Matt Nachtrab LabTech Software CEO

The integration between the two solutions enables MSPs to use LabTech's RMM tools to deploy, set up, manage and monitor backup and endpoint security across multiple domains, customers and offices from centralized consoles and locations in single-pane-of-glass views. This, says Nachtrab, "enables an IT service provider to easily onboard new/existing clients globally, automate billing as they would for any support services rendered and reduce complexities associated with disparate bloated admin interfaces." Symantec Endpoint Protection and Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition 2013 are integrated in the LabTech Multivendor Antivirus Dashboard, and Symantec Backup Exec Small Business Edition are supported in the LabTech Multivendor Backup Dashboard.

According to LabTech, Symantec is a member of the LabTech Technology Alliance Partner Program (TAPP), which enables integration and collaboration, providing value-added solutions to LabTech partners. "Symantec has now been part of the LabTech TAP Program for 8 months, working closely to bring the first phase of our integration to market," says Nachtrab. But, that's not all — both companies are already onto the next big thing. "We are already hard at work on solving for additional problem usage case we have identified from our beta testers and market analysis."

A couple of Labtech's partners — Networks of Florida and Digital Seattle — have already taken part in the company's managed early adopter pilot program. These MSPs helped the company validate phase 1 integration and shape additional requirements. Nachtrab says he expects a positive adoption rate, "From various industry tradeshows and partner conferences indicators, we expect a very successful adoption rate and value add integration roadmap."

What's the reasoning behind the partnership? Symantec Vice President of Worldwide Channel and Alliance Marketing Stephen Banbury says, "By working with partners like LabTech, we are able to deliver the right solutions to service providers that are flexible, easy to manage and cost effective." Nachtrab, on the other hand, is more philosophical with his reasoning, "This latest innovation, much like others we have released, are anchored under the LabTech Software philosophy that we are not in a one-vendor-fits-all market. We choose which best in class products we do business with, backed by a set of operating level agreements via TAPP that span an iterative ongoing integration roadmap, formally aligning support departments and partner profitability focused pricing models that solve for our market expectations."