Managed Services Articles

91. Are Collaborative Communities Divided By The Technology They Use? 5/1/2019

    The current lack of standardization presents new integration opportunities.

92. Becoming Logically – One MSP's 20-Year Journey To The Future 4/17/2019

    While more and more business systems and technologies are now affordable to SMBs, access is limited by a shortage of skilled experts to design, implement, and manage them. Moreover, since the range of underlying technologies has become so broad, no one person has all the skills needed. How can organizations access the required skills?

93. Reader Spotlight: Fred Alonzi, Par3.IT 4/10/2019

    In this Reader Spotlight, Par3.IT managing partner Fred Alonzi shares a little about himself, Par3IT, and the state of the channel.

94. 5 Ways To Obtain Capital Needed To Survive Tough Times 4/5/2019

    It's been a long time since banks did actual business loans, instead offering SBA products and lines of credit. Why this has happened is a topic for someone directly involved in that industry, but small business owners need capital to get through tough times or invest in expansion to get to the good times. Following are five ways you can do that.

95. Leveraging Online Pre-Buying To Reach More Customers 4/3/2019

    As a software provider, understanding the elements of the digital pre-buying process and taking the necessary steps to best position your software will yield more business and greater opportunity.

96. Continuous Compliance: Continuous Iteration 3/27/2019

    Achieving audit compliance within your IT ecosystem can be an iterative process, and it doesn’t have to be compressed into the five days before the audit is due. Following is a four-step process I use to guide clients through the process of preparing for and successfully completing IT audits.

97. Onboarding New Technology In The Digital Age: How VARs Can Stand Out 3/21/2019

    Businesses today are under greater pressure and scrutiny than ever before. With increased restrictions on storing, accessing and protecting customer data, there are very serious repercussions for those that fail to do it correctly. Of course, IT security isn’t a core competency for many businesses. They need help. And that’s just one place where solutions providers can play an important role.

98. Channel Alchemy 3/19/2019

    In order to thrive, data protection experts Silverstring recognized it needed to switch from a product-led to a service-led business model. Looking back at the early days of the company’s transformation, Silverstring’s Chairman Alistair Mackenzie highlights the ups and downs as well as key learnings.

99. Technological Consideration When Transitioning From VAR To MSP: Business Edition 3/15/2019

    I previously wrote about the importance of considering the variety of technological shifts that need to occur for a VAR to successfully transition to MSP from a sales perspective. But these considerations don’t end there: You also have to anticipate the need to essentially overhaul your technology infrastructure to accommodate not just these new tools, but also to provide on-going technical support for your customers.

100. 4 Things To Consider When You Close The Doors 3/11/2019

     You ran the metrics, figured out true COGs, trimmed excesses, used data driven marketing techniques, and dug deep to try and pull your business into profitability. It’s not working and the business hasn’t been profitable for five years. Just because a specific location closes does not mean one’s entrepreneurial dreams are over, especially if a business owner does the following.