EXPERT SPEAK better suited to the current data growth model , and means that the more MSPs scale out , the better the performance of the solution will be .
MSPs offering shared infrastructure platforms based on scale-out storage architecture are well positioned to spin up a multitude of additional services to offer to their customers , from storage to Disaster Recovery and even platform-as-a-service ( PaaS ). Once these services are in place ,
MSPs offering shared infrastructure platforms based on scale-out storage architecture are well positioned to spin up a multitude of additional services to offer to their customers , from storage to Disaster Recovery and even platform-as-a-service .
MSPs can add further value by on-selling services like eDiscovery , ransomware protection , antivirus , firewall and other data management solutions . This creates a win-win scenario – MSPs gain further opportunity for annuity revenue streams , while customers gain access to shared platforms , economies of scale , and global enterprise-grade technology for a fraction of the cost of maintaining this in-house .
Partnerships are key
Access to technology is critical for all countries within the African market , but
the value for MSPs lies in their ability to onsell additional services , to help customers to achieve business objectives and gain competitive advantage . However , it is not possible to offer all technologies all at once , so it is advisable to take a staged approach to deploying services , to grow the customer base and slowly build this and the service portfolio over time .
This is where relationships and partnerships with key vendors can be advantageous . Working with vendors allows MSPs to gain from their experience , use their expertise to focus the product
offering , and grow the platform while adding value and solving business problems for customers .
However , one thing is critical – customers do not wish to be locked in to either hardware or cloud platforms . MSPs need to differentiate themselves from the hyper-scalers who offer cloud services , which means adopting a flexible approach that is based on delivering solutions for customers , rather than specific technology offerings . Relationships lie at the heart of it all – with customers , and with vendor partners and distributors . •
INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS Issue 47 55