MSPmentor

At last, Xerox is paying serious attention to hardware as a service (HaaS). The multi-function printer giant plans to support a growing list of managed services platforms, MSPmentor has learned.

The effort, which includes such partners as ConnectWise and N-able, could transform HaaS from a niche solution into a mainstream managed services offering, MSPmentor believes.

The strategy calls for Xerox to write to a range of managed services APIs (application programming interfaces). Here are the details.

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At the ConnectWise Partner Summit in Orlando, Fla., vendors continue to connect the dots between disparate managed services systems. For example:

• I hear Ingram Micro Seismic Help Desk will soon integrate with ConnectWise’s professional services automation (PSA) software.
• MX Logic today will introduce a free tool that will MSPs generate monthly security reports for customers. The tool integrates with ConnectWise.
• Sources say Level Platforms will demonstrate some sort of integration with Zenith Infotech’s business continuity solution.

MSPs that depend on multiple managed services tools will welcome those efforts.

Still, there is a bigger at story here: MSP software providers are cooperating and competing to  determine which company will become the Microsoft Windows of managed services. Skeptical? Here’s my reasoning.

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When the ConnectWise Partner Summit kicks off this week in Orlando, Fla., I’ll be sitting down with managed service providers and vendors to gather their observations. Roughly 700 MSPs are expected to attend the event. Here are five key trends I expect to track at the conference. Read More >

Gavin Garbutt, president and CEO of N-able, is back in New York this week. It’s Garbutt’s second trip to The Big Apple since mid-August. We’re having breakfast Monday to discuss the managed services market before Garbutt heads over to meetings at Everything Channel.

Why does Garbutt keep coming to New York? An obvious potential answer is he’s seeking funding for N-able. But apparently, that’s not the case. In August, Garbutt told me N-able was self-funded and was not pursuing funding.

This time around, Garbutt apparently is in New York for media briefings. I’ll know for sure when we meet for breakfast. Stay tuned.

In the past week, I’ve run into four of the most successful software as a service (SaaS) companies that Wall Street investors don’t know — at least not yet. Here’s a quick look at the companies, and their critical importance to the SaaS industry. Read More >

N-able has inked a security-related managed services partnership with Untangle. But I believe there’s a bigger trend here.

Untangle has a strong position in the open source industry. That position is prompting MSP platform providers — N-able, Level Platforms, Kaseya and others — to evaluate their definition of “open” platforms, and (in some cases…) their potential use of open source software.

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Even as the world shifts from Windows to the Web, Microsoft partners remain highly coveted. The latest example: Autotask has announced a special offer for Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community (SBSC) partners. It reminds me (somewhat) of a free offer N-able made to Microsoft partners in April.

Here’s some more info on Autotask’s move, and the continued influence Microsoft has over the IT channel.

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Autotask continues to build out its online communities, and plans to launch an online store where VARs and managed service providers will be able to license the company’s software, according to Len DiCostanzo, senior VP of professional services at Autotask.

I met with DiCostanzo and Autotask Director of Business Development Brian Sherman in Framingham, Mass., today, where the MSPAlliance is kicking off its latest Managed Services Summit. Here’s a bit more about what DiCostanzo and Sherman had to say.

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