Don’t forget to join us today (Wednesday, February 8, 2012) for our Channel Expert Hour webcast. Two top MSPs — Data Storage Corp. and Bumi (Backup My Info!) — and Asigra will share their secrets to cloud backup. Learn how you can set your own cloud storage pricing, margins and service level agreements. But most of all: Learn the key questions Data Storage Corp. and Bumi asked while investigating potential cloud storage partnerships.
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Webcast Today: Partner Effectively on Cloud Backup
Posted February 8th, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
Why Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service?
Posted February 7th, 2012 by EVault Guest Blog
Data is the lifeblood of any organization, and its loss can be a serious blow to the business. If your systems and data are not adequately protected and supported by a well-tested disaster recovery plan, chances are that you are placing your organization at risk.
Saving You Time: What Manhours Per Gigabyte Means to You
Posted January 12th, 2012 by Intronis Guest Blog
As an MSP, your time is valuable; it’s a precious commodity. As a vendor and channel partner, we are intensely aware of that. We know the less time you spend managing backups, the more time that you’ll have to focus on other aspects of your business.
Managed Services and MSP Planning for 2012
Posted December 19th, 2011 by Ted Roller
It is absolutely amazing how fast a year can fly by, and for many, my guess is this year has gone by much faster than some. As someone who attends quite a few trade events on an annual basis, I have the opportunity to sit down face to face with a host of MSPs and resellers who are moving towards the MSP model, and the dichotomy of success is amazing to me. Now, let’s look back… and ahead.
The Continuum-Datto BDR Partnership: Questions Answered
Posted December 13th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
When Continuum (formerly Zenith RMM) yesterday announced a BDR (backup and disaster recovery) storage partnership with Datto, nearly 1,000 managed services providers (MSPs) and VARs signed up to gain early access to the platform, according to Continuum CEO Michael George. Still, MSPmentor raised five questions about the Continuum-Datto relationship and its potential implications for MSPs. George and his management team late last night spoke with MSPmentor and offered deeper insights. Here’s the update. Among the key takeaways: Continuum isn’t just getting into the BDR market, the company “wants to dominate it,” said George.
The Continuum-Datto BDR Deal: Five Questions Worth Asking
Posted December 12th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
When Continuum (formerly Zenith RMM) partnered with Datto today, it was the latest in a series of moves that could influence the backup and disaster recovery (BDR) market for managed services providers. But the Continuum-Datto relationship potentially raises as many questions as it answers. In fact, here are five follow-up questions MSPmentor is pursuing.
Zenith RMM Rebrands as Continuum, Partners With Datto for BDR
Posted December 12th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Zenith RMM, which spun off from Zenith Infotech in September, has rebranded as Continuum and will now compete with its former parent in the BDR (backup and disaster recovery) market. Indeed, Continuum has partnered with Datto to launch Continuum Vault — a BDR solution that will debut in January 2012.
Managed Services Software Company Funding: Who’s Next?
Posted December 2nd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
By raising $6 million in new funding, Autotask joins a lengthy list of MSP-centric software companies and cloud services providers that has tapped private equity or venture capital — or made acquisitions in 2011. Here’s the scorecard… and a look at two cloud-centric software companies that will very likely raise money next.
Integrating Cloud Solutions and Managed Services: 4 Questions to Ask
Posted November 15th, 2011 by Ted Roller
So, you’ve spent the last five years building out a successful managed services practice. You’ve spent innumerable hours evaluating vendors, selected an RMM vendor (or two, maybe three?) that will allow you effectively remotely manage your customers. You’ve had to make staff changes, and probably had to edit your customer list a little bit in the process too. If you are like most, you either added or started with a PSA solution to manage the day to day activities of your team and clean up your processes, billing, etc. All this has prepared you to layer on some cloud based deliverables which will add revenue across your customer base and create opportunity to land new customers.
Memo to MSPs: Prepare for Cloud Storage Segmentation, Shakeout
Posted November 1st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Cloud storage: Those two words have generated a vendor and service provider stampede. Dozens of vendors — often backed by venture capitalists and angel investors — now promote cloud storage and cloud backup into the MSP market. But take a closer look and you’ll find new segments (beyond traditional backup and recovery) emerging. The latest examples include Axcient launching a cloud continuity service, and Doyenz connecting the dots between on-premise virtualization and cloud-based virtualization services.
Intronis Cloud Backup Services Will Grow 50+ Percent in 2011
Posted October 19th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Intronis, which promotes cloud backup services to MSPs, is on pace to grow 50 percent or more in 2011, according to CEO Kent Plunkett. To maintain that growth, Intronis plans to double-down on the North America market, focusing like a laser on managed services providers that need cloud backup services. Plunkett described the Intronis cloud storage strategy to MSPmentor yesterday during an hour-long interview.
Zenith RMM Preps Cloud, BDR Alternatives to Zenith Infotech
Posted October 18th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Zenith RMM CEO Michael George continues to draw a cordial but clear line between his company and that of Zenith Infotech, which recently defaulted on a bond payment. While Zenith RMM continues to partner with Zenith Infotech, George says Zenith RMM will also take steps to ensure MSPs have alternative cloud and BDR (backup and disaster recovery) partner solutions from which to choose.
Anecdotal Growth in the Channel
Posted October 7th, 2011 by Ted Roller
Last week was a pretty interesting time in the channel and, as usual, much of the interesting news was announced at SMB Nation. Some of it was made publicly, and some of it was not. What were some of the interesting trends — and the potential implications for MSPs? Read on.
Axcient: Cloud Storage Provider Raises $15.5M for Channel Push
Posted October 3rd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Axcient, which promotes hybrid cloud storage services to SMB channel partners, has raised another $15.5 million to accelerate its business growth and channel partner efforts. Axcient has now raised $33.5 million to date. Axcient CEO Justin Moore (pictured) shared some more insights with me over email today.
How to Master Consultative Value-based Selling
Posted September 19th, 2011 by Ted Roller
As a managed IT services provider, it’s important for your team to have strategic consulting skills and effective processes, which ultimately lift sales. Think about the following words: Proficiency. Expertise. Talent. Skill. Art. Knowledge is power. Working with the most knowledgeable and talented people on the planet is a great way to relieve stress, move your business forward, and sleep well at night. As a business owner, working with experts whose expertise and integrity you trust is a truly magical experience. Check the box, move on to the next problem. These guys have my back.
The ABCs of Managed Services – B is for Cloud Backup
Posted August 15th, 2011 by Ted Roller
Welcome to Part III of the series, The ABC’s of Managed Services, focused on B for Backup, including cloud backup and online backup services. As some of you undoubtedly know, I work for Intronis. This blog, however, is more about building a backup and disaster recovery practice, and less about the specific tools you use to get there.
VaultLogix Updates Storage Partner Portal for MSPs
Posted July 21st, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
VaultLogix, the online backup and recovery specialist, has updated the VaultLogix Information Portal (VIP) to help MSPs and VARs more easily manage client accounts. The VIP portal lets partners manage their online backup businesses while automating many tasks.
Survey: SMBs Still Suffering From Data Loss
Posted July 19th, 2011 by Dan Berthiaume
Loss of data ranks as a “worst nightmare” for businesses of any size, but for players in the SMB space data loss can be especially catastrophic. SMBs often operate on the narrowest of margins and with the tightest of deadlines, meaning that even as little as a few hours spent without access to critical data, or trying to retrieve it, can have a serious negative impact on the bottom line.
SMBs Increasingly Turn to Cloud Storage
Posted July 14th, 2011 by Dan Berthiaume
A new study from AMI Partners suggests U.S. small and midsize businesses will increase their spending on backup and storage in the cloud by 11 percent yearly through 2015, reaching $270 million. Based purely on some educated guesses, MSPmentor thinks the forecast is a bit too conservative.
Backupify Readies Managed Services Partner Program
Posted July 13th, 2011 by John Moore
Backupify, a cloud data backup company, is launching a reseller program that includes managed services providers. The Cambridge, Mass.-based firm offers an archiving, search and restore service for Google Apps and social media accounts. Backupify targets both consumers and businesses and will enlist service providers to help with the latter market. MSPs already represent a Google Apps channel into small businesses. Backupify wants to equip MSPs with another service they can offer those customers.
The ABC’s of Managed Services (Part 2)
Posted July 8th, 2011 by Ted Roller
Last month we talked about what I consider the three foundational elements of a successful MSP business. A is for Availability, and last month I composed a list of questions that MSPs and aspiring MSPs might want to consider as they build and grow their MSP practice. So this month, let’s dig deeper into the tactics associated with trying to achieve 100% uptime at your customer’s site with my special guest, MJ Shoer, founder and President of Jenaly Technology Group.
Novosoft Launches Handy Backup Partner Program
Posted June 28th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Novosoft LLC has launched a new partner program for resellers of Handy Backup, an automated backup application for restoring critical data. The program comes less than a month after Novosoft released the newest version of Handy Backup, featuring a smart interface, cloud storage options and new plug-ins.
The ABCs of Managed Services Success (Part I)
Posted June 10th, 2011 by Ted Roller
Every successful MSP business should offer three critical deliverables that apply to almost any IT VAR / Reseller business, but each can be crafted and honed to perfection as part of a managed services practice. Over the next several months I plan to leverage my ongoing guest blog to explore each of those items in more depth and discuss ways to create opportunities from each deliverable. In this post, I’d like to introduce these concepts and get the discussion started. What are the ABCs of MSP success? They are…
