Free money from Microsoft!

In economics, there is something called a “free good” that is often delivered by the invisible hand. I personally witnessed this in Alaska growing up when, as an 18-year old, I was handed a permanent fund dividend check exceeding $2,000 USD (oil wealth distribution). Man – that was a fun weekend of fishing and other non-sense, let me tell you!

Microsoft is engaging in the same “transfer of wealth” behavior by giving it’s Small Business Specialists Community partners free money akin to an Alaskan oil dividend check. Of course all of these distirbution programs have terms and conditions (e.g. in Alaska, you had to be a resident to get the free money). This you would expect.

Watch my excitement HERE as I try to convey the “free money” from MSFT concept.

In the past week – I have also received private briefings from Microsoft USA program managers on this free money and here are the official details:

Details of the promotion are as below:

Additional Marketing Development Funds Exclusive to Small Business Specialists Like other partners, SBSCs are eligible to receive up to $500 in marketing funds. However, unlike other partners, as an SBSC you do not need to match those funds. On top of that, your SBSC status entitles you to up to another $500 in funds to promote your business. That’s up to $1000 in marketing funds you do not need to match. The funds can be used to drive demand generation efforts through Ready-to-Go Marketing, including Events, Campaigns, and Marketing Services. If you are new to the process, or if something is unclear to you about how it works, we can help you. Send us an email at rtgmktg@microsoft.com, and a real person will start assisting you with your particular need. All questions are welcome, so don’t leave this opportunity on the table.

IT Control Suite bringing a paradigm shift to remote management

Last week I had the opportunity to catch-up with Ted Roller and gang from IT Control Suite and discuss its award winning channel partner offering. Award winning you say? Yes – in addition to “Best of Show – Hardware” at SMB Nation Fall 2009, IT Control Suite has won best of show at the CompTIA Breakway event and numerous other awards at numerous shows.

Watch my video interview HERE!

My fields notes are:

• Broader RMM solution that allows resellers to make money, save money and generate more ROI to their clients
• IT control pursuit – appliance is the hardware piece – resellers can go into net new customers and do a full assessment without installing any software on its network.
• Green IT functionality – we give resellers ability to evaluate utility usage of customers network. Implement “green schedules”
• Warranty status reporting on every PC and server, etc. Links to driver pages, warranty pages, etc.
• Vulnerability scan twice -week.
• IT Control Suite CEO sez “there is no ROI; there is just profit”
• KEY POINT: There is no contract cost for the reseller; there is no infrastructure cost for the reseller.  If you make them successful – they will make you successful

All together now – SonicWall’s Web API hooks popular PSA program

Last week I covered a major industry event in Orlando, the ConnectWise Summit. SonicWall was there and I had the chance to chat with Jan Sijp, a systems engineer. I really appreciated his private briefing – down to a rich technical level – about this Web-based API connector that hooks ConnectWise’s PSA product.

See my interview HERE when I chatted with Jan.

You can also read the details in the SonicWall press release below.

cheers…harrybbbb

SonicWALL and ConnectWise Raise Bar With Enhanced Integration

Management ecosystem upgrade delivers significant breakthroughs in ease-of-use and process automation, enabling tighter integration between SonicWALL and ConnectWise management applications

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — SonicWALL, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNWL) , a leading secure network infrastructure company, today announced the company is working closely with ConnectWise towards deeper integration between the SonicWALL Global Management System (GMS) and ConnectWise Professional Services Automation (PSA) Software.

ConnectWise PSA will leverage the Web Services Application Programming Interface (API) which is part of the upcoming 6.0 release of SonicWALL GMS. GMS 6.0 is tentatively scheduled for release later in the fourth quarter of 2009. The required update to the ConnectWise PSA product is tentatively scheduled to be available sometime in the first half of 2010 at which time customers will be able to benefit from the enhanced integration options.

Via the Web Services API, SonicWALL GMS will serve up additional periodically scheduled SonicWALL-specific XML reports to ConnectWise PSA, which will associate the reports to specific customers, bundle SonicWALL reports with reports from other sources, thus – delivering key insight into network usage behavior to the customer.

In addition, SonicWALL GMS will provide detailed company and device information to the Customer Relationship Management portion of ConnectWise PSA allowing the IT solution provider customer to easily tie SonicWALL devices to company accounts. IT administrators will also be able to automate the retrieval of service contract levels and expiration dates from GMS for use in the warranty/ service renewal parts of ConnectWise PSA.

Thirdly, it will be possible for SonicWALL GMS alerts to trigger the automatic creation of trouble ticket in the Service Board part of ConnectWise PSA. GMS can generate many different types of alerts. For example, the administrator can create alerts for devices going offline or VPN tunnels going down.

“SonicWALL understands that customers do not use the Global Management System in a vacuum. In fact, many customers use a wide variety of software consoles to manage, report on, and monitor their IT infrastructure for either themselves or, in the case of Managed Service Providers, their customers. Customers also typically use a number of enterprise applications. Managed service providers and other IT solution providers use Professional Services Automation tools, such as ConnectWise PSA, to improve efficiencies in the operations of their business,” said Jan Sijp, Director of policy and management for SonicWALL. “It is important that SonicWALL GMS interoperates with these other applications and this is why we developed the new Web Services API. We are confident that the upcoming tighter integration between SonicWALL GMS and ConnectWise PSA will benefit many of our IT solution provider partners who deploy SonicWALL equipment and use both SonicWALL GMS and ConnectWise PSA.”

Expanded Multi-appliance Management and Reporting

The Web Services API is one of many new features available in the upcoming SonicWALL GMS 6.0 release. With GMS 6.0, SonicWALL extends appliance management beyond Network Security and Secure Remote Access to encompass Email Security and Continuous Data Protection, thereby enabling enterprises and MSPs to centrally manage an entire distributed SonicWALL security infrastructure. Features added in GMS 6.0 may include but are not limited to:

  --  With GMS 6.0, GMS administrators can define and push policies for
      Continuous Data Protection (CDP) and Email Security appliances at the
      device, device group, or global level. Expanding granular management
      coverage to the CDP and Email Security product lines greatly enlarges
      the applicability of GMS
  --  Application Firewall reporting for greater visibility into the impact
      and effectiveness of application firewall policies and thus increase
      employee productivity and efficiency of network usage
  --  Ability to run custom reports for secure remote access devices that
      allow administrators to use the raw logs collected from Aventail and
      SMB SSL VPN devices under management
  --  Support for SonicOS 5.5 extends GMS capabilities to a wider range of
      UTM appliance features, making the GMS administrator more productive

  --  An enhanced Web services API to facilitate integration between GMS and
      other management consoles and enterprise applications, greatly
      increases the productivity of the internal IT staff

  For more information please visit: http://www.sonicwall.com/.

It’s a tough job – but someone has to do it: Windows Connections (Vegas) here I come!

As I write this, I am traveling to Windows Connections (which also has sub-conferences for Exchange, SharePoint, et al). Year’s ago when the underlying magazine suporting this conferrence was known as Windows NT Magazine from Duke Publishing in Loveland, Colorado, I assisted this group by participating in a Small Business Server (SBS) newsletter> It published two issues in 1998/1999 and was arguably way ahead of its time. Today the flagship publication is better know as Windows IT Pro magazine.

Windows Connections is a mega-conference that is deeply technical. In fact, there is little BusinessSpeak or “managed services” conversations occuring. But it has a strong draw for the Geeks who are employed in-house at larger orgnaizations. It brings in long-time superstars like Tony Redmond and Mark Mansia.

You can learn more about the connections events HERE and I will be reporting for the next few days from this event. Time for me to go geek out for a few days.

cheers…harrybbbbb

NetSuite updates for it’s SMB flagship ERP product: iPhone and Outlook connector

I’m a huge fan of NetSuite and its ERP software solution. Granted – this solution is more oriented towards the mid-market (like many ERP systems) but we use it hear at SMB Nation to drive everything we do. That includes accounting, sales force management/automation/CRM, and operations.

This past couple of weeks, two disecrete activities occured of interest to me.

First – the NetSuite iPhone application has been updated and is in production release. Anytime, anywhere, I can see my company’s financial health, sales opportunities and other critical information.

Second – the NetSuite Connector for Microsoft Outlook was released. This allows myself to “tag” important e-mails and calendar appointments to the customer record in NetSuite. Now tracking all conversations is a breeze and we retain tribal knowledge.

So that’s my netsuite update for you today.

cheers…harrybbbbb

MarketWatch reporting more MSFT layoffs…

As the economy continues to recover, folks like you and me and business firms are gaining a clearer picture of what the future looks like. Banks in the financial sector speak of consumer deleveraging. Technology firms have had to adjust cost structures to face a new market place (read this Ballmer-related blog in May 2009). And some firms are now ramping up to grow and go. Each situation is different.

What I’ve seen is that some technology companies that adjusted quickly at the start of the recession are now hiriing again. Others are still laying off. MarketWatch has just reported a smaller layoff at Microsoft HERE. So read for yourself and decide what it all means.

cheers…harrybbbb

My two favorite things – skiing and technology

Something I learned early on in my writing career was this. It is easier to write about something you care about. Don’t believe me. Then try this on for size. At the tender age of 12, I wrote a 10,000 word article for the Kids’ National Geographic magazine on a new sled dog race called the Iditarod in my home state of Alaska. I followed that up with a price analysis on chocolate easter bunny prices at Anchorage stores that was picked up by the evening paper. You get the point – passion!

This is my home ski resort - Girdwood Alaska - Ski To Fly!

So when today’s press release flew by where Rossignol and Dynastar ski manufacturers had experienced a big jump in online sales, I had my “passion moment” and had to write this up as one of my must do articles for the day. The sales increase was a whopping 55% and that is a real number folks – good for the skiers, good for the online merchant, good for the vendors and good for the economy. Let’s just say we’re going to ski our way out of this recession!

Cheers…harrybbbb

Rossignol and Dynastar Do Pro Sales Right

Retailers Fulfill Pro Orders in a Program that Benefits the Pros, Retailers and the Brands

San Luis Obispo, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) November 4, 2009 — In late 2008, as part of their effort to drive additional customers and sales to specialty retailers, Rossignol and Dynastar unveiled a unique, progressive pro sales program. Working with Shopatron, the leading provider of retailer-integrated eCommerce solutions, Rossignol and Dynastar crafted an online pro sales platform that directs pro purchases from their own branded websites to participating retailers for fulfillment.

These pro sales increase the retailer’s sales directly, and often lead to the formation of a relationship between the pro and the specialty retailer. This newfound relationship frequently leads to ongoing sales as well as increased retailer promotions within a key market segment.

For the 2009 season to-date, Rossignol and Dynastar’s pro website sales have increased 55% over sales for the same time last year. Due to the program’s growing success, the company continues to add participating “Pro Specialist” dealers to their pro sales group. This is a “win-win” for everyone as it provides an opportunity for both the brand and retailers to build relationships with the most influential people on the slopes.

We started this program to promote both our products and our specialty retailers to the pro community at the same time. One of our primary goals was to prove that you can include specialty retailers in a successful pro sales process

As we enter the second season, even in a tighter economy, sales and participation have increased. The results to-date show that this is a successful program for the pros, the retailers and our brands.

This pro sales model has been so successful for both the brands and the retailers involved that we have several clients launching this type of program. Just because pro sales are discounted, doesn’t mean the brand has to compete with their retailers. Rather it provides another opportunity for brands to send sales to their dealers.

As more manufacturers recognize the importance of integrating their retailers into the pro sales cycle

we expect the Shopatron-based, dealer fulfillment pro sales concept to become an industry standard.

This program has made my life so much easier for servicing the industry professionals

This has become an important income layer in my business.

I have 20 years in the pro sports business and this is the best platform by far

I wish all the hard-good sports manufacturers would get on board. This program puts more margin in the dealers pockets and has definitely created customers for us that we may never have had in the past.

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for( i = 0; i “We started this program to promote both our products and our specialty retailers to the pro community at the same time. One of our primary goals was to prove that you can include specialty retailers in a successful pro sales process,” said Tait Wardlaw, Vice President of Marketing for the company. “As we enter the second season, even in a tighter economy, sales and participation have increased. The results to-date show that this is a successful program for the pros, the retailers and our brands.”

Shopatron’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, Mark Grondin, concurs. “This pro sales model has been so successful for both the brands and the retailers involved that we have several clients launching this type of program. Just because pro sales are discounted, doesn’t mean the brand has to compete with their retailers. Rather it provides another opportunity for brands to send sales to their dealers.”

“As more manufacturers recognize the importance of integrating their retailers into the pro sales cycle,” Grondin states, “we expect the Shopatron-based, dealer fulfillment pro sales concept to become an industry standard.”

The positive response from participating retailers further validates the success of the program.

“This program has made my life so much easier for servicing the industry professionals,” said Michael Hermann of Interstate Mountain Company. “This has become an important income layer in my business.”

Joel Anderson of Sturtevant’s Sports fulfills pro orders for both the Rossignol and Dynastar brands. “I have 20 years in the pro sports business and this is the best platform by far,” stated Anderson. “I wish all the hard-good sports manufacturers would get on board. This program puts more margin in the dealers pockets and has definitely created customers for us that we may never have had in the past.”

About Shopatron
Shopatron, Inc., the leading provider of global eCommerce solutions for consumer goods industries, allows its merchants to engage consumers with a fantastic experience, from shopping through fulfillment. Orders placed on Shopatron merchant websites are filled by a managed, distributed network of fulfillment partners, typically local retailers. Local fulfillment speeds delivery, motivates fulfillment partners to stock more inventory, and facilitates In-Store Pickup, a convenience valued by a majority of online shoppers.

Headquartered in San Luis Obispo, CA, Shopatron operates Coex Freedom, an order exchange with more than 600 merchants and 10,000 fulfillment partners across 35 consumer products industries. Some of Shopatron’s merchant clients include Berkley Fishing, Brooks Running, Callaway Golf, D’Addario, Johnson Outdoors, Mammut, MK Diamond, Nordica, Panasonic, Spy Optic, Stearns, and Thule. For more information and a full client list, visit ecommerce.shopatron.com.

About Rossignol and Dynastar
The Rossignol Group, the parent company of the Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange and Look brands, is the world’s leader in ski and snowboard equipment. The Rossignol Group also holds a 27 percent market share of the in-line ski retail market in the U.S. Rossignol, Dynastar and Lange have taken a leadership role in re-defining how on-hill pros, retailers and suppliers work together to place vector products with influencers on the slopes across North America.

###

Rossignol and Dynastar

Blackberry wants to talk SMB with you!

Folks – we’re teaming with BlackBerry on an interesting SMB webinar next week!

Discover BlackBerry® Professional Software Designed for Small and Medium Businesses

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Time: 11:00 AM EDT

Join us for a in-depth look at  BlackBerry Professional Software.

BlackBerry Professional Software is priced for small and medium-sized businesses and designed to be easy to set up and manage. In this webcast we’ll give an overview of the top reasons your clients will want BlackBerry Professional Software.  Join us and leverage demos, best practices, technical and sales tips.

Sign up here: http://webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=43235414

Steve Chapman hosting the BlackBerry lounge at the IT Expo Alaska show!

Six months out – we’re open for business for SMB Nation Spring!

Folks – it’s exactly six months until the SMB Nation Spring show and we are open for business!

I can tell you this – we’ve never been so well organized and ahead of the game for this, the 5th annual spring conference. I have a couple of updates for you. First – the show has rededicated itself to being your primary technical resource. We are delighted that Andy Goodman and Dana Epp have joined us to assist in selecting technical content. Second, the team of David Schafran and Robert Coiffi have already selected the first several speeches listed here:

Selling IT Services; How not to suck at it! (Stuart)

Breaking through Business Plateaus! (Gary P)

Confessions of a Successful Partner: Guerrilla Marketing Strategies (Robert C)

How to choose a partner (Master MSP / RMM) (David S)

Presentation on The Top 7 Referral Systems of 2009 (Todd C)

Setting up business systems (George S.)

So what are your next steps?

Save the date: April 30-May 2, 2010

Study the show site: www.smbnation.com

Make note that your admission fee includes hotel accommodations. This is mandatory and we feel really good about it. The idea is that you’ll participate in SMB Nation Spring during the day and night! Who can resist a couple of nights in wonderful East Brunswick NJ.

cheers…harrybbbb

Reader mail – I love hearing from readers! ISA and SBS 2008

Today is Monday and it is the administrative day at work – sales meetings, operations meetings, accounting meetings, etc. So to break up the day, I did two things. First – I started streaming some public radio music so I could rock on. Second – I answered a reader’s e-mail regarding ISA and Small Business Server 2008 (SBS).

The reader wrote:

Hi Harry,

Do you have any idea why Microsoft removed ISA from SBS Premium?  I guess I was the minority but I ONLY sold SBS 2003 Premium because of ISA and loved it.  I did not have 1 installation hacked or any serious incidents and I attribute it to ISA.  Do they have any plans to reincorporate it or it’s newer version into SBS 2008?

Do you happen to have the Product Manager’s name and e-mail address for SBS 2008?  I’d like to give them my 2 cents worth!

Thanks in advance for your time….Vince

And I answered:

Hi Vince and thank you so much for the e-mail. I greatly appreciate it.

The short story on the ISA matter is that Microsoft really turned that over to 3^rd parties – and I support that. To be honest – a firewall on the edge such as Cisco, Untangle, SonicWall, etc. is much better than a dual-NIC scenario from the legacy SBS world.

If you’d like to communicate with Microsoft about this – and I encourage you to – your community manager is Kevin Beares at kbeares@microsoft.com and tell him Harryb sent ya!

cheers…harrybbbb