Seven Managed Services Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write: April 15

I’m in catch-up mode, sorting through my inbox after another week on the road. Thanks to those who sent across news tips. We’ll give them all a closer look — including these seven managed services blog entries the MSPmentor team didn’t have time to write for the week April 15, 2011.

7. Linking Up: ThinkGrid, a cloud platform, now integrates with ConnectWise’s PSA software. Most of the major PSA software providers now integrate with a range of cloud platform, online backup and SaaS security offerings.

6. Pulling Back the Curtain: ChannelCloud is set to host a training conference for VARs and MSPs; it’s May 19-21 in San Diego, Calif. The company, launched by MSP veterans, remains on our radar…

5. Similar But Different: Anybody else notice that the Ingram Micro Services and Cloud effort seems to be inking close cousin relationships? Two examples: Ingram pushed beyond its NOC relationship with NetEnrich to introduce a Help Desk relationship with Fujitsu. Also, Ingram pushed beyond its CA Technologies Recovery On Demand relationship to launch an IBM backup relationship.

4. Two New PSAs?: Kaseya and Work Market each have been poking around the PSA (professional services automation) market. There could be some Kaseya Business Center PSA information at the Kaseya Connect User Conference in May. Also, Work Market — launched by former OnForce CEO Jeff Leventhal — claims to have some PSA capabilities in the Work Market online platform, which is in limited beta at the moment. We’ll be watching to see if either PSA gains traction…

3. On Message: During the Ingram Micro VTN conference in Chicago, Microsoft’s Brian von Axelson positioned Windows Intune as a complementary tool for MSPs seeking to remotely manage customer systems. He also said Windows Intune was an ideal springboard to help aspiring MSPs step into the managed services market. At no point did von Axelson position Windows Intune as a complete, all-encompassing remote management tool. I’m not suggesting Windows Intune is perfect, but von Axelson definitely targeted his comments to the MSP community, which was refreshing.

2. Resignations Tendered: At least two well-known VPs in the managed services industry have tendered their resignations. It sounds like each executive will start the next chapter of their careers in May 2011. I look forward to hearing more when the time is right.

1. European Growing Pains: Several European readers are complaining about North American software companies failing to offer proper service and support in the United Kingdom. Multiple private notes have hit MSPmentor’s inbox, describing alleged missteps by MSP-centric software companies that are trying to manage UK partner relationships without setting up UK offices… We’re double checking to see if any of the UK reader concerns are legitimate. But it certainly sounds like the UK would like more feet on the street from North American software companies.

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