Stacking Up the Cloud

Legos are fun…a Lego not so much.

Don’t get me wrong, a single Lego brick does what it is supposed to…be a brick.  But the real magic starts to happen when you put a bunch of different bricks together to create something exceptional.

Infrastructure delivered via the Cloud, while extremely efficient in delivering on its purpose, is but a single brick.  Incredible technology solutions are realized when a manage service provider (MSP) combines compute via Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) with other “bricks” to deliver on the promise of the cloud.

There is still a genuine excitement among MSPs regarding the opportunity to support the technology needs of the small and medium business (SMB) leveraging the Cloud…think 250 employees or less.  Cloud compute via Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services is more frequently becoming a foundational brick.

The key for a MSP is to figure out what other bricks are needed to effectively support the customer needs.  The configuration of bricks can yield seemingly countless combinations, but there are a set of complementary bricks to IaaS that can make the difference:

More than “Fries with that?”:  It is common knowledge by now that the product and services offerings that run complementary to an IaaS offering are key to successful cloud compute implementation.  But simply spinning up the default virtual machines or rolling out a Backup and Disaster Recover solution from a store are only starting points. To move beyond, high performing MSPs are leveraging independent software vendors (ISV) to step in to help drive niche solutions in the SMB, and they do so efficiently effectively.  Moving beyond the obvious workload can create a level of differentiation that gives an MSP the ability to meet the specific vertical market needs of their customer…and really stand out in the market.

Wait…don’t move:  The cloud penalizes IT solution providers that are inefficient, making the ability to manage out processes that cause wasted movement a premium.  A platform that enables resellers to efficiently explore, buy and manage cloud transaction is critical to keeping selling and administrative costs down.  As close to automated and flawless as possible is the goal when delivering cloud solutions to the market.   And being able to translate the standard Microsoft or Amazon IaaS billing statement into something an SMB end user can understand can be invaluable.

Take it off the shelf:  Landing the cloud infrastructure solution is just the start.  In the new world of cloud with monthly and consumption based billing, adoption is king.  Accessing usage data and applying knowledge gained to a customer lifecycle management system is the driver of that adoption for any ultra-successful MSP.   Process is part of the equation, and it can be a differentiator for the MSP.  But there is an opportunity to standardize on technology/service offerings by building in options for end users that drive meaningful utilization.  Automated platforms that expose training tools, tips of the day communication, and a “reminder to use” motion can be the difference between service dropped and a 5 year customer. 

These sets of bricks can make the difference between a win-win between an MSP and SMB user and a profit/service disaster.  The combinations are endless…but so is the opportunity for an MSP to differentiate.

So break out the Legos and let the Cloud building begin!

Jeff Salanco leads the marketing organization for Tech Data Cloud where he works with a team focused on designing and executing innovative partner engagement strategies across a variety of technology segments. These initiatives enable companies of all sizes to grow by leveraging the IT channel to amplify their brand and ability to deliver technology solutions to the market.

(Image: Lego Movie)