StorageCraft Technology Corp. recently overhauled its portal for managed service provider partners.
The new StorageCraft MSP Portal is part of the StorageCraft Profit-Ability Partner Program and includes user interface enhancements, as well as new tools for MSPs to manage StorageCraft licenses through an Apple iPad, Microsoft Surface or other tablet.
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on May 05, 20140 comments
A prominent remote monitoring and management (RMM) provider is taking a first step toward packaging Infrastructure as a Service to make IaaS friendlier for SMB customers and easier for MSPs to deploy and manage.
Continuum this week launched Continuum Cloud Console, or C3. Billed as an IaaS management platform, C3 is delivered as a tab in Boston-based Continuum's SaaS-based RMM system.
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on May 01, 20140 comments
It's getting to be that time of year again -- for RCP Rocket Award submissions.
Have a great growth story? You've got a little over a month until the June 1 submissions deadline to send us the details. We're looking for a one- to two-page description of the innovative business strategies you've used that have resulted in sustained growth over a three-year period.
The 2014 award is open to all U.S.-based IT services companies with annual revenues between $5 million and $75 million. Click here for more contest details or e-mail me with your questions.
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on April 28, 20140 comments
A good portion of the Microsoft channel is already involved with management, integration and app development for the Apple iOS ecosystem.
With the rollout of the long-awaited Office for iPad in late March, Microsoft finally created a clear bridge for its partners between the Microsoft world that they know well and the huge customer demand for business apps on the world's most dominant tablet.
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on April 24, 20140 comments
Microsoft on Monday unveiled the latest results of its eternal tinkering with the machinery designed to get partners selling cloud.
In a blog post, Thomas Hansen, vice president of Small and Medium Business for Microsoft Worldwide SMS&P, revealed Cloud SureStep, a business advice and tools program with three pillars based on the maturity level of a partner's cloud business.
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on April 21, 20140 comments
Kaseya, the midmarket-focused systems management company that counts MSPs as a major part of its customer base, is rebranding itself as the IT Management Cloud Company.
President and CEO Yogesh Gupta discussed the rebranding with RCP in a telephone interview this week from Kaseya Connect, the company's gathering of customers and partners in Las Vegas.
Gupta announced the rebranding and updated the company's product roadmap at the show.
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on April 17, 20140 comments
One Australian Microsoft partner has big plans for clients around SQL Server 2014, but he won't be citing the technology by name in sales discussions.
Tony Nicol, managing director at Servian, shared his views on SQL Server 2014 in a video discussion with Phil Sorgen, corporate vice president of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group, that was posted on Sorgen's Channel Chief blog Tuesday.
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on April 16, 20140 comments
Being a channel chief at an IT company is a tough job with a lot of moving parts, but now there's a manual.
Ross Brown, a former senior Microsoft channel executive, wrote a blog entry this week called "The 6 Roles of a Channel Chief," which presents a nice breakdown of the many varied duties of a channel chief.
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on April 10, 20140 comments
A quick heads up that we've refreshed one of the most popular reader resources on RCPmag.com -- the MPN cost breakdown.
We've maintained this outline of the Microsoft Partner Network's basic cost levels since 2011, updating it occasionally when there are major changes.
The idea is to help you stay abreast of how the return on investment you're getting from your Microsoft partnership compares what you might get at another level of the program.
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on April 09, 20140 comments
HP and Microsoft are circling their Frontline Partnership back to the SMB.
The 30-year partnership between the companies ebbs and flows in focus among SMB customers, enterprise customers and technology alliance work.
Last week at the HP Global Partner Conference, a minor announcement about something called "HP SMB Flex-Bundles engineered for Microsoft workloads" signaled that VARs and resellers focused on SMBs are getting some attention again.
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on April 03, 20140 comments
With about a week to go until Microsoft kicks Windows XP off of extended support, one of the major OS share tracking firms says users are "sleep walking" toward the April 8 deadline and its associated security problems.
"Despite the stark warnings and publicity surrounding the end of support in six days' time, it appears that significant numbers of people are still using XP and sleep walking into a potential minefield of security and virus risks," said Aodhan Cullen, CEO of StatCounter, in a statement Wednesday.
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on April 02, 20140 comments
Several Microsoft partners with substantial Office 365 practices greeted the long-rumored arrival of Office for iPad with enthusiasm.
"We're definitely very excited about Office for iPad," said Pete Zarras, president of Cloud Strategies. "It should be pretty good for Microsoft and Apple and even better for customers."
More
Posted by Scott Bekker on March 31, 20140 comments