Although cloud overshadowed all other IT topics at Synnex’s first Varnex community conference of the year, the company also gave solution providers and managed service providers new tools with the launch of suite of managed services through its Technology Solutions Division.
The division’s OnDemand IT group is now providing a suite of managed services aimed at helping VARs either kick off a managed services practice or fill gaps in an existing practice. The services have been designed for SMBs, mid-market companies and government agencies and departments in mind, and according to Synnex, the new offerings will make it easier for MSPs to move upstream into the mid-market and enterprise without requiring massive investments into IT infrastructure and staff.
“What we’re offering is a tight partnership with Level Platforms, taking their suite to market,” said Kevin Murai, president and CEO of Synnex. “For certain licenses, we’re offering them free of charge, so that lowers the barriers to entry to grow their managed services practice or build their managed services practice.”
Level Platforms provides a remote monitoring and management (RMM) tool, which Synnex’s NOC engineers will be working with to support the managed services suite. Through Level Platforms, MSPs are able to remotely manage customers’ networks and provide advice on reducing costs in their IT assets.
Naturally, many of Synnex’s customers have already built managed services practices, but Murai noted that many have not yet stepped into the managed services business. For those who haven’t, the managed services suite provides them with the ability to jump right in without any overhead costs. Those already in the MSP business can leverage Synnex’s relationship with Level Platforms to either fill gaps or take advantage of the lower price points Synnex and Level Platforms together are offering.
According to Murai, there are many MSPs working with another RMM provider already, and now they have a choice between what they’re currently doing and Synnex and Level Platforms. Some MSPs are likely to make the switch to work with Synnex’s managed services suite, but of course it’s a decision each individual MSP will have to make on their own.
Murai said he’s not worried about stepping on anybody’s toes.
“If anything, it can work hand-in-hand with what they already have,” he said.
Included in the new Synnex managed services suite are the typical RMM features, as well as a unified web-based dashboard, managed email security, data backup and recovery services, power management, and Symantec endpoint protection. Channel partners buying from Synnex can offer service bundles in what the distributor calls an easy-to-deploy MSP solution.
“As part of our strategy to help pave the way for our resellers to shift their business models toward more service-based offerings, Synnex invested in our resources to bridge the gap between vendor platforms, creating a unique, integrated suite that provides the foundation resellers need to build a solid, scalable and profitable hybrid service and product sale business model,” said Peter Larocque, president of U.S. distribution at Synnex.
The managed services suite is now available to Synnex customers in the U.S. Synnex plans to roll the product out in Canada soon.