Managed service provider (MSP) business model

• How to develop a digital signage business

  Here are five tips for VARs getting into the digital signage business  Feature

• VAR uses digital signage to grow business

  Here’s how one VAR turned to digital signage and hasn't looked back.  Feature

• Back to (digital signage) school

  Here’s what VARs need to know to build a digital signage practice.  Feature

• How easy is it to transition existing customers to managed services?

  Moving your existing customers to managed services may prove to be more difficult than signing up new customers. Find out how you can make your customer's transition to managed services go smoothly.  FAQ

• How can managed services increase solutions and services sales?

  As a trusted advisor to your customer, you can sell more solutions and services by recognizing business opportunities in your customers' network. Find out how offering managed services can take you to the role of trusted advisor for your customer.  FAQ

• How can managed services be marketed?

  To boost business, managed services providers must carry out specific marketing campaigns. Find out the best way to market yourself as a managed services provider by launching successful managed services marketing campaigns.  FAQ

• What should be included in a managed services agreement?

  A well-written managed services agreement should provide a common understanding of the services to be performed by the managed services provider for the client. Learn why the managed services agreement is often the first step taken by MSPs, the value...  FAQ

• What are the popular pricing models for managed services providers?

  The most popular pricing models for managed service providers include the monitoring-only, per-device, per-user, tiered and all-you-can-eat models. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each model and how to develop your sales presentation ...  FAQ

• What are the core deliverables of a basic managed services offering?

  Developing an efficient managed services offering is essential to building loyal clientele and valued services. Learn about the three core deliverables that comprise a managed services offering including remote monitoring, vendor management and servi...  FAQ

• Why are solution providers shifting to managed services models?

  Managed service providers are more proactive in addressing customers' issues and therefore experience increased profits and monthly compounded annuity-based revenues. Learn about the benefits of offering managed services and how to stand out from the...  FAQ
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• Cloud computing pricing and economics

  Why the cloud of today isn't the cloud of tomorrow

  Because cloud has so much room to grow, it can be foolish to predict its future based on the proliferation and success of today's cloud projects.  Feature

• Calculating the cost advantages of private cloud

  In the right situation, private cloud can save you money. This chapter excerpt explains the value in estimating the pricing benefits of an in-house cloud.  Chapter Excerpt

• Amazon Web Services product directory

  It can be difficult to navigate through Amazon Web Services without a guide. Fortunately, this overview of Amazon's cloud products and pricing has all prospective customers covered.  Overview

• The best cloud computing advice of 2010

  From an overview of cloud computing pricing to a library of cloud-themed resources, these are the ten best pieces of cloud computing advice from 2010.  The Year in Review

• Cloud computing challenges that VMware shops face

  Common cloud computing challenges include security and compliance, but the top barrier for mainstream cloud adoption may be stalled virtualization projects.  Column

• Microsoft Azure concerns persist: Top 10 cloud stories of 2010

  Microsoft Azure continued to mature in 2010, but questions about pricing and its fundamental underpinnings were among the 10 biggest cloud news stories of the year. Slideshow

• How cloud computing is changing IT

  How much disruption will the cloud model cause in the average enterprise? This special report digs into strategic areas of cloud computing where IT pros are short on answers.  Special Report

• Analyzing cloud computing's past and future

  The convergence of the credit crunch, broadband penetration and the maturation of Web-based services has led to cloud computing's increased adoption levels. But where will the cloud go from here?  Expert Advice

• Top 10 cloud computing leaders of 2010

  From the CTO of Amazon to the founder of Rackspace, our list of the top 10 leaders in cloud computing contains the most influential names in the cloud industry.  Slideshow

• Joe Weinman: 2010 top cloud computing leader

  Joe Weinman, authority on cloud economics and head of stategy and business development for AT&T, comes in at number eight on our cloud leaders list.  Slideshow
• SEE MORE: ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE ON CLOUD COMPUTING PRICING AND ECONOMICS