Managed Services

In the last five years or so, as technology has grown more complex and expensive to manage, more and more companies have turned to outside parties to handle the running of day-to-day IT needs. This has led to the managed services business model, in which technology is bought, delivered, monitored and managed as a set of services provided from a remote location and provider for a recurring monthly fee. CompTIA provides a number of resources for solution providers to transition from a break/fix model to managed services, thus increasing margins and business stability.

Channel Training Courses

Channel training classes, presented by industry leaders, cover a practical, how-to approach to transitioning to managed services. All classes can be taken in-person, and many can be taken online. For a complete channel training class schedule, see our channel training calendar.

• CompTIA MSP Partners Trustmark™ Workshop
• [+] Quick Start Session to CompTIA MSP Partners Trustmark™ (webinar only)

  • Quick Start Session to CompTIA MSP Partners Trustmark (webinar only)

    In this short 25-35 minute session you’ll hear the benefits of holding an MSP Partners Trustmark directly from other business leaders. A panel of solution provider executives discusses how the MSP Partners Trustmark differentiates their businesses in an increasingly crowded marketplace. You’ll leave the session knowing your options for pursuing this credential.

    Find Channel Training Sessions through our Course Locator

• [+] Quick Start Session to Managed IT Services

  • Quick Start Session to Managed IT Services

    This 45-60 minute presentation helps solution providers better understand how to establish a solid customer base, expand their managed services offerings and find the right pricing models for their company. This session dives into customer collaboration techniques and how to partner effectively. Solution providers walk away with easy-to-implement steps that elevate their business to the next level, whether they just starting out have been offering managed services for years. Session attendees also receive the CompTIA Quick Start Guide to Managed IT Services.

    Find Channel Training Sessions through our Course Locator

Channel Training Guides

Channel training guides walk solution providers through transitioning to and succeeding in managed services. Self-study guides range from quick-start introductions to an in-depth 10-week guide to building a managed services business.

Our basic training guides and roadmap are available to download for free.
Our 10-Week Guide is available to CompTIA members only.

• [+] Quick Start Guide to Managed Services

  • Quick Start Guide to Managed Services

    This guide is your single source to answer fundamental questions around building a successful managed IT services business. Learn how to identify new and recurring revenue opportunities, find out which questions to ask your customers and prospects, and gain insights into investing in people and processes. This guide also helps you understand how to extend services, the importance of creating “stickiness,” and provides a checklist of useful organizations and names every solution provider needs to know.

    

• [+] Quick Start Guide to CompTIA MSP Partners Trustmark

  • Quick Start Guide to CompTIA MSP Partners Trustmark

    According to the latest CompTIA Trends in Managed Services research study, solution providers who don't have a viable managed services business are leaving significant revenue opportunities on the table. Download this Quick Start Guide to learn more about the MSP Partners Trustmark.

    

• [+] Managed Services Industry Roadmap

  • Managed Services Industry Roadmap

    Developed by the CompTIA MSP Partners Community, this roadmap provides a snapshot of the current landscape of managed services, where the industry is going and how to prepare for changes.

    

• [+] 10-Week Guide to Transitioning to Managed Services

  • 10-Week Guide to Transitioning to Managed Services

    Whether you’re planning to add a managed service to an existing service provider operation or are pursuing a complete changeover to the MSP model, having a structured approach for creating, and continually evolving, services is a key factor for success. This guide presents the MSP process in broad outlines, but also drills down into specific aspects of day-to-day operations. It provides a walk-through of some of the key business development, marketing, sales and management issues that surround the creation of a managed services operation. The guide also offers recent CompTIA research to illustrate where your peers stand in the MSP transition.

    

CompTIA Business Credentials for the IT Channel

CompTIA Trustmark credentials improve business practices resulting in competitive differentiation and customer confidence by identifying IT companies that consistently follow best practices for a specific area of expertise. CompTIA Trustmark holders are required to complete and adhere to an extensive control framework for a specific area of expertise.

• [+] CompTIA MSP Partners Trustmark™

  • CompTIA MSP Partners Trustmark™

    The CompTIA MSP Partners Trustmark is a business credential designed to qualify and differentiate organizations providing on-premise IT services via a managed services business model. This credential separates organizations making a commitment to the managed services model from those claiming to do so by making inquiries into a number of business and technology fundamentals.

CompTIA Research & Market Intelligence

CompTIA research benchmarks business attitudes, purchase plans and technology preferences so solution providers can plan their selling strategy.

Research is available to CompTIA members only.

• [+] Research Brief: Rebalancing of IT Work a Worthwhile Consideration for MSPs

  • Rebalancing of IT Work a Worthwhile Consideration for MSPs

    Published Nov. 2012
    

    As companies of all sizes consider how IT work is done within their organization, they may rebalance work to place more internal focus on innovation or to improve the overall management of an increasingly complex area. Following up on recent headlines on GM's plan to restructure their IT workforce, CompTIA provides insights that will prove useful to managed services providers seeking to help their clients find the proper balance.

    

• [+] Research Study: Trends in Managed Services Operations

  • Trends in Managed Services Operations

    Published Dec. 2012
    

    The long-term lifeline for a large segment of today’s IT channel depends upon them cultivating a business that sells and delivers technology services on a recurring revenue basis. CompTIA’s Trends in Managed Services Operations study seeks to gain a better understanding of the key trends in the managed services provider space, including covering areas such as internal operations, software infrastructure selection and general business transformation.

    

• [+]  White Paper: Understanding & Aligning with the Transformation of Partner Business Models

  • Understanding & Aligning with the Transformation of Partner Business Models

    Published Dec. 2011
    

    The business of being an IT solution provider has changed substantially over the past 10 years, from being a mostly technically oriented business that specializes in specifying, installing and supporting technology systems, to a primarily service-oriented business that specializes in identifying, addressing, and resolving customer business challenges. The information presented in this paper represents an effort by CompTIA's Vendor Advisory Council to answer many questions, and to identify practical segmentation and engagement strategies vendors can use to overhaul their go-to-market processes while still maintaining short-term revenue productivity.