The VAR Guy

Our sister Web site, MSPmentor.net, has identified 100 of the world’s most progressive managed service providers. It’s called the MSPmentor 100. You’ll find a free PDF of the report in the MSPmentor Resource Center (registration required). You can read the PDF off-line at your leisure. Or, you can read individual components of the report online by visiting the MSPmentor 100 main content area.

Still skeptical about the managed service provider (MSP) market? Looking to learn from the best? Perhaps The VAR Guy’s sister site, MSPmentor, can give you a feel for the hottest trends — and players — in the MSP space. Check out the MSPmentor 100, which identifies 100 of the most progressive managed service providers in the world. The research project, published today, includes MSPs from across North America, Europe, Australia and other regions.

The VAR Guy isn’t much for predictions. He knows bloggers use them to help gain eyeballs and web traffic. Still, the managed services market is pretty interesting. And our sister Web site, MSPmentor.net, has some unique views on where the MSP industry is heading. Check out the site’s 10 MSP predictions for 2008.

It’s a classic Microsoft tactic: Arrive late to a party and then attempt to steal the show. The has company announced the next chapter of its Software as a Service (SaaS) strategy. If you offer managed services, it’s time to listen up. Our sister site, MSPmentor.net, spent some time analyzing the Microsoft initiative and sees some clear opportunities — and challenges — ahead for managed service providers. Here’s a rundown of the 10 things you need to know about Microsoft’s SaaS strategy.