Tech 10: Must-See Managed Service Products

New Looks For MSPs

Are you in need of a new tool, platform or program to help your managed services businesses grow? CRN has you covered. Here are 10 offerings from some of the top cloud and systems management software companies, from wireless-as-a-service to managed cloud services, that add new wrinkles to the MSP model.

10. Adtran Wi-Fi As A Service

Adtran's Wi-Fi-as-a-Service is an attempt to convert wireless networking into a cloud service. The networking vendor this summer introduced a new program called ProCloud for both existing MSPs and newcomers to managed services. The program allows solution providers to either offer an Adtran Wi-Fi as a service through ProCloud or brand the Wif-Fi as a service with their own company name through the ProCloud Private Label.

9. Unified Office Total Connect Now

Cloud service provider Unified Office is looking to leverage the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend for MSPs. The company unveiled a new open-systems-based platform called Total Connect Now, which creates a virtual office communications service for SMB clients. The private cloud platform offers voice mail, instant messaging, videoconferencing and virtual receptionist features.

8. Verdasys Managed Service For Information Protection

Security vendor Verdasys is bringing data loss prevention (DLP) to managed services via its new cloud-based managed service. Introduced earlier this year, Verdasys' Managed Service for Information Protection (MISP) is designed for midmarket and enterprise customers with 1,000 employees or more. The managed service is delivered through Verdasys' Secure Cloud and is designed to protect corporate data as well as provide insider threat management, policy enforcement and compliance features.

7. Spanlink Communications OnGuard

Top Cisco collaboration partner Spanlink Communications earlier this year introduced OnGuard, a managed services suite for enterprise call center and telepresence videoconferencing. OnGuard also provides switching and router services. The Ciscofocused managed services come in two packages: a basic offering called OnGuard Maintain that provides monitoring and engineering support plus audits, service level agreements and notification services. On Guard Manage includes patch management, desktop and license management and application failure testing.

6. ArrowSphere XSP Central

Arrow Electronics added a new layer to its ArrowSphere cloud aggregation and brokerage platform with a new offering for MSPs. ArrowSphere xSP Central is a cloud services tool designed to assist MSPs in monitoring all the different cloud software licenses inside a customer environment with a central management platform. The xSP Central tool also includes a forecasting capability that can help VARs calculate the total cost of all a customers' cloud services.

5. ConnectWise Integration With OS33

Systems management software maker ConnectWise is looking to assist its MSP customers with their migration to the cloud. To do so, ConnectWise recently announced an integration agreement with OS33, a private cloud services firm, which will give MSPs a single IT solution that can help them deliver both managed services and cloud services. The combined ConnectWise and OS33 solution also enables MSPs to track cloud and data usage, and add more features like security and on-premise services.

4. Panorama9 MSP Interface

Panorama9, which makes a cloud-based IT management platform, recently unveiled new updates to both its MSP Partner Program and its platform. The Panorama9 platform now allows users to assign responsibilities, select user access for clients and add client notes. The update also brings visual enhancements, new notification templates, and advanced integration with Zendesk's customer service software and other help desk systems.

3. Kaseya Traverse

Kaseya is stepping up its cloud game with a new Software-asa- Service tool for performance monitoring. Kaseya's Traverse is designed to give MSPs a predictive analytics, performance monitoring and business service management tool for cloud, onpremise and hybrid environments. Kaseya added Traverse when it acquired software maker Zyrion earlier this year.

2. Synnex ConvergeSolv Secure Networking

Synnex's ConvergeSolv Secure Networking Group, which focuses on networking, unified communications and network security solutions, added managed wireless services and hosted notifications to its service offerings. The managed wireless service will allow MSPs to provide configuration, monitoring and upgrade services, among others, for SMB and enterprise-level wireless networks. The hosted notification service, meanwhile, gives MSPs a subscription-based cloud service that automates notifications and reminders.

1. NetEnrich IT Operations Platform

NetEnrich recently added two new offerings to its IT operations platforms for managed service providers. First, the company added a new customizable dashboard that allows MSPs a complete view of all the hosted services and IT assets in a client's environment. Second is the ability for MSPs to brand the client interface with their own company name. NetEnrich's IT operations platform also includes unified alert monitoring, improved capacity reporting and a Custom Escalation Matrix.