Doyenz Furthers Virtualization, Cloud Efforts
Doyenz this week pulled back the curtains on the latest version of its MSP-focused platform, dubbed ShadowCloud. Here’s a look at Doyenz’s cloud and virtualization strategies, and their implications for managed services providers.
The company back in February 2009 discussed its cloud strategy with MSPmentor. At the time, Doyenz made it clear that it hopes to drive cloud services into the small and medium business segment. Doyenz also sees prime cloud opportunities with Windows Small Business Server 2008 VARs (here’s why, reports The VAR Guy).
With those efforts in mind, ShadowCloud 3.0 departs from previous versions in supporting physical as well as virtual IT environments. Susannah Kirksey, VP of marketing at Doyenz, said this hybrid approach provides a bridge for SMBs. She noted that while many SMBs use cloud-based point applications such as Salesforce.com, fewer small firms manage their server infrastructure in the cloud. Kirksey said Doyenz newly announced physical host agent takes a physical server’s image and converts it into the cloud.
Doyenz is strictly a channel play and Kirksey said the company now works with upwards of 100 partners.
ShadowCloud features include a disaster recovery and failover service. The new version also supports VMware’s vSphere. The vSphere offering is a suite of products that includes a hypervisor. VMware has been billing vSphere as a cloud operating system.
In general, VMware and MSPs have been linking up in the cloud space. Terremark Worldwide, which offers colocation, managed hosting and cloud services, in May 2009 announced VMware’s plan to acquire an equity stake in the company. At the time, Manny Medina, VMware’s chief executive officer, described his company as predominantly a VMware shop.
Clearly, companies like Doyenz have heard the virtualization message loud and clear from MSPs.
Contributing blogger John Moore covers Master MSPs, Web hosts and emerging opportunities. Follow MSPmentor via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; and Twitter. And sign up for our Enewsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center.