When it comes to providing managed services for small and midsize businesses, the killer app is usually speed.

MSPs (managed services providers) that get bogged down in the configuration process—spending hours setting up each seat for monitoring and management—are rarely the most profitable. Finding a managed services platform that eases the process of bringing new users aboard is key to a successful MSP.

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To that end, MSP platform specialist N-able Technologies this week unveiled the next generation of its Velocity System for MSPs focused on SMBs. The updated system features changes to N-able's underlying N-central platform that boast an 85 percent reduction in customer set-up times thanks to improved auto discovery, automated configuration management and updating, as well as the ability to push standard monitoring policies across customer networks.

The improved configuration tools in N-central 6.5 can rapidly discover devices on a customer's network and assign them to Smart Folders based on rules set by the MSP through Velocity's Service Templates.

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Specific monitoring and notification rules attached to that Smart Folder are then applied to the devices within. Changes to all of the devices can be made by simply editing the appropriate service template.

As a result, new user seats can be set up in just 15 minutes with the improved platform, according to N-able officials in Ottawa. The new N-Central 6.5 is also much easier to use, meaning MSPs can delegate deployment to entry-level techs, making the process even faster and less costly, said N-able officials.

"N-central 6.5 makes it faster and easier for partners to be successful and show ROI to their clients," said Bill Stewart, vice president of marketing for N-able. "The introduction of the automated configuration management feature not only speeds the on-boarding process for new clients, but it eases the complexity and costs of administration and maintenance for existing clients. The faster set-up and intelligent administration helps partners deliver exceptional customer service while freeing up their techs to focus on more complex deployments."

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In addition to its platform changes, N-able this week also debuted its Velocity Partner Center to give MSPs access to technical and business training, certification and best practices. The searchable online portal, available to all N-able Velocity partners, is designed to distribute the vendor's content such as sampleSLAs, custom reports and service templates, and also to foster interaction among the MSPs themselves, officials said.

"The training, education and resources found in the new Velocity Partner Center will help drive best practices throughout the community," Stewart added.