Tips

Tips

• How to evaluate MSP peer groups

  Peer groups can help MSPs improve in any number of business areas. Ed Mana, chief technologist at Technology on Demand, offers tips for finding the right peer group for you.  Continue Reading

• 5 tips for multi-cloud strategy and management success

  Multi-cloud environments can unleash a host of management challenges. Cloud solutions architect Jacob Picart offers advice on making multi-cloud work.  Continue Reading

• Office 365 managed services call for workflow, vertical skills

  Subscription business models, a focus on automating workflow and becoming a thought leader are important for taking advantage of the Microsoft Office 365 opportunity.  Continue Reading

• Self-service analytics at Accenture boosts knowledge workers

  Accenture's enterprise analytics and AI models are helping the firm on a number of fronts, including determining sales opportunities, pricing deals and complying with internal and customer expense policies.  Continue Reading

• AI applications: Cloud vs. on-premises deployment options

  Should clients build on-premises infrastructures for their AI needs or turn to cloud-based AI? Insight Enterprises' Brandon Ebken and Juan Orlandini discuss these options.  Continue Reading

• How to revamp your managed services pricing for predictable revenue

  Many MSPs still rely heavily on an hourly billing rate and cost-plus pricing. Michael Backers, an MSPAlliance board member, offers advice on moving to managed services pricing.  Continue Reading

• 7 channel marketing strategy tips for 21st-century success

  Channel companies need to develop a marketing strategy that goes beyond word of mouth and vendors' programs. Those alone just don't cut it these days.  Continue Reading

• Network design checklist: How to design a local area network

  Local area network design considerations for IT consultants range from IP default gateway redundancy to device standardization. Browse these tips iIf you are building a LAN.  Continue Reading

• Network documentation checklist: 10 steps for channel partners

  Network documents can provide service providers with valuable insight when it's time to troubleshoot problems. Follow these 10 steps for a smooth documentation process.  Continue Reading

• 4 tips for MSPs building a cloud backup services business

  Getting started as a cloud-based backup services business requires a grasp of the target market, a solid mix of backup vendors and a sound pricing formula.  Continue Reading

• Black swan event: Preparing for a dual ransomware attack

  While a black swan incident shut down Code Spaces, IT service providers and their customers can avoid a similar outcome, if they devise a comprehensive data protection plan.  Continue Reading

• Six digital content management tips from an IT consultant

  Want to make enterprise content relevant, useful and interesting for the millennial workforce? Srinivas Gopinath Parimi of Virtusa offers some tips for achieving those results.  Continue Reading

• New ERP implementation: How to ensure value realization

  C-level executives may not have much experience deploying a new ERP system, but a consultant can help them realize the benefits of implementation, Jeff Carr writes.  Continue Reading

• Planning a B2B event? Set up expectations and define a clear purpose

  B2B events can help channel partners build relationships, but only if they define a clear purpose, market to customers they know, carefully plan the agenda and inspire action.  Continue Reading

• Web data extraction: Custom, commercial offerings ease the task

  The task of pulling structured data from the highly unstructured web is getting easier thanks to machine learning and the emergence of custom and commercial extraction tools.  Continue Reading

• Three tips for dealing with the IT labor shortage

  IT companies should seek out motivated workers, commit to continuous learning and invest in employee well-being to minimize the effects of the IT labor shortfall.  Continue Reading

• Citrix DaaS: How to deploy virtual desktops as a service provider

  Need a leg up in the desktop-as-a-service market? Citrix offers business resources, marketing assistance and a reference architecture to help service providers get started.  Continue Reading

• Monetizing data: In search of the virtuous circle

  Channel partners can help customers monetize their data. Read on for insight into the distinct data monetization paradigms that can help them get started.  Continue Reading

• Building a partnership: How to link up with other service providers

  Partnering with your fellow IT service providers can help expand the services you offer clients without incurring the cost of hiring and retaining talent.  Continue Reading

• IT RFP: How to influence the bid as a channel partner

  Channel partners may find the formal RFP process challenging, but they can influence the bid in advance -- and boost their chances for success -- through digital marketing.  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

• Hardware asset management: Tips for channel managers

  Channel partner managers may be tempted to neglect IT asset management, but they should work with their customers on this important task. Here are a few tips to get you started.  Continue Reading

• Develop a branded house strategy for IT solution providers

  Adopting a branded house strategy during business expansions will help companies maintain a clear and concise brand promise, according to marketing expert Jennifer Anaya.  Continue Reading

• Digital business transformation and the MSP's BI role

  Small and medium-sized businesses can benefit from digital transformation. Managed service providers can facilitate business intelligence technology adoption to make that happen.  Continue Reading

• Targeted customers help partners live up to brand promise

  Channel partners can learn from YouTube channel stars: Develop a specialization, focus on a market niche and give customers more of what they want.  Continue Reading

• How to uncloud: Best practices for exiting the public cloud

  A company planning to migrate from the cloud to an in-house data center or colocation facility faces a number of challenges, writes Datalink's Irwin Teodoro.  Continue Reading

• Vendor relationships: Five ways partners can forge closer ties

  Want to grow your business with your top product vendors? Here are five tips for channel partners seeking to create closer ties.  Continue Reading

• How to overcome resistance to change: Four tips for channel partners

  Resistance to change is only natural, but channel partners can look for early adopters and clearly state a new technology's benefits to sway clients.  Continue Reading

• A four-step rebranding process for channel partners

  The fast-moving IT market could leave your channel partner brand out of date. Here are four tips to update your image.  Continue Reading

• Healthcare vertical market: How partners can help clients master BI

  Healthcare providers are awash in data in light of electronic health records. Partners, however, can help clients leverage their information with BI tools.  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

• Five tips to mitigate the risk of a cloud outage

  Selling cloud-based services? These five tips can help service providers mitigate the risk of a cloud outage.  Continue Reading

• Seven tips for creating a marketing plan and lead generation strategy

  VARs and MSPs don't always excel at marketing. Here are seven tips that can help a channel company build an effective channel marketing plan.  Continue Reading

• Five pitfalls in the merger and acquisition process

  Channel partners working through the merger and acquisition process must deal with cultural, financial and personnel issues before the ink is dry.  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

• 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

• How to create an IT subcontractor agreement with peers

  In this tip, David Streit provides best practices for conducting business with peers, as well as a guide to a reciprocal IT subcontractor agreement.  Continue Reading

• Free IT subcontractor reciprocal agreement template

  David Streit offers a guide to drafting a reciprocal subcontractor agreement. Download the agreement template for free.  Continue Reading

• MDM services: Three best practices for managed services providers

  As a trusted business advisor, you should help your customers take advantage of the benefits of the mobility trend without suffering any of its pitfalls.  Continue Reading

• Help desk ticket system approach: Should users file their own tickets?

  While most help desk ticketing processes require end users to file their own tickets, there are benefits to shifting the burden back to your IT support staff.  Continue Reading

• Modernizing the 3-2-1 backup strategy for SMB customers

  The old 3-2-1 backup strategy is a good rule of thumb for protection of your SMB customers' data. We take a look at what the strategy looks like in the current state of technology.  Continue Reading

• How to explain managed services pricing to customers

  The managed services model is better -- and more lucrative -- than the break/fix model because it represents an alignment between your goals and your customers' goals.  Continue Reading

• Working with your IT channel account manager

  Get partner and vendor insight on the relationship between your company and your IT vendor's channel account manager.  Continue Reading

• How to become a Microsoft partner, and Microsoft Partner Network details

  Find out how to become a Microsoft partner in this description of the MPN, which includes changes to the program effective in January 2014.  Continue Reading

• Cloud demands new IT organizational structure: How providers can help

  Enterprises don't build true private clouds because most IT organizations aren't structured for them. Cloud providers can help customers get there.  Continue Reading

• End-user experience monitoring is key to SaaS provider success

  As customers expect the SaaS model to deliver equal performance to local apps, end-user experience monitoring becomes a core capability for providers.  Continue Reading

• Are customers happy? How SaaS providers can use Apdex to find out

  Application response time is key to the user experience, but what's a 'good' response time? SaaS providers can use the Apdex formula to find out.  Continue Reading

• VAR marketing strategy: Focus on customer outcomes

  VAR marketing professionals must stay focused on the success of customers. Get advice for keeping that tenet top of mind.  Continue Reading

• Five best practices for developing a successful cloud partner program

  Developing an effective channel program requires taking a look at policies around recruiting, incentivizing and communicating with cloud partners.  Continue Reading

• Cloud broker skills in higher demand as cloud adoption gains momentum

  The cloud broker becomes more crucial as enterprise cloud adoption grows, giving providers, integrators and partners an opening to fill that role.  Continue Reading

• Data as a Service opportunities for solution providers

  Learn about Data as a Service, how it works, its benefits and drawbacks for customers, and the opportunities it presents to IT solution providers.  Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V cluster: Basic points for customers

  Learn about the most important factors for a Server 2012 Hyper-V cluster, including Failover Clustering, Cluster Shared Volumes and more.  Continue Reading

• Building targeted cloud services with software developers as partners

  Operators entering the cloud market need to target business customer needs and consider software developer partners for higher revenue SaaS offerings.  Continue Reading

• DBaaS pros and cons for solution providers

  A DBaaS has feature and other limitations, but it brings shorter sales cycles, reduced startup costs, recurring revenue streams and more customers.  Continue Reading

• VoIP phone services for customers with on-premises and remote VDI

  Adding VoIP phone services for customers with on-premises and remote VDI can lessen reliance on cell phones, improve service integration and more.  Continue Reading

• Cloud computing cost savings: Fact or fiction?

  When articulating cloud computing cost savings to customers, most providers don't realize that they're focusing on the wrong angle.  Continue Reading

• HP Enterprise Data Warehouse Appliance addresses massive data needs

  The HP Enterprise Data Warehouse Appliance can manage from 30 TB to 600 TB of data in a preconfigured bundle.  Continue Reading

• Biometric authentication methods: Comparing smartphone biometrics

  Biometric authentication helps ensure only authorized smartphone users can access a network. David Jacobs weighs the pros and cons of three methods.  Continue Reading

• Unified storage architecture approaches: Modular vs. integrated

  Find out what the considerations are for VARs with customers looking for both file and block storage in a single device.  Continue Reading

• The risk of using Windows kernel-mode drivers in systems management

  Windows kernel-mode drivers can pose risks if used in IT efficiency systems management tools.  Continue Reading

• All-flash storage systems: Types and use cases

  Learn about all-flash appliances and all-flash storage arrays, as well as the scenarios they're best suited for.  Continue Reading

• Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) terms you need to know

  Providers planning to offer DRaaS should brush up on their disaster recovery vocab and understand what works best in the cloud.  Continue Reading

• Planning cloud disaster recovery services and avoiding the pain points

  Providers looking at cloud disaster recovery services should examine the potential customer base, the challenges and partnership opportunities.  Continue Reading

• Using VMM 2012 to add Hyper-V servers to trusted and untrusted domains

  Learn how to add Hyper-V servers to trusted and untrusted domains using Microsoft Virtual Machine Manager 2012 in this chapter excerpt.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Sync Framework services for mobile device data management

  Solutions providers can find success using the Microsoft Sync Framework to help SMBs with mobile workers that aren't constantly connected to a network.  Continue Reading

• Cloud computing trends: Three reasons skeptics aren't adopting cloud

  The hype around cloud computing trends doesn't match adoption rates. Learn three reasons skeptics are resisting the cloud and how you can win them over.  Continue Reading

• Selling government IT solutions: Challenges and opportunities

  Partners are finding business opportunities in selling government IT solutions despite tight budgets and learning curves in the government sector.  Continue Reading

• Guiding customers through cloud automation platform selection

  Cloud-shopping customers need help with cloud selection, and IT solution providers can guide them in the selection of a cloud automation platform.  Continue Reading

• Creating a virtual machine template in vCenter Server

  Learn how to create a virtual machine template, update the template and deploy a VM from a template in vCenter Server.  Continue Reading

• Linux HA cluster tool evolution in SUSE and Red Hat

  The pool of Linux HA cluster options is narrowing as Pacemaker becomes the preferred choice for SUSE, Ubuntu and Red Hat.  Continue Reading

• Selling next-generation firewalls: Overcoming resistance, challenges

  Partners can find new business opportunities in helping customers understand the need for next-generation firewalls.  Continue Reading

• Cloning virtual machines in vCenter Server

  Learn how to identify and clone virtual machines in vCenter Server, from the parameter selection in vSphere 5 to the actual steps to creating the clone.  Continue Reading

• Cloud business intelligence tools offer SQL Azure Reporting alternatives

  SQL Azure Reporting’s limitations may disappoint some customers, but solution providers can step in and offer other cloud business intelligence tools.  Continue Reading

• Better cloud application response time: An overview of partner options

  Cloud application response time is a sticking point for customers, but not all providers have the capital to build a CDN from scratch. Partnerships may be a sound alternative.  Continue Reading

• V2V conversion using VMDK to VHD Converter

  If your VMware customers are interested in Microsoft Hyper-V, you can use the VMDK to VHD Converter tool to perform a V2V conversion and migrate VMs.  Continue Reading

• 'Big data' technologies to address retention, performance and capacity requirements

  Read up on how ‘big data’ technologies from companies such as RainStor, GridIron and Quantum are addressing challenges around retention, performance and capacity.  Continue Reading

• Five ways your VDI implementation can fail

  Solution providers can win with VDI solution sales, but failure to communicate with customers and manage expectations can kill a VDI implementation.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft System Center 2012 add-ons ease management issues

  Microsoft System Center 2012 contains several add-on products that VARs can use to help customers manage and enhance their Windows system.  Continue Reading

• Using DMARC to improve DKIM and SPF email antispam effectiveness

  DMARC aids the DKIM and SPF protocols that help keep spam out and let legitimate emails in. David Jacobs explains how.  Continue Reading

• Active Directory management services: cleanup and optimization

  If you think there’s no demand for Active Directory management services, think again. Active Directory cleanup and optimization services can be valuable to your customers.  Continue Reading

• Using SQL Azure Reporting Services to offer data analysis services

  By adding Azure Reporting Services to your line card, you can provide customers with easy data analysis services. SQL Azure Reporting information can benefit your company, too.  Continue Reading

• Monetizing the cloud: Differentiate services through cloud billing

  Cloud billing should not be underestimated as a differentiator. But before cloud providers can achieve that, they must understand competitors' capabilities and customer needs.  Continue Reading

• Selling public sector IT solutions forces partners to do some homework

  The need for public sector IT solutions is growing due to developing network activity, but can partners must be ready to commit to longer sales cycles and other complications.  Continue Reading

• Tape archiving: Which customers are a good fit?

  Find out why tape archiving -- for both large customers and small ones -- is worth another look by VARs who might have lost interest in tape in favor of disk-based or cloud-based archiving.  Continue Reading

• Tools for mainframe storage management

  Learn about the products that are available to help your customers handle mainframe storage management tasks from companies such as BMC, CA, EMC and IBM.  Continue Reading

• SMB SAN solutions: Storage networking options

  Find out which SMB SAN solutions might be a good fit for your customers. Storage networking options examined include Fibre Channel, FCoE, InfiniBand, iSCSI, AoE and SAS.  Continue Reading

• Cheat sheet: Talking to clients about cloud computing security risks

  Customers are jumpy about cloud computing security risks, and cloud providers must be ready for their questions with bulletproof answers. Here are questions you can expect.  Continue Reading

• Virtual storage appliance vs. traditional shared storage

  A virtual storage appliance can be a viable way to allocate storage for their virtual server infrastructure; it offers cost and complexity benefits compared with traditional shared storage.  Continue Reading

• PaaS: Cloud computing providers' next big opportunity for growth

  As providers look up the cloud stack for their next play, Platform as a Service (PaaS) cloud computing services have caught their eye as the next opportunity.  Continue Reading

• Five business challenges every cloud reseller should prepare to tackle

  Becoming a cloud reseller requires many strategic changes for partners new to a services-oriented business model. Here are five challenges cloud resellers should prepare for.  Continue Reading

• Choosing the right VDI solutions for your customer

  Solution providers can get a leg up on competition by knowing the VDI solutions, such as Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and VMware View, that are available to customers so they can pick the best option.  Continue Reading

• Selling managed print services requires attention to detail

  Opportunities in managed print services exist, and solution providers can sell these services. Showing customers how creating efficiency in printer logistics including location optimization and inventory management is the key.  Continue Reading

• Regulatory compliance requirements for security solutions providers

  Customers aren’t the only firms that need to comply with regulations. In many cases, solution providers need to be compliant, too.  Continue Reading

• VSphere 5 upgrade challenges: Licensing and ESXi

  Your customers may be chomping at the bit to begin a vSphere 5 upgrade, but there are a number of factors for them to consider, including new licensing and changes to VMware’s virtual machine file system.  Continue Reading

• How to make cloud storage pricing both economical and profitable

  Cutting cloud storage pricing without eliminating profit margins isn't easy, but solving pricing problems could entice more enterprises into cloudsourcing critical applications.  Continue Reading

• CSP security: Penetration testing public cloud service providers

  Pen testing is vital for customers who entrust their applications to a cloud. Dave Shackleford explains how to test public cloud service providers.  Continue Reading

• How to diagnose disk array controller performance problems

  Learn about the components in a disk array controller and find out how to determine whether a customer’s performance problem originates with the controller as well as what’s causing the problem.  Continue Reading

• IT solution providers look for electronic waste management opportunities

  IT solution providers look at stepping up to customers facing electronic waste disposal needs by promoting end-of-lifecycle services as a good value-add.  Continue Reading