N-able Embraces SolarWinds’ User Experience Focus

N-able Technologies, now owned by SolarWinds (SWI), will soon integrate with SolarWinds' Help Desk Manager as well as StorageCraft. GM JP Jauvin announced the moves at N-able Global Partner Conference today in Scottsdale, Ariz. He also said N-able will embrace SolarWinds' focus on User Experience (UX) excellence. Then, Senior VP Mike Cullen weighed in with how cloud, mobile and IT anywhere will impact MSPs. Here's a live blog.

Jauvin noted that SolarWinds is a $300 million company focused on IT management in the mid-market and government space. He said SolarWinds carefully examined the entire RMM (remote monitoring and management) landscape before buying N-able.

Why N-able? The company now has 3,000 MSPs — which work with a combined 100,000 SMB customers. N-able's flagship product, N-central, now manages millions of end-customer nodes, he asserted. "Our growth is really fueled by the success of our partners," said Jauvin.

N-able Integrations: SolarWinds Help Desk Manager, StorageCraft

N-able will be working closely with SolarWinds to develop new innovations. Instead of running faster, N-able plans to extend its beta cycles and release products more slowly. To me, that sounds like N-able will focus on ease-of-use enhancements. Jauvin mentioned SolarWinds' UX (User Experience) teams will help N-able will that effort.

Among the other updates:

• N-able will maintain its focus on remote monitoring, management and control.
• StorageCraft will be integrated into N-central in 2014.
• SolarWinds Help Desk Manager will be integrated with N-central. Also, Help Desk Manager is not a PSA system and will never be a PSA system.
• N-able will expand its focus on cloud management.

Cloud, Mobile and IT Anywhere

Next up, N-able Senior VP Mike Cullen described how MSPs need to adjust — fast — as cloud, mobile, IT anywhere take off.

• Big vendors are advertising the cloud daily to your customers. MSPs need a response.
• "It took 15 to 20 billable hours to start up Windows Small Business Server. It takes 5 minutes to spin up those types of services in the cloud. Customers know it."
• Mobile computing is not to be confused with mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management. "Going forward, from an MSP perspective, mobile computing is what customers need to deliver."
• "The expectation is you will need to service a person on multiple devices anywhere, anytime."
• Commoditization: "I have never seen an industry like IT that has the ability to commoditize so quickly."
• The server will become less important as workloads shift to the cloud. MSPs will need to learn PowerShell and other technologies to manage cloud workloads.
• The desktop or end point will become more important as end-user experience drives customer buying decisions and MSP customer retention.
• Key takeaways: The MSP of the future will embrace cloud and focus on automation to maintain healthy margins and innovate.

Keep checking this blog for minute-by-minute updates.