I have been noticing a trend within the managed services professional community that is picking up momentum. Actually, this trend has been occurring for a long time but only now is it really beginning to become an accepted and useful model for MSPs. I am referring to managed services practice groups.
Think of medical practices or legal firms; small groups (sometimes large) of like minded professionals who band together to form a single source of services for their patients and clients. By combining the talents of a group of individuals (or in this case, managed services companies) the "firm" has a much broader reach in terms of expertise and resources.
Recently, I've been hearing about MSPs who have untapped resources banding together to make more efficient use of their talents. Sometimes in the form of an underutilized help desk or NOC, a partially filled rack in a data center, or maybe just an extra pair of hands, MSPs are realizing that their strength in numbers can yield powerful results. During a time when everyone is being extra careful about expenditures, letting resources go unused is a waste.
Considering that this practice has been in use for decades in other professions, it seems only natural that the managed services profession also follow suit. After all, in difficult times, strength in numbers can be a very comforting thought.
