Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• Softchoice: Windows 10 adoption elusive among customers

  With Windows 10 having celebrated in July its first year on the market, service provider Softchoice has found a scant presence of the OS within its client base. Softchoice's recent study of its ... Continue Reading

• Trace3 grows its innovation research program

  Trace3 is growing its innovation research program, which aims to help CIOs obtain early access to emerging technologies. Continue Reading

• HIPAA compliance services a double-edged sword

  Before MSPs take on HIPAA compliance work, experts advise they understand the regulatory framework they're subject under, obtain certifications and mitigate the risks. Continue Reading

• The cloud-based security market: How to 'break in'

  Cloud-based security has gained mass appeal for businesses small and large, and channel partners are taking notice.

  In this three-part handbook, we provide a range of tips and insight on the cloud-based security market and the areas in which ... Continue Reading

• How to change up your channel business model

  "It seemed if we didn't invest heavily in growing our services organization, then we’d end up behind the curve." That was said by Barry Shevlin, CEO of Vology, about his company’s decision to transition from its product-centric focus to an IT ... Continue Reading

• IT security service provider taps Kaseya to deliver cloud offerings

  Internet & Telephone, a managed service provider, is offering its customers cloud-based IT security services through Kaseya's IT management platform tech.Continue Reading

• RPA software: Service firms automate customers, themselves

  IT service providers pursue differing robotic process automation projects, while navigating the technology's cognitive developments and labor considerations.Continue Reading

• Cloud vendor relationship management for channel partners

  Account management, marketing support and cloud performance -- these are just a few of the concerns that channel partners may have when working with cloud vendors.Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery certification: Must have or nice to have?

  Channel partners have a number of options for disaster recovery training and certification, but some execs see greater value in certifying in specific DR technologies.Continue Reading

• IT industry certifications boost morale, grow partner revenue

  IT services companies that follow an industry certification plan can create a positive work environment and offer clients a greater number of valuable services, writes Amy Kardel.Continue Reading

• IT channel sales and marketing strategy for the digital era

  Every channel partner should have a sales and marketing strategy if they hope to reach their true potential in the industry. Here's a guide to develop and put a plan into action.Continue Reading

• Channel marketing plan a must for partners

  A well-honed marketing plan provides insight into who your customers are, what they need and how you can help them with what you know and what you sell, Jennifer Anaya writes.Continue Reading

• DRaaS could open SMB channel opportunities

  DRaaS, or disaster recovery as a service, may open opportunities for channel partners to provide data protection services to small and medium businesses.Continue Reading

• Tech OEMs: Gray market goods are a growing concern

  The gray market revisited: A KPMG report explores whether the sale of gray market products has decreased since 2008 when economic conditions proved conducive to unauthorized sales channels.Continue Reading

• BPM platforms unlock channel partner opportunities

  Channel partners say business process management offers greater opportunity today in light of lower BPM platform costs and increased awareness of what the tools can accomplish.Continue Reading

• State CIOs may call on channel partners for cloud advice

  As the role of the state CIO evolves, IT service providers have an opportunity to provide assistance as government agencies consider their cloud computing options.Continue Reading

• Cybersecurity services: MSPs look to expand portfolios

  MSPs are pushing beyond traditional services such as patch and firewall management as they look to stand out from other companies offering managed IT security services.Continue Reading

• IP assets: Channel companies seek differentiation

  Channel partners are building their own IP assets to help differentiate themselves. That strategy involves a learning curve and requires a resource commitment, however.Continue Reading

• Managed services companies rethink their portfolios

  MSPs have to consider whether the gaps in their portfolios leave them exposed to competitors, especially as nontraditional managed services companies target their market.Continue Reading

• UC technology: Tips for channel partners

  In this Tech Buyer Snapshot installment, we examine purchasing priorities for unified communications technology. UC expert Stephen Tong weighs in.Continue Reading

• Computing, then and now: A 30-year view

  Computing has changed dramatically over the past 30 years, yet there are a few enduring patterns.Continue Reading

• IT channel training and certification: Priorities shift in 2016

  Leading IT vendors such as Microsoft and Salesforce are looking to transform how they deliver channel training and accredit their partners this year.Continue Reading

• SD-WAN technology offers channel partner opportunities

  SD-WAN promises to reduce the cost and complexity of WANs, while boosting the performance of real-time applications, according to channel partners and tech vendors.Continue Reading

• Citrix channel partners encouraged to pursue IT services

  At Citrix Summit 2016, company and partner executives pointed to certification, specialization and consulting services as ways channel companies can stand out from the crowd.Continue Reading

• Thought leadership content marketing: How the IT channel can benefit

  Channel partners use thought leadership content marketing strategies to get in front of potential customers and build credibility within the industry.Continue Reading

• IT services: Remote monitoring and management to get boost in 2016

  Old MSP standbys such as RMM and backup/disaster recovery will find rejuvenation this year, according to executives. Business process management will rank among the new trends.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Azure partnership with HPE: Channel reaction

  News analysis: The recent alliance between Microsoft Azure and HPE could eventually open opportunities for the channel, but appears to have minimal short-term impact.Continue Reading

• Channel companies enjoy solid business growth in 2015

  Channel partners speaking with SearchITChannel say they grew revenue in 2015 and now aim to solidify their business strategies for the coming year.Continue Reading

• Funding for MSPs: VC investors, angels and other sources

  When raising money for your MSP business, several factors will determine whether the best approach is to solicit funding from VC investors or from sources closer to home.Continue Reading

• 2016 channel trends: Digital transformation to alter relationships

  A look ahead: Digital transformation trends will persist into 2016, impacting channel shops, their vendor partners and end clients. Notable techs will include cloud, security and IoT.Continue Reading

• 2015 in review: Dell-EMC deal among top events impacting channel

  The pending Dell-EMC deal and HP's split into HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise topped the list of significant events for IT news in 2015 from a channel perspective.Continue Reading

• E-commerce channel partners prep merchants for holiday sales

  Channel partners in the e-commerce space are optimizing and testing shopping sites for what one market watcher predicts will be a $95 billion-plus sales season.Continue Reading

• Channel startups: How business partner agreements protect your investments

  When starting channel businesses, making the wrong decisions about the business partner agreement and entity selection can have severe consequences later on down the line.Continue Reading

• How to build out your managed print service business

  Channel partners adapt to the changing managed print service market by pushing into software and creating services to meet the needs of vertical and niche industries.Continue Reading

• Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 and 4: A business play for channel partners

  Microsoft channel partners cite an uptick in Surface Pro sales in the enterprise, with healthcare, retail and law enforcement among the leading markets.Continue Reading

• Application rationalization: Assess your clients' cloud options

  To determine which apps to migrate to cloud and which to maintain on premises, application rationalization projects analyze numerous aspects of your customers' businesses.Continue Reading

• Oracle: Partners can find work in engineered systems, cloud

  Oracle's recently appointed channel sales vice president emphasizes 'Oracle on Oracle' engineered systems, the company's cloud portfolio and midmarket accounts.Continue Reading

• Security consulting firms find niche in breach detection platforms

  Channel partners, particularly those with IT security experience, may find new opportunities in the emerging field of breach detection technology.Continue Reading

• Solid-state/flash storage technology: Customer insight

  In this Tech Buyer Snapshot, we offer insight into the challenges and purchasing priorities of solid-state/flash storage technology customers.Continue Reading

• SDN benefits obscured by misconceptions: How to beat the myths

  Software-defined networking can benefit customer organizations, but lingering misconceptions hamper broader adoption. Greg Stemberger of Force 3 debunks five common SDN myths.Continue Reading

• Cloud transition echoes client-server technology shift

  Looking back at the shift to client-server technology offers insight into recent activity among large systems integrators and small born-in-the-cloud consulting firms.Continue Reading

• SharePoint alternatives open the door to new channel opportunities

  Channel partners and vendors are capitalizing on SharePoint's weaknesses with alternative products and services. Learn about two enterprise collaboration tools that partners can leverage.Continue Reading

• Production scheduling software emerges as channel opportunity

  Channel partners and industry experts report rising interest among manufacturers in production scheduling systems as supply chain complexity grows.Continue Reading

• The legal vertical isn't for every IT services provider

  The legal services market isn't every service provider's cup of tea. Learn about one company that embraced the vertical and another that decided to walk away from it.Continue Reading

• Cloud data encryption options: How service providers address security concerns

  Service providers can address their customers' cloud security concerns by offering a range of cloud encryption options.Continue Reading

• Software-defined networking market growth could benefit channel partners

  While SDN market size grows, channel partners stand to benefit from the technology's ease-of-management features.Continue Reading

• Channel partners see customers uncloud: Reverse cloud migration strategy

  Channel partners report that a small but increasing number of customers are moving some or all of their applications off the cloud.Continue Reading

• The gamification platform: Cool toy or CRM partner opportunity?

  Dynamics CRM partner companies can expect to see gamification features integrated in Microsoft's fall software release.Continue Reading

• Google Nearline storage: How to develop a channel play

  Google Nearline offers unique perks for channel partners that Amazon Glacier cannot, but deciding which cloud storage service to deploy for your customers depends on a variety of factors.Continue Reading

• Windows 10 roadmap: Plotting a path to partner revenue

  Channel partners seek to take advantage of Microsoft Windows 10 opportunities in upgrades, project services and managed servicesContinue Reading

• IT assessments provide revenue lifts for channel partners

  Channel partners say IT assessments help them generate revenue and provide valuable insight into customers' technology environments.Continue Reading

• Cloud BI projects: Partners finding BI work, but not profits

  Channel partners report a double-edged sword in cloud-based BI: Consulting projects abound, but the elimination of hardware erodes profits.Continue Reading

• Selling hyper-converged architecture: A channel primer

  Partners interested in hyper-converged systems need to evaluate different sales approaches, technology options, potential use cases and related services.Continue Reading

• Managed services business model relies on careful client acquisitions

  When it comes to customer acquisitions, MSPs have to be particularly selective. Learn best practices to steer clear of bad clients and wasted time.Continue Reading

• Inside a DaaS service pact: EarthLink teams with IndependenceIT

  EarthLink, a cloud service provider, and IndependenceIT, a DaaS vendor, provide an example of partnering in the emerging hosted desktop space.Continue Reading

• In-house IT clients transitioning to the cloud? MSPs assess readiness

  Many businesses now consider cloud computing as a viable IT delivery option. MSPs can help their customers assess whether the cloud is right for them.Continue Reading

• 5 CIO trends channel partners should watch

  Channel partners should recognize that "keeping the lights on" is no longer a CIO's primary responsibility, writes Jeff Jackson of Ingram Micro.Continue Reading

• Data storage online: Tugboat firm E.N. Bisso partners with Venyu cloud

  E.N. Bisso has migrated most of its IT assets to cloud partner Venyu's environment, a transition that includes running NAS in the cloud.Continue Reading

• Wireless network technology: Selling access points

  In this Tech Buyer Snapshot installment, we examine customer priorities for WLAN access points. Insight includes top drivers, features and more.Continue Reading

• Digital marketing techniques key to partner revenue growth

  Digital marketing, reinforced by marketing automation tools, places partners on the revenue growth path and paves the way for revenue marketing.Continue Reading

• RMM software: Should MSPs buy baked-in security?

  MSPs must carefully weigh the pros and cons before purchasing RMM software with baked-in security features. The alternative -- to buy security products separately -- also has its drawbacks.Continue Reading

• Still few in numbers, women in the channel find open doors

  Women continue to be underrepresented in the channel and the broader STEM workforce, but are making inroads in telecom and managed services.Continue Reading

• New types of partners spark channel alliance opportunities

  Channel partner partnering is gaining momentum as solutions providers seek broader skill sets to deliver comprehensive technology offerings.Continue Reading

• Dell Direct collaborates with Dell channel partner to unseat EMC

  After uncovering a possible storage deal, Dell Direct decided working with a Dell channel partner would be the best route to take.Continue Reading

• Datto partner network gets Office 365 backup

  Datto partners can tap Office 365 backup, enterprise file sync and share, and other products launched at the company's annual partner conference.Continue Reading

• Workplace collaboration partners pursue Skype for Business

  Channel partners are developing services around Skype for Business, which they view as an important part of their unified communications toolkits.Continue Reading

• DR as a service: an emerging SMB market for the channel

  The cloud has made disaster recovery more affordable for small businesses, opening opportunities for channel partners offering DRaaSContinue Reading

• Mastering the art of managed communications

  Managed communications is a staple for many managed services providers, and, oddly enough, one of the more challenging services to deliver. Deciding which of the many managed communications services will best match your customers' needs is no easy ...Continue Reading

• Early-stage technology companies cultivate channel plans

  Tech startups featured at the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium's Innovation Showcase are developing channel marketing strategies at an early stage in their development.Continue Reading

• Build a channel or generate referrals? The MSP debate

  MSPs struggling with sales may be tempted to launch a partner channel, but experts advise that referral networks may prove more effective.Continue Reading

• Financial technology partners find compliance work

  Channel partners in the financial services sector find opportunities in regulatory compliance, cybersecurity, managed services and cloud computing.Continue Reading

• Cloud-based service revenue lags among MSPs

  Cloud-based service lines generate a small portion of the typical MSP's overall revenue, with a lack of cloud expertise among the barriers to growth.Continue Reading

• IT asset disposition: Time to offer end-of-life services?

  IT asset disposition services let channel partner clients stay on the right side of environmental protection, regulatory compliance and IT security.Continue Reading

• How AWS partner status helps cloud-savvy MSPs differentiate themselves

  Cloud-focused channel partners can take advantage of a recently launched AWS program that offers business, marketing, education and training benefits.Continue Reading

• SMB customers growing more reliant on technology and the IT channel

  SMBs see greater value in IT today than they have in the past, giving partners opportunities to penetrate deeper into this enormous market segment.Continue Reading

• Tech Buyer Snapshots: Selling technology in the channel

  Understand your customers' top priorities behind a range of technology purchases. This guide of "Tech Buyer Snapshots" will help you identify important purchasing drivers, product features and more.Continue Reading

• Cisco Intercloud: Benefits for cloud providers and their customers

  Channel partners can get involved in Cisco Intercloud in a number of ways. Learn how to take advantage of Cisco Intercloud's unique benefits.Continue Reading

• VMware network virtualization software heralds prospects for MSPs

  While MSPs and their customers are generally tepid toward it, observers foresee market growth on the horizon with VMware network virtualization software.Continue Reading

• Why MSPs and SMBs see potential in hosted virtual desktops

  MSPs look to grow business around hosted virtual desktops but face challenges in delivering their offerings. Find out if the technology suits your clients.Continue Reading

• IT channel income comparison: How does your salary stack up?

  The results of our second-annual IT channel salary survey are in. Take a look at average compensation sliced by job role, company type, region, job satisfaction and more.Continue Reading

• Two ways to ramp up your cloud computing revenue

  In the cloud world, single-digit profit margins don't have to be the new norm, says Jason Bystrak. Here are two ideas for accelerating cloud computing revenue.Continue Reading

• Meeting your clients' big data project demands

  In the next installment of our Tech Buyer Snapshot series, we highlight the business goals and challenges your clients are facing in their big data projects -- plus, how they intend to buy the technology.Continue Reading

• Three avenues to cloud archiving services

  For customers with significant data and email archiving needs, the cloud has become an appealing storage option. To meet the customer demand for cloud archiving services, IT companies must decide which delivery method makes the most sense for them -...Continue Reading

• Is hosted private cloud right for your MSP business?

  Mark Cavaliero of Carolinas IT explains how he built a successful cloud services business by spinning out hosted private cloud services.Continue Reading

• Why LAN Infotech resells cloud-based email archiving

  Instead of white-labeling or building a cloud-based email service, LAN Infotech decided to resell the service. Learn what factored into its decision.Continue Reading

• Why Rackspace chose to white-label cloud archiving services

  Resell, white-label or build your own cloud-based archiving services? Of these three delivery options, Rackspace decided to white-label cloud services from Sonian.Continue Reading

• Expedient Data Centers builds Evermore from ground up

  Solution providers may decide to build their own cloud archiving service offering instead of reselling, as Expedient Data Centers did with Evermore.Continue Reading

• Can IT service providers be thought leaders on Docker technology?

  Execs say using Docker technology could significantly impact MSPs and cloud services firms. Read about partners that found business opportunities.Continue Reading

• IT channel business model: Blurred lines and new strategies

  For channel partners today, the pressure is on to disrupt and change your business model. The strategic changes you make today will matter tomorrow.Continue Reading

• Vetting cloud service providers: Five things to consider

  Your investigation of potential cloud services provider partners should hinge upon more than customer preference, says Jason Bystrak of Ingram Micro Cloud.Continue Reading

• How to protect your SMB customer against sophisticated cyberattacks

  Service providers must up their game to protect their SMB customers from evolving security threats. Stanley Louissant offers best practices for ensuring your clients and their data remain secure.Continue Reading

• Cloud brokerage: Are cloud brokers 'tomorrow's system integrators'?

  With the cloud brokerage market expected to reach $160 billion by 2018, traditional IT companies vie with cloud brokers to tap into the growing customer demand.Continue Reading

• The true IT MSP model: Why are you still doing break/fix?

  The managed services business model has been around for years. So why can't some IT services firms break their reliance on break/fix work?Continue Reading

• IT hiring best practices for channel partners in the war for talent

  Hiring best practices might be your best weapon to gain ground in today's war for IT talent. Tech recruiters provide sage advice for boosting hiring strategies.Continue Reading

• Selling VSM software: Customer priorities

  In this slideshow, we shine a spotlight on top priorities that are shaping your customers' purchasing decisions for virtualization systems management tools.Continue Reading

• What are the challenges of managed communications services?

  Of all the managed services types that solution providers can potentially offer, managed communications has proven to be among the knottiest. Learn about the difficulties involved in delivering them and evaluating prospective partnerships.Continue Reading

• Key skill sets for capturing the booming enterprise mobility market

  IT solution providers need a fairly broad set of skills to tap into the range of enterprise mobility demands. Read up on the skill sets that channel firms are obtaining to bolster their mobility practices.Continue Reading

• The tradeoffs of partnering with managed mobility services providers

  The increasingly complicated world of enterprise mobility spells opportunity for channel partners, and partnering with a large managed mobility services provider may be the best way to overcome the high barrier of entry.Continue Reading

• IDC: Channel market to grow for server, storage, networking hardware

  The forecast for indirect sales of server, storage and enterprise networking hardware is a good one, says IDC. Analyst Paul Edwards breaks down each channel market.Continue Reading

• Delivering managed mobility services: The challenges and opportunities

  Despite all the enthusiasm surrounding managed mobility, solution providers are struggling to deliver these services. Learn what the challenges are and how to differentiate your offerings.Continue Reading