Seven Managed Services Blogs MSPmentor Didn't Write, April 27

The MSPmentor team is preparing to cover a range of technology conferences and managed services events next week -- including Kaseya Connect 2012, Ingram Micro VTN, IBM Impact and Tech Data TechSelect. But before we look ahead, let's look back on the seven managed services blogs and MSP news stories MSPmentor didn't have time to cover for the week ending April 27, 2012.

7. Google Drive and User Privacy: When the Google Drive cloud storage and file sharing service launched this week, some critics questioned Google's privacy policies for the service. But now it sounds like Google Drive and its rivals (DropBox, Microsoft Skydrive and iCloud) have similar terms of use, according a to a growing flood of media coverage. Side note: Apple says iCloud now has 125 million users. I wonder how many of those users have actually read Apple's terms of service...

6. Cloud Backup for ISPs:  R1Soft, a division of Idera, has launched CloudCopy -- an online backup software offering for ISPs. R1Soft is trying to help ISPs compete with Carbonite and Mozy. I wonder if R1Soft also will target smaller MSPs?

5. Grow Mode: Harbor Networks (formerly Boston Wireless) continues to experience strong growth in the managed services market. It sounds like revenues will grow to about $15 million this year, up from about $12 million last year. Last year Harbor Networks invested about $1 million in their Unified Communications Center to remote monitor customers' VoIP networks. More on this story soon.

4. More Acquisitions coming: It sounds like LANDesk is looking to make multiple potential applications. has acquired Managed Planet, an IT data analytics company that focuses on IT asset management, business to business connectors, hardware discovery, reporting and asset analytics. LANDesk previously licensed Managed Planet's technology as part of its LANDesk Data Analytics product. Financial terms were not disclosed. But a LANDesk spokesperson said LANDesk has had "strong financial performance that will fuel plans for future acquisitions."

3. Chasing SolarWinds: I'm hearing from more and more IT management software companies who say, "We're like SolarWinds." It's clear many of those companies want to emulate SolarWinds' success. And for good reason. In its most recent quarter, SolarWinds' earnings jumped 43 percent and revenues rose 39 percent to nearly $60 million.

2. Last Call: The second-annual Talkin' Cloud 50 survey ends today. If you're an MSP or VAR that resells, builds or offers cloud services jump onto the survey and brag about your success. (Most of the survey participants also include cloud brokers and cloud aggregators.) Using the data, we'll announce the Top 50 Cloud Services Providers on May 16 during a webcast.

1. Meet Next Week?: If you're attending Kaseya Connect 2012 or Ingram Micro VTN and would like to meet then drop me a note -- joe [at] NineLivesMediaInc [dot] com.

That's all for now. Thanks for your readership.