https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

Technologies


N-able Launches Midmarket MSP Partner Program

  • Written by Joe Panettieri 1
  • May 19, 2009
How can managed service providers (MSPs) successfully target midmarket customers that have internal IT departments? The answer to that question depends on whom you ask. I'm raising the issue today because N-able Technologies is the latest MSP software provider to launch a midmarket push.

n-able-midmarket-partner-programHow can managed service providers (MSPs) successfully target midmarket customers that have internal IT departments? The answer to that question depends on whom you ask. I'm raising the issue today because N-able Technologies is the latest MSP software provider to launch a midmarket push. And unlike some rival moves, N-able's strategy is all channel, all the time. Here's where MSPs fit in the picture, along with several other midmarket MSP trends.

According to an N-able press release hitting the wires today:

 

As part of the program, participating partners earn a significant upfront fee for reselling N-central while also building new recurring revenues. These partners also gain access to valuable in-bound business leads that have been pre-qualified by N-able’s sales team and can receive additional sales commissions on deals they bring to the table.

N-able has been piecing together the Midmarket Partner Program for several months. In fact, the company was brainstorming about its midmarket strategy during the N-able Partner Summit in October 2008.

Mike Cullen, VP of sales at N-able, hinted at the event that the company was funneling midmarket sales leads to MSPs. He also vowed to ensure N-able would route all inbound midmarket customer leads to channel partners. Translation: N-able would not pursue a midmarket direct sales strategy.

More recently, N-able’s sales team field-tested the N-able Midmarket Partner Program with a number of MSP Elite Partners (N-able's top customers) including All Connected, IT Authorities and Precision IT, according to today's N-able press release.

I will check in with those companies get their perspectives on the program.

 

 

Same Market, Different Approaches

Multiple MSP software providers are pushing into the midmarket, but their business strategies vary greatly from company to company. A sampling of approaches:

 

 

  • Autotask, which specializes in IT services automation and professional services automation (PSA) software, has launched a tool called Taskfire. It's designed to help MSPs coordinate service tickets and other tasks involving internal IT departments. Taskfire is part of Autotask's SaaS (software as a service) platform for MSPs.
  • Dell recently launched ProManage – Managed Services, a national managed services push that blankets the United States. Some folks consider this a pure direct sales play to businesses of all sizes. But the managed services effort includes recurring revenue for participating resellers and MSPs. Also, MSPs can still leverage Dell's Silverback software on their own.
  • Kaseya has openly stated that it doesn’t plan to sell directly into small businesses (organizations with 1 to 100 seats). The small business market, in other words, is wide open to Kaseya’s MSPs. But once you get into the mid-market and large enterprises, Kaseya does intend to sell directly to customers — meaning that MSPs may run into Kaseya’s sales force on some larger deals. I will seek an update during the Kaseya Connect User Conference 2009 (May 26-28, Las Vegas).
  • Who did I miss? Actually, there are numerous players to consider in the MSP software market. The examples listed above are based on info I knew off the top of my head. If you're aware of additional midmarket MSP partner strategies please feel free to share them in the comment area.

 

Direct Debate

To the best of my knowledge (how's that for a hedge?), N-able is one of the few MSP-oriented software companies that has definitively stated it won't pursue direct sales in the midmarket. Ingram Micro Seismic has also vowed not to compete with its MSPs and VARs. If you have other examples, please share them.

Still, I think heated competition between IT vendors and MSPs will be unavoidable in selected market segments. Over the next two to three years, I expect the vast majority of major IT vendors to offer SaaS-oriented services directly to their midmarket and large customers.

The reason: The temptation to behave like Salesforce.com, the poster child for lucrative direct-to-customer SaaS growth, is simply too great for most software providers to ignore.

As a result, MSPs will need to work extra hard building, maintaining and promoting their brands and their unique selling propositions. And in some rare cases, they can partner up with MSP software providers that vow not to sell direct.
 

Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs RMM/PSA Technologies

Related


  • data migration
    The Right Data Migration Tool Helps Schools Move to Cloud During COVID Crisis
    Effective data migration tools enable schools to move to a secure cloud environment, making applications and content easier to access, as well as mitigating the risk of data loss.
  • backup and recovery cloud
    Cloud-Based CRM: What SMBs Need to Know about Backup and Recovery
    The cloud makes CRM more accessible to SMBs, but solutions must be layered with backup and recovery.
  • Security breach
    With SolarWinds Breach, ‘The Hackers Aren’t the Problem’
    Find out who, instead, is the problem and how MSSPs must fix their own, and clients', IT environments now.
  • cybersecurity predictions
    Cybersecurity: What to Expect in 2021
    Remote work is here to stay (and other cybersecurity predictions for the year ahead).

7 comments

  1. Avatar Peter Sandiford May 19, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
    Reply

    In response your question “who did I miss”, please note that Level Platforms never sells to end users. We pass end user leads on a regular basis to local partners.

    Level Platforms has operated a “midmarket” program for several years encouraging our partners to resell the management console – our Service Center – to end customers IT organizations under any pricing and management arrangement they wish.

    In fact with most of our sign up packages we include one or more free Service Centers to encourage them to sell this solution into this market. We have had tremendous success with this program with many end customers IT organizations working with our partners to provide a customized service offering perfectly complementing their respective strengths, while providing the MSP a continuous window on new opportunities.

    Managed Workplace includes completely user definable roles and permissions allowing the service provider to work out with their customer exactly which services are to be delivered, when and by whom right down to the individual device if required.

    With full integration across all of the PSA and many of the corporate help desk solutions including multiple help desk synchronization, virtually any collaborative relationship that a service provider can work out with the local IT manager can be delivered literally out-of-the-box.

    Peter
    http://www.levelplatforms.com

  2. Avatar Joe Panettieri May 19, 2009 @ 2:25 pm
    Reply

    Peter: Thank you for describing Level Platforms’ midmarket channel strategy. I will keep it in mind as we plan future midmarket coverage.

    All readers: The comments area remains wide open for any other midmarket strategies I missed in the original blog entry. That’s the beauty of social media: Educated readers fill in the blanks for fast-talking bloggers who miss a fact or two 😉

  3. Avatar Josh Clifford May 20, 2009 @ 12:39 am
    Reply

    Zenith has their ARCA system for mid market DR needs and CW has downstream IT which they have been promoting for some time now.

    Josh

  4. Avatar Joe Panettieri May 20, 2009 @ 10:05 am
    Reply

    Josh: Hope all is well with you and the team. Keep us posted as Everon continues to expand its business initiatives. Curious to know if you’re targeting midmarket or smaller customers.

    Readers: Josh Clifford is from Everon Technology Services, a savvy MSP that landed on the Inc. 5000 list, the MSPmentor 100, etc. Their team is well known for their sales, marketing and branding efforts.

  5. Avatar Jason Caras May 22, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
    Reply

    Nice write up, Joe. The mid-market is proving to be a great play for us and N-able has been there every step of the way. From day one we’ve had their support and have since been able to approach clients of all sizes ranging from the 25 to 500 seats with more flexibility. By that I mean, the sales cycle starts out the same – we lead with our MSP offering and if that goes well we move forward. However, if they have their own IT staff and want the software in-house we can now re-sell them N-central and wrap our services around the product. We still get the client, the revenue and the opportunity to sell them more over time. It’s been great and I’d certainly recommend to other people who are looking at MSP vendors today, to strongly consider N-able vs. others who compete with you for dollars in the mid-market. N-able’s bringing us leads, not more competition.

  6. Avatar Joe Panettieri May 22, 2009 @ 3:49 pm
    Reply

    Jason: Thanks for your thoughts. Can you disclose your company name in case our readers/peer MSPs want to connect with you and get more thoughts?
    -jp

  7. Avatar Jason Caras May 26, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
    Reply

    IT Authorities, Inc.
    813-246-5100

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Lenovo to Ship Its Thinnest ThinkPad Yet with X1 Titanium Yoga
  • Help Your Customers Mitigate Malware: Viruses, Worms, and Trojans…Oh My!
  • Pax8 Kicks Off European Expansion with Launch of Pax8 UK
  • Samsung Boosts Smartphone Security with New Galaxy S21 Line

Galleries

View all

New, Changing Partner Programs: AWS, Tech Data, Avaya, Verizon

January 11, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

The Right Data Migration Tool Helps Schools Move to Cloud During COVID Crisis

January 19, 2021

Cloud-Based CRM: What SMBs Need to Know about Backup and Recovery

January 19, 2021

Cybersecurity: What to Expect in 2021

January 19, 2021

Webinars

View all

Who’s Behind the Mask? Hacker Personas Explained

January 26, 2021

Your Network Perimeter Has Changed

February 18, 2021

How Managed Hosting Providers Thrive with the Alternative Cloud

February 24, 2021

White Papers

View all

Why Subscription Business Model

January 15, 2021

The Ultimate MSP Guide to Sales Efficiency

January 14, 2021

Eight Reasons Why MSPs Need IT Industry-Specific Sales Tools

January 14, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Virtual

March 2, 2021 - March 4, 2021

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

Legal experts say @VMware's #lawsuit against @nutanix's new CEO holds little weight. dlvr.it/Rr48FJ https://t.co/oLxPhgvgAt

January 21, 2021
ChannelFutures

bit.ly/2Y0kFZh twitter.com/Craig_Galbrait…

January 21, 2021
ChannelFutures

Our latest #Cybersecurity Roundup features @BitSight and @kovrrIns, @Vectra_AI and @AppOmniSecurity,… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@solarwinds hackers target @Malwarebytes, impacting internal emails. #cybersecurity dlvr.it/RqzkZp https://t.co/aWqLjCCW9y

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@citrix $2.25 deal to acquire @wrike expands @CitrixPartners network into collaborative work management.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@Carbonite Migrate uses real-time replication to move workloads to #cloud with minimal risk and near-zero downtime… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 20, 2021
ChannelFutures

Backup and recovery is essential for #cloud-based CRMs @ConnectWise #SaaS #dataprotection #cloudbackup #databackup… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 19, 2021
ChannelFutures

You an #MSSP looking to avoid a #SolarWinds-type breach? @Asigra, @Barracuda, @CynetSystems give advice. Don’t blam… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 19, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X