Cloud computing is poised to transform the managed services landscape. How are RMM software makers preparing for its arrival? Here’s a look at what five leading RMM vendors are doing to help MSPs adjust to a cloudy future.
Ingram Micro Inc. From Ingram’s point of view, a sound education is the best preparation. So the Santa Ana, Calif.-based distributor offers users of its Seismic RMM solutions a variety of live and archived webinars on cloud-related topics and plans to hold a full-day cloud computing event on June 6, just before its 2010 Seismic Partner Conference. “Managed services providers need to get on board and embrace cloud computing,” says Justin Crotty, vice president for services at Ingram Micro North America.
Kaseya International Ltd. Kaseya’s top cloud-related move has been introducing hosted versions of its RMM product. In February, the software maker launched Kaseya Free and Kaseya IT Toolkit, SaaS solutions aimed at small office/home office users and start-up managed service shops with one to two employees. The company has had little to say so far on equipping its RMM tools to manage cloud systems, however.
LPI Level Platforms Inc. Level Platforms believes that hybrid environments in which cloud-based systems coexist with on-premise resources will soon be the norm among SMBs. So it’s slowly equipping its flagship Managed Workplace offering to administer both hosted and local solutions. To date, the company has added support for roughly half a dozen SaaS applications, including Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite. It plans to raise that number to as many as 30 cloud-based systems by the end of 2010.
N-able Technologies Inc. N-able is preparing a variety of new features that will help users of its managed service products support virtual and cloud environments. But it doesn’t want to talk about them, except to forecast that they’ll begin arriving toward the end of the year. “Our product managers are working diligently on this,” says Vice President of Sales Mike Cullen.
Zenith Infotech Ltd. Make no mistake, Zenith Infotech warns MSPs: Cloud computing titans like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon covet your customers. To help MSPs fight back, Zenith has created its SmartStyle Computing product, a sort of server room in a box that MSPs can either install locally with customers or host in their own data center. When delivered via the cloud, Zenith asserts, SmartStyle offers a way to profit from growing demand for SaaS and IaaS solutions without sacrificing brand equity or account control.
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What Managed Services Toolmakers Are Doing About Cloud Computing
The top RMM vendors are taking a proactive approach to cloud computing, and are helping their MSP partners get on board in a variety of ways.
By Rich Freeman
Cloud computing is poised to transform the managed services landscape. How are RMM software makers preparing for its arrival? Here’s a look at what five leading RMM vendors are doing to help MSPs adjust to a cloudy future.
Ingram Micro Inc. From Ingram’s point of view, a sound education is the best preparation. So the Santa Ana, Calif.-based distributor offers users of its Seismic RMM solutions a variety of live and archived webinars on cloud-related topics and plans to hold a full-day cloud computing event on June 6, just before its 2010 Seismic Partner Conference. “Managed services providers need to get on board and embrace cloud computing,” says Justin Crotty, vice president for services at Ingram Micro North America.
Kaseya International Ltd. Kaseya’s top cloud-related move has been introducing hosted versions of its RMM product. In February, the software maker launched Kaseya Free and Kaseya IT Toolkit, SaaS solutions aimed at small office/home office users and start-up managed service shops with one to two employees. The company has had little to say so far on equipping its RMM tools to manage cloud systems, however.
LPI Level Platforms Inc. Level Platforms believes that hybrid environments in which cloud-based systems coexist with on-premise resources will soon be the norm among SMBs. So it’s slowly equipping its flagship Managed Workplace offering to administer both hosted and local solutions. To date, the company has added support for roughly half a dozen SaaS applications, including Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite. It plans to raise that number to as many as 30 cloud-based systems by the end of 2010.
N-able Technologies Inc. N-able is preparing a variety of new features that will help users of its managed service products support virtual and cloud environments. But it doesn’t want to talk about them, except to forecast that they’ll begin arriving toward the end of the year. “Our product managers are working diligently on this,” says Vice President of Sales Mike Cullen.
Zenith Infotech Ltd. Make no mistake, Zenith Infotech warns MSPs: Cloud computing titans like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon covet your customers. To help MSPs fight back, Zenith has created its SmartStyle Computing product, a sort of server room in a box that MSPs can either install locally with customers or host in their own data center. When delivered via the cloud, Zenith asserts, SmartStyle offers a way to profit from growing demand for SaaS and IaaS solutions without sacrificing brand equity or account control.<-->
