OS33, a cloud computing delivery platform, officially comes out of stealth mode on Tuesday, offering MSPs the ability to offer full-featured hosted cloud computing to their customers.
The MSP-focused cloud platform started as an internal project for one large MSP in 2006 and has since grown into a cloud platform for MSPs to offer cloud services.
"This product could stand on its own," OS33 president and CTO Jacob Kazakevich said, adding that OS33 spun off into its own company in 2009. And now, the company has five MSPs offering fully hosted IT in the cloud to their customers.
Kazakevich said Brooklyn, N.Y.-based OS33 breaks down the barriers for MSPs to implement and deliver multi-tenant cloud IT services by offering turnkey cloud computing services for MSPs. It lets providers access an unlimited supply of cloud-based infrastructure and turn it into business-ready Web and Windows-based applications.
Essentially, OS33 lets MSPs mix and match resources from any public or private cloud and convert storage, CPU and RAM into Web and Windows-based applications. From a single interface, MSPs provision servers, deploy and package customer apps, select from a catalog of pre-integrated business software offerings, manage permissions and activate third-party SaaS offerings, Kazakevich said.
OS33 comprises four distinct components: Cloud Connecter lets MSPs tap into unlimited cloud resources and infrastructure via OS33's Datacenter Alliance which includes Equinix, SunGard, CoreSite, iLand, Savvis and others, to turn their existing infrastructure into a multi-tenant cloud-based IT delivery platform or to create hybrid configurations; the Cloud Control Panel from which MSPs can deploy servers, provision clients, create users and groups, set their branding, set security and track usage; Application Delivery, which lets MSPs securely deliver Windows- or Web-based apps to nearly any device including smartphones and the Apple iPad; and the Webtop GUI, a uniform Web-based interface for end users that the MSP can customize and brand and is accessible anywhere for application access, personal information management, self-service and the company intranet.
MSPs can also leverage OS33 tracking, billing and chargeback, ticketing and reporting to ensure their partnership with the company is profitable and makes business sense.
Kazakevich said the startup costs for an MSP are around $2,500 with the Cloud Control Panel costing $695 per month, the Cloud Connector $200 per month and the administrator account is $100 per month. User licenses run between $2.50 and $10. MSPs can also expect about 50 percent or more margin and will receive service and support free, Kazakevich said.
