MSPtv Webinar: How the Private Cloud Can Be More Secure

Security concerns remain one of the biggest obstacles to cloud computing adoption, even as spending on cloud-based solutions accelerates. Users welcome the affordability and scalability of cloud offerings, but many remain fearful about the potential for network breaches and leaks. These fears typically focus on public cloud offerings, and as such, they open opportunities for IT service providers to extol the virtues of secure private cloud environments.

Today I will be doing a webinar for MSPtv on this subject. You can tune in here.

You can download my slides here.

How to outsource your helpdesk

Next Thursday I will be doing a webinar for MSPtv on how to outsource your helpdesk. You can register here. 

As long as there are IT users, there will be a need for helpdesk support, and that is not about to change any time soon, no matter how reliable and user-friendly the technology gets. For solution providers, the service is a must to deliver value to their clients, but it’s expensive and can be a drain on staff resources. Fortunately for them, there is a low-cost alternative: outsource your helpdesk to a trusted vendor partner. The trick, of course, is finding the right partner.

Here are my slides for the webcast.

Live text chat today on storage virtualization

I will be moderating a live text chat at 1pm ET today on behalf of ReadWriteWeb, with guests from NetApp and VMware, to talk about general storage virtualization topics.

Some of the topics we plan to discuss include:

  • How do you allocate storage appropriately when you don’t know what your needs are?
  • How important is thin provisioning for your storage solution, and where do these features need to be integrated?
  • Does your backup solution need to be virtualization-aware?

Feel free to join us by clicking here.

Two speaking gigs this week: MSPtv and MediaSurvey

I have two engagements this week: my regular gig at MSPtv in Pittsburgh, talking about how MSPs can better use email lists to promote their businesses, on Thursday.

And on Friday, I will be doing a live podcast with Sam and Christy Whitmore about how websites should better use community managers. (You will need to register for this or be a subscriber, email me if you aren’t.)

MSPtv: How the channel can win with cloud computing

Now more than ever, cloud computing has become the single most important factor in helping boost the reseller channel to new heights. No matter their specializations or backgrounds, all channel players can leverage cloud computing to become more profitable, competitive and widen their reach with acquiring new customers and business opportunities.

You can register and watch live this MSPtv event on Thursday June 23rd at 12:30 ET here.

RWW 2Way Conference: Real-time Web communications

Next week, at our 2Way conference in New York City, I will be moderating a panel to address issues surrounding real-time communications. To help illustrate where we have come and where we need to go, I have assembled for my panel four representatives of companies that are pushing the envelope. The companies include:

  • Tokbox Inc.,which enables group video chat apps on a website,
  • Radish Systems,which sells ChoiceView, an iPhone/iPad app that enables real-time communications to call center agents,
  • Twilio Inc., sells its Cloud Communicator which enables voice and texting interaction with a website using a variety of programming languages and tools
  • 5 Min Media, is a leading how-to video repository and syndicator that is now part of AOL.

All of these vendors have various programming interfaces, widgets and tools to make it easier to share audio and video content on a website: the goal is to make the site more engaging and keep a visitor browsing and have a site stand out from others that are more static. The bad news is that we are still in the early days of how a particular browser supports this content: if we are going to post something in Flash, for example, that cuts out all the iPad users out there. If we embed a video player, that means we tie ourselves closer to the source site that serves up that content.

MSPtv: Cloud ROI: Pie in the Sky?

As with every emerging technology, once the hype gives way to reality, attention turns to ROI. And that is exactly what is happening with cloud computing. Is ROI as hard to prove with the cloud as it had been with most legacy technologies or do new financial models make ROI projections more straightforward? Either way, solution providers must become adept at it because their customers will want to understand cost benefits before embracing the cloud.

You can register and view this recorded webinar, where I talk about these issues with reseller Jason Smith of Binary IT solutions, here.

MSPtv Webinar: How The Channel Can Win With Cloud Computing

Now more than ever, cloud computing has become the single most important factor in helping boost the reseller channel to new heights. No matter their specializations or backgrounds, all channel players can leverage cloud computing to become more profitable, competitive and widen their reach with acquiring new customers and business opportunities.

I will be hosting a free live webinar for MSPtv with this title on June 23rd at 12:30 PM ET. You can register for it over on MSPtv’s site here.

FIRST Robotics finalists video

The kid nerds are in town this week, with the FIRST Robotics final competition happening in and around our convention center in St. Louis. I had a chance to spend the morning with a few of the teams, including the Gear Ticks from Lincoln Mass. as they explained their invention that won second prize in the innovations competition.

I got to watch them with their lego-based robot compete in one of FIRST’s robotics events, where the robot has to navigate a complex course on their own (with several quick component changes during the two and a half minute event). The kids are amazingly bright and motivated, and see if you can see the subtle clues on how they work together. I also got a bit on film with Scott Evans from FIRST, who designed the lego playing field used by all the teams.

You can watch my video on YouTube here.