MSPs

Calling All Managed Service Providers: Qualify for the MSPmentor 100

• October 4, 2007

Forgive me for this shameless plug, but here’s a prime opportunity for successful MSPs to step into the spotlight. Is your company among the industry’s top managed service providers? Click Here to take survey and your company could appear in our inaugural MSPmentor 100 list.

The MSPmentor 100: Top 100 Managed Service Providers

• October 4, 2007

The Next MSPmentor 100 Survey

Federal Government Embraces Managed Services

• October 4, 2007

Most managed service providers focus on the small business market. But there’s ample opportunity to offer managed services into larger vertical markets — including the federal government. In the months ahead, Uncle Sam’s appetite for managed services will grow significantly, according to the Defense Department’s CIO. Federal Computer Week has a quick story about this […]

Driving Managed Services Into Detroit

• October 4, 2007

When people mention the city of Detroit to me, I think of struggling car companies and Thanksgiving football. But for Cbeyond, a managed service provider and Cisco Systems partner, Detroit represents a growing business opportunity. Cbeyond expects to employ roughly 100 people in the Detroit area by the end of this year as it seeks […]

Symantec Cooperates, Competes With MSP Partners

• October 3, 2007

October is shaping up to be a busy month for Symantec’s various online software efforts. While the company prepares to launch Symantec Protection Network (a software as a service platform for partners), Symantec is also promoting its Managed Security Services (MSS) to customers. Here’s what Symantec’s strategy means to managed service providers.

7 Managed Services Traps You Need to Avoid

• October 2, 2007

So you want to be a manged service provider? Recurring revenue from multiple customers sounds wonderful. But don’t forget, MSP rewards also involve some big risks. Johnny Kessel, one of the most vocal managed service providers I’ve met on the Net, has created a list of seven potential traps awaiting MSPs. Here’s a rundown of […]

Microsoft, D-Link Dial for Dollars

• October 2, 2007

Microsoft and its hardware partners are speed-dialing their way into the small business voice-over-IP market. Quanta and D-Link, through partnerships with the software giant, intend to offer IP phone systems that cost about $5,500 for a 20-user deployment. Although The VAR Guy is bullish about the Asterisk open source telephony platform, there’s something intriguing about […]

Microsoft and Managed Services: 10 Things to Know

• October 1, 2007

It’s a classic Microsoft tactic: Arrive late to a party and then attempt to steal the show. The has company announced the next chapter of its Software as a Service (SaaS) effort. If you offer managed services, it’s time to listen up. I spent some time analyzing the Microsoft initiative and I see some clear […]

Managed Services Meets Voice Over IP

• October 1, 2007

On their own, voice-over-IP and managed services are hot markets. Toss the two together, and maybe you can fan the flames of opportunity. For instance, check out how Cistera Networks is hosting VoIP managed services for schools.

Microsoft and Managed Services: 10 Things to Know

• October 1, 2007

It’s a classic Microsoft tactic: Arrive late to a party and then attempt to steal the show. The has company announced the next chapter of its Software as a Service (SaaS) strategy. If you offer managed services, it’s time to listen up. Our sister site, MSPmentor.net, spent some time analyzing the Microsoft initiative and sees […]

Microsoft Polishes its Managed Services Brands

• October 1, 2007

Forgive me if I’m a little confused. I’ve read a ton about Microsoft Office Live and Office Online over the past year. Sometimes, it’s a little tricky to understand exactly how Microsoft’s managed services and SaaS (software as a service) offerings are positioned. But the answer is finally emerging.

3Com Finally Delivers the Asterisk Goods

• October 1, 2007

3Com has finally announced plans to embrace Asterisk — the open source telephony platform. The VAR Guy has only one question: What took so long? This is a move 3Com should have announced much earlier this year. But in the company’s defense, it’s still very early in the open source telephony game. And the Asterisk […]

Banking on Managed Services

• September 28, 2007

Even banks and financial services firms are discovering the power of managed services. A case in point: Square 1 Bank, which works closely with venture capital firms, has embraced managed services from Hosted Solutions. Under terms of the relationship, Hosted Solutions’ Raleigh, N.C., data center will host Square 1’s core applications. The deal also calls […]

Understanding Managed Services Pay Scales

• September 28, 2007

I ran into Hailey Lynne McKeefry, a freelance writer, at the MSP Alliance conference earlier this week. She was busy doing a series of interviews at the event, so I knew she was prepping a story on managed services. But what specific piece of the managed services puzzle was she investigating? I finally have my […]

Selling Managed Services In 30 Days

• September 28, 2007

Can you really become a managed service provider (MSP) in 30 days or less? Frankly, I doubt it. There are too many challenges in terms of sales, marketing, technology, customer education, etc. However, small business consultant Karl Palachuk is writing a series of blog entries to show solutions providers how to become MSPs in 30 […]