D&H Distributing is enhancing its Cloud Cluster portfolio by adding partners that provide value-added services through the Microsoft Azure platform.

This includes MSP cloud management software from CloudCheckr and Nerdio. In addition, D&H is providing Azure assessment, migration and management from MSP consultant ReadyNetworks.

D&H Distributing’s Jason Bystrak

Jason Bystrak, vice president of D&H‘s cloud business unit, tells us his company is helping reseller partners move to the MSP model through a portfolio of complementary services that can be bundled together “since more and more, consumption of technology is being demanded on a hosted, as-a-service basis.”

“We don’t want partners to tackle this transition one or two services at a time — that’s not an effective strategy,” he said. “Many SMB VARs still have minimal experience in offering cloud-based services and solutions. The portfolio we’ve assembled runs the gamut from data migration and storage, to collaboration tools, to PSA tools, backup and cloud management software like those offered by Nerdio and CloudCheckr. Cloud clusters focusing on Microsoft Azure or MSP management tools give our partners a preselected group of services that can be applied in a variety of client environments. Microsoft is seeing tremendous success with Azure, but not enough of it is coming through channel partners. These Azure cloud cluster enhancements will help SMB partners get into the game and earn Microsoft incentives.”

CloudCheckr offers a visibility suite to support channel partners who are looking to grow their multicloud offerings, including modules for everything from custom invoicing, billing management and cloud optimization, to analytics and reporting tools. The software provides security and compliance recommendations to help protect SMB Azure environments, and lets SMB companies realize cost savings by identifying unused, unattached or idle Azure cloud-based resources through the CloudCheckr cost savings dashboard, according to D&H.

Nerdio’s software helps MSPs deploy a complete Azure IT environment, managing their end customers’ infrastructure from a management portal, and Azure pricing optimization to help maximize recurring monthly revenue.

And MSP partners have the option to work with D&H to learn the processes and obtain the right tools for Azure deployments, or to partner with ReadyNetworks through D&H’s cloud offering to deliver scalable, turnkey Azure assessment, migration and management services.

“Both the breadth of services being offered and the ability to deliver many of these solutions via a single interface reduce the complexity of offering managed services,” Bystrak said. “Through the cloud clusters, D&H is helping its partners learn what services can easily be bundled and applied to different vertical markets, making it easier for partners to sell full solutions. Also, our customers came to us with specific requests to alleviate some of their barriers, including the ability to incorporate their own services and MSP branding options into the D&H Cloud Marketplace platform.”

Cloud offerings such as remote management and monitoring allow MSPs to provide higher-margin services that reduce on-site visits and allow them to scale their businesses by aggregating these solutions across multiple customers, he said. MSPs also can offer these services on an annuity basis, which is often…

…easier for SMB companies to accommodate, and it creates ongoing revenues for those partners, he said.

Nerdio’s Joseph Landes

“The transition to the cloud is no longer just an optional strategy for solution providers,” said Joseph Landes, Nerdio‘s chief revenue officer. “Digital transformation is making it a necessity for all solution providers to do business in the cloud, and they’re looking for the right partners to help them make a seamless migration to an MSP model. We deliver the technology to assist D&H’s MSP and reseller partners in building successful businesses in the cloud, making the transformation as friction-free and rapid as possible, helping these MSPs reap the benefits of cloud services through new recurring revenue streams.”

ReadyNetworks’ Sam Barhoumeh

“In today’s market, there’s both a skill and capacity gap when it comes to technical resources that meet the demands of transitioning to Azure,” said Sam Barhoumeh, ReadyNetworks’ founder and CEO. “The upcoming end-of-support deadlines for Windows Server 2008 present a compelling market opportunity for customers to make the move to Azure, which addresses issues like compliance, security and scalable infrastructure demand in the fast-growth SMB market.”