Ingram Micro, which already work together in Australia, are set to expand their managed services partnership into North America sometime in Q4, a spokeswoman for the distributor confirms. Here are the potential implications for managed services providers.

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