Managed Services, Backup And Disaster Recovery, And Networking News

By The Business Solutions Network

RapidFire Tools Automates Assessments

RapidFire Tools announced recently the release of Reporter, a new stand-alone, virtual appliance that MSPs can use to fully automate regularly scheduled Network Detective IT assessments for their clients. The new software appliance is available as a $29/month add-on for Network Detective subscribers; it is used to remotely schedule the running of any Network Detective scan and automatically generate any of the fully brandable reports included with most of the individual module subscriptions.

Reporter is available as a downloadable software appliance that can be installed as a virtual machine on an existing server on the client’s network. For those who want the convenience of a plug and play system, for an additional monthly fee the Reporter subscription can include a preconfigured, small-form server that is shipped as a physical appliance, ready to use.

StorageCraft Releases ImageManager 7

Users of StorageCraft backup and disaster recovery solutions can now get new tools and technologies for their business continuity strategy with the company’s release of ImageManager 7. The latest version of the free backup management software allows IT administrators to better manage, organize, and replicate backup images taken with StorageCraft ShadowProtect SPX and ShadowProtect 5 recovery solutions.

ImageManager 7’s new standard features include StorageCraft intelligentFTP (enabling users to transfer every ShadowProtect incremental file or just a single, collapsed daily file), StorageCraft HeadStart Restore (enabling recovery in minutes in the event of an emergency by prestaging local backups in a virtual machine for standby failover), Advanced Image Verification (allowing backups to be scheduled to automatically boot via integrated StorageCraft VirtualBoot technology, providing an email with an attached screenshot of the System Login Screen), and more.

In addition to several new features, StorageCraft also announced that its previous premium-based backup and recovery technologies — StorageCraft intelligentFTP and StorageCraft HeadStart Restore — are now standard features of ImageManager 7.

CompTIA Expands Education And Training Resources

CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the IT industry, recently announced the latest additions to its portfolio of education and training resources for the IT channel and industry. The new offerings include a Quick Start Guide to Education IT, several Quick Start e-learning courses, and a series of on-demand executive certificate courses.

The Guide to Education IT provides IT solutions providers with a snapshot of current trends in the education market as well as insights into how to take advantage of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by K-12 schools in the United States.

Additionally, several CompTIA Executive Certificate programs — previously only available in a live, classroom-based environment — are now offered as self-paced online curriculum. Designed specifically to help MSPs gain the knowledge and expertise they need to take advantage of current opportunities in the IT industry, CompTIA’s portfolio of on-demand executive training programs focuses on topics such as the cloud, network security, and mobility.

LOGICnow Unveils Mac Update, iOS Service Desk Support

LOGICnow recently announced MAX Remote Management’s OS X Agent, v1.5. This release includes further integration of its Mac-MSP solution for automated maintenance and patching of Macs on user networks, in addition to data-driven threat measurements. This release enhances LOGICnow’s Mac management capabilities, providing a more responsive, nonintrusive, and low-labor method for maintaining a fleet of Macs. One of the main features of this release is that it gives customers the ability to leverage MAX Risk Intelligence, LOGICnow’s vulnerability scanning and analytics product that quantifies data breach risk in dollars. The release also uses passive anti-malware scanning to better fortify against security threats.

Additionally, LOGICnow also released its MAX Service Desk Mobile application for iOS. MAX Service Desk is a fully hosted support portal that enables IT professionals to deliver customer support service and boost productivity. Using Service Desk Mobile further enhances the functionality of the Service Desk portal by allowing users to stay connected with their customers from their iOS device when on the go. The app provides full visibility into support activities and constant control of the key Service Desk functions.

SolarWinds N-able Launches N-central 10.2

SolarWinds N-able recently announced N-central 10.2. The new release enhances service delivery with the introduction of MSP Connect, a remote support and access feature based on the MSP Anywhere platform SolarWinds N-able acquired last fall. With the addition of MSP Connect, a remote support and access solution, SolarWinds N-able’s MSP partners will be able to better respond to customers with greater ease, efficiency, and measure. MSP Connect is included free of charge with N-central 10.2 licensing.

MSP Connect not only lets MSPs access and control their customers’ systems, but also analyze and remediate issues within the remote control console, rather than taking the time to move between applications to execute commands. Additionally, MSP Connect activates with the N-central agent, making deployment fast, automated, and capable of delivering improved connection speeds. For added convenience, it self-updates without the need for on-site work to keep the remote control tool up to date.

AVG Releases Managed Workplace 10

AVG has launched AVG Managed Workplace 10, a new service delivery platform that provides remote monitoring and management (RMM) capabilities integrated with the service models that MSPs use to deliver security services. Through the new platform, AVG has reduced the onboarding process to a few clicks for automated deployment with less room for missteps and unfulfilled service contracts. Additionally, the platform lets MSPs create their own service plans to cover a group of devices within a customer site or deliver standardized service offerings right out of the box. This allows MSPs to more easily map security services to their customers’ service level agreements (SLAs).

In addition to three levels of service plans, they can choose from security and RMM services that include monitoring and alerting, automation, path management, AV management, backup management, and reporting.

GreatAmerica, Quosal Improve Quoting Process

GreatAmerica Financial Services announced recently it has simplified the process from quote to sale with an enhanced integration to Quosal, the quote and proposal solution by ConnectWise. With the latest Quosal release, users are now able to set defaults that reduce overall time to quote a monthly payment on a proposal. The new Quosal release allows solutions providers to identify default settings for the rate card, term, purchase option, points, advanced payment, and description of the finance option. These improvements will save time for MSPs quoting financing.

“Before the change, a solutions provider made a minimum of 13 clicks to display finance options on their quotes,” says Lori Berry, director of partner integrations for GreatAmerica. “Now a solutions provider can set up its defaults and reduce the number of clicks to two for each quote.”