N-able Launches New Midtier Management Platform

The developer of network management software Thursday released N-vision, its first management platform aimed at the midtier market. Unlike its first product, the SMB-centric N-central, the new on-demand network and systems management platform provides solution providers with a "top-level" view that allows system administrators to set up multiple network operations centers from one master control center.

"With N-vision, we are focusing on the wave of on-demand computing that's sweeping the midtier market place," said Derik Belair, vice president of marketing at N-able. "We created this to allow for the management of multiple networks from one dashboard."

For example, if a solution provider has several offices spread throughout a region, N-vision allows each office to view and manage a variety of their clients' networks, Belair said. N-vision also provides an "umbrella" view of all its managed networks from a central NOC at their headquarters, Belair said.

"The biggest trend we're seeing is that these solution providers have to start offering services in a much more proactive and managed fashion," he said.

N-vision leverages all major protocols and standards for data collection, correlation and event management over the Internet, without the need for a VPN. The product is fully customizable and is geared toward end users with 250 to 3,000 employees, Belair said.

Like many solution providers interviewed by CRN over the past few months, Mitch Miller, president and CEO of Computer Solutions, Topeka, Kan., said his managed services business is growing with clients of all sizes. N-vision will allow his company to better manage multiple networks, he said.

"Our midtier clients have multiple-site offices. For us to be able to manage those from one location is fantastic," he said. "N-able's support is also outstanding, and we're really excited about the marketing programs they offer and how they help their dealers be successful."

N-able offers its roughly 250 solution provider partners technical training and business training on how to sell and price network management solutions to the SMB and midtier markets. N-able prices its products according to the number of clients and physical devices monitored. For example, an N-vision package for 100 customers, a maximum of 2,500 physical devices and five top-level views costs about $60,000. Solution providers gain margin by setting their own per-device pricing and by selling additional services.

Ingram Micro added N-able to its line card in October after a handful of its VentureTech Network members requested that the distributor partner with the vendor. Ingram Micro now offers exclusive N-able benefits to its VentureTech members, including a preferred version of its MSP N-abler programs, which includes special pricing, business re-engineering, solution selling and training.

"Since the launch of this relationship, we've seen the interest and sales momentum of N-able continue to gain," said Justin Crotty, senior director of channel development at Ingram Micro, Santa Ana, Calif. "Managed services is an area of growing relevance and an opportunity to build recurring revenue streams for our [VentureTech] members," he said.