Arrow Fusion Cloud Services: Reality Check for VARs, MSPs

I’m spending today at Arrow ECS (Enterprise Computing Solutions) in Atlanta, touring a new lab and learning about the distributors Arrow Fusion Cloud Services for VARs and MSPs. My challenge: Trying to compare and contrast Arrow’s strategy to recent cloud and managed services moves by Ingram Micro and Synnex.

So far, the Arrow Fusion Cloud Services strategy seems to involve four components:

1. Remote monitoring and management capabilities: I need to determine if Arrow handles the RMM tasks directly, or if Arrow offers third-party RMM tools to VARs and MSPs. In stark contrast, Ingram Micro promotes on-premise offerings like Level Platforms and Nimsoft to MSPs; and Synnex hosts Level Platforms for MSPs to remotely access.

2. Security and Software as a Service: Here, Arrow promotes disaster recovery, message archiving, hosted email, and collaboration software. I’m trying to determine if Arrow hosts all that software internally, or directs VARs and MSPs to third-party white label services. Ingram, for instance, promotes Intermedia Hosted Exchange and Hosted PBX services to partners.

3. Infrastructure as a Service: Here, Arrow promotes virtual, managed and fully-dedicated server options, as well as public cloud services. But I concede: I’m naive. Has Arrow built its own data centers for IaaS, or does the IaaS effort involve thirty-party data center partners? I’ll try to get answers today.

4. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery: For most MSPs — particularly those focused on SMB customers — business continuity and disaster recovery are lucrative opportunities. Online backup and cloud storage are, after all, ubiquitous services that most MSPs can offer. Here, Ingram has partnered up with CA Technologies and IBM, while Synnex has partnered with Axcient and Intronis. I’m curious to learn where Arrow is partnering on this front.

Bigger Picture

Note: Additional distributors have cloud strategies, but Ingram and Synnex are front of mind for me this week because they hosted the Ingram Micro VTN and Synnex Varnex events, respectfully, last week. Ingram continues to position itself as a cloud aggregator for channel partners, while Synnex has been expanding its cloud and managed services efforts.

Also today, I’ll be touring an Arrow ECS lab in Atlanta that allows VARs to test and demonstrate specific applications for customers. Hopefully, I’ll gain deeper insights about the Arrow Fusion Cloud Services strategy along the way.

Follow Talkin’ Cloud via RSS, Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for Talkin’ Cloud’s Weekly Newsletter, Webcasts and Resource Center. Read our editorial disclosures here.