Now that we’ve taken a look back at 2011 with our year in review, it’s time to turn our attention ahead to 2012. What predictions can we make for the coming year? How will MSPs and cloud providers do? What are the likely opportunities and challenges? Let’s take a look. 
Continued Consumerization of IT
Whatever barrier used to exist between consumer and business IT has largely been broken down, in large part thanks to companies like Apple, who have created products and services that bring business grade IT concepts to the consumer market. iPads that are becoming all the rage at the enterprise level, cloud concepts that demonstrate clear business benefits, these are but a few of the trends that we must be aware of in 2012. MSPs need to pay attention now to the consumer IT market because it is probable that these trends will eventually make their way into the business community.
Mobility and End-Point Management
If you were wondering what might be a hot area for your managed services practice in 2012, you may want to look at mobility and end-point management. Sure, servers have been the bread and butter of the MSP industry but with the proliferation of end-point devices like tablets, smart phones, laptops, and others, the need for securing these devices and the data they contain has never been greater. New applications, new technologies, and new service offerings should be coming aplenty in 2012.
iOS
Just like the point above, iOS has been the dark hose in the managed services race that has crept up silently and taken the field by surprise. Nobody saw the iPad as a serious threat to anything; now, it is firmly entrenching itself within the enterprise. iOS is coming along for the ride. MSPs who want to remain visible within their clients should to bringing on more expertise in the iOS space.
Channel Lines Disappear
I’ll be the first one to call it. The once clearly defined lines of the IT channel have all but vanished. MSPs are vendors, vendors are MSPs, the world has been turned upside down. I can’t say it’s a bad thing necessarily, since the evaporation of a traditional channel may suggest that we are finally seeing the birth of a true professional community of MSPs and cloud providers; a community where the end-user, not the reseller, is the primary focus.
Alliances Are the Future
If the traditional channel is dying, then what will take its place? Alliances. The MSPAlliance, since its creation 12 years ago, has never been about “channel development” but about the creation of strategic alliances between companies and individuals. No where can you develop long lasting relationships that actually serve your business and professional objectives like the MSPAlliance.
In 2012, look to see more activity in the form of tactical alliance creation and enablement in the MSP professional community.
Certifications & Audits
It’s been a long kept secret in the MSP channel but the time has come for some guidance to help end-users select qualified MSPs. The UCS audit has not only been taking the industry by storm, it has been one of the first managed services and cloud certifications to see real adoption at the end-user level. MSPs no longer display meaningless logos on their websites, they now have real UCS audit reports to give to their clients and prospects to demonstrate their true capabilities. Finally, transparency is coming to the managed services profession.
Strategic M&A
The M&A market for the last few years has been less about consolidation (which is not happening in my opinion) and more about strategic positioning of companies who are a) not already in managed services, or b) trying to augment their existing service capability (I.e., getting into cloud). We’ve not the traditional consolidation frenzy that has occurred in years past. What we are seeing is higher valuations, increased demand for those MSP entities who are strategically positioned areas that are “in demand”. Look to see more deals happening in 2012.
2012 should, as with previous years, will be a good and prosperous year for managed services. Yes, cloud will be a major factor next year but only a much as it actually serves a legitimate end user business purpose. Here is where MSPs can really solidify their influence and value to their customers. While we are facing an election in the US, and there may be some hesitancy in general as to major business decisions until the election has been settled, 2012 should see more demand for managed services across the globe. And for that, I am truly thankful.