MSPmentor

CA’s Chris O’Malley (pictured) and Nimsoft’s Gary Read dialed me about an hour ago to offer additional insights on CA’s $350 million buyout of Nimsoft. When did the negotiations start, how did Nimsoft initially react — and why is CA so intrigued by the managed services market? O’Malley and Read provide the answers. Here they are.

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Another day, another MSP deal. The latest: CA Inc. has purchased privately held Nimsoft for $350 million in cold hard cash. The move has far-reaching implications for managed services providers as well as the MSP software industry. Here’s a first look at the deal, and how we expect it to impact the MSP landscape.

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If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. After hosting a successful 2009 managed services partner summit in Scottsdale, Arizona, the N-able conference will return to the same location in 2010. I think the agenda is still pending, but the N-able Partner Summit is confirmed for October 20-22, according to the company’s blog. We’ll be back with more details once the agenda comes into focus.

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Websense, Inc. is jumping on the managed security bandwagon. The software specialist has launched a global, managed security service provider (MSSP) program.  Plenty of security software companies are preparing similar moves. Here are some of the details.

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The deal finally happened. ConnectWise Capital has invested in LabTech Software, a remote monitoring and management (RMM) software provider located in Toledo, Ohio. Official news is expected to surface in the next 24 hours or so. At first glance, it’s a relatively small deal. But I think the ConnectWise-LabTech relationship has key implications for the overall MSP software industry. Here’s why.

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The old rumor is back. Some skeptics think Kaseya is taking more and more of its business direct. Kaseya CEO Gerald Blackie has written a blog to combat the rumor. In the piece, Blackie describes where Kaseya works with partners and where Kaseya expects to work directly with customers. So what’s the strategy? Here’s some perspective.

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Kaseya appears poised to launch the Kaseya 2 platform this week. The effort includes on-premise and SaaS (software as a service) tools for managed services providers and IT administrators. In fact, I think Kaseya is set to debut at least three SaaS tools for MSPs and IT administrators. Here are some perspectives.

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Is there a need for MSPs to remotely monitor and manage Linux devices? Apparently yes. For the second time in recent days, a major managed services software supplier says it’s making Linux moves. The latest example involves GFI Software disclosing a two-step Linux strategy. I’m not suggesting Linux will rule the world. But the trend is clear: MSPs need to push beyond their Windows heritage and must now support mixed customer environments. Here’s why.

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Zenith Infotech plans to host 124 U.S. Open Houses in the first quarter of 2010 — part of a push to promote managed services infrastructure and business continuity services to solutions providers targeting small and mid-size companies. Take a closer look and you’ll notice this is part of a larger trend that’s accelerating across the managed services market: Software companies hitting the road and holding face-to-face engagements, open houses and user group gatherings.

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I must admit: I’m enjoying some silence right now. Email traffic is light. My phone isn’t ringing. It’s the perfect time to take a few minutes to tell you about the managed services blog entries we didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending Dec. 24, 2009. Here we go…

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Intronis, an online backup specialist, is the latest company to plug into ConnectWise’s Professional Services Automation (PSA) platform. The move could give ConnectWise’s partner base easier access to the managed storage market. Here’s why.

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If you still doubt the power — and influence — of peer groups then check out a recent announcement involving CompTIA and HTG Peer Groups. The relationship is the latest indication that big associations and vendors see peer groups — comprising VARs and MSPs — as fertile ground for growth. Here’s why.

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Kaseya threw a surprise punch at N-able in Australia. But was it really a significant blow — or just a PR stunt? At first glance, the “story” involves Kaseya recruiting an “instrumental” employee away from N-able. But I think the real story involves intensifying competition between the two companies in the land down under.

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Several MSP software providers are planning major platform upgrades in December 2009 and January 2010. Earlier today, for instance, N-able launched N-central 7.0. The company also reinforced a “freemium” security software strategy to help grow the managed services market. As new upgrades flood the market, established and aspiring MSPs will have the opportunity to re-examine which tools and technologies align best with their business goals.

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Sources say something is cooking between ConnectWise and CharTec — which specializes in Hardware as a Service. What could be brewing? At first glance, I don’t know much. At all. (Surprised?) But take a closer look and you might start to see the bigger picture. It involves PSA (professional services automation) and RMM (remote monitoring and management) software companies eventually cooperating and competing in the cloud. Here’s why.

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First things first: Yes, Staples — the office supply store with red storefronts and the easy button — operates a managed services business. Instead of countering Best Buy’s Geek Squad, Staples Network Services provides outsourced IT solutions to SMBs with between 10 and 250 employees. I spoke to Jim Lippie, president of Staples Network Services, about the history of the company and the future of managed services, among other things. Here are some perspectives.

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Level Platforms is looking to expand in Asia, where it is building relationships with master MSP partners. Peter Sandiford, Level Platforms’ chief executive officer, called Asia the “next really great market for managed services.” Here’s why.

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Here’s an interesting business and technology paradox: AMI Partners, a research firm, says North American SMBs will increase their spending on remote managed services at a compound annual growth rate of 28 percent for the next five years. Sounds awesome. But if things are so good why are some MSP software providers suggesting that portions of the managed services market have somewhat stalled?

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What a week. Our bloggers have been on the road at N-able Partner Summit, Astricon, Oracle OpenWorld and Avaya’s partner conference. Lots of fantastic blogs still to be written. Here are the seven managed services blog entries I didn’t have time to write for the week ending Oct. 16.

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I arrive at SMB Nation Fall (Las Vegas) in a few hours. Before I turn my attention to the trade show, I wanted to offer up a few managed services items culled from my inbox. So, here are the seven managed services blog entries I didn’t have time to write for the week ending Oct. 2.

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Kaseya continues to put the final polish on its next major software platform — which will include on-premise and SaaS (software as a service) components. But the company is rethinking whether to call a major new release Kaseya 6, according CEO Gerald Blackie. Here’s more on Kaseya’s branding and launch strategy.

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Ingram Micro Seismic, one of North America’s largest Master MSPs (managed service providers) is planning to expand its services to Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The only question: When?

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Through software as a service (SaaS), more and more MSP software providers profess to reach all corners of the globe. The latest example: N-able Technologies says its N-central 6.7 release is “now available worldwide.” I applaud the global expansion of managed services, but I also want to keep the SaaS momentum in perspective.

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