SolarWinds N-able's latest RMM software release -- N-central 10.2 -- has one major feature upgrade called MSP Connect. And it's potentially a big one. Basically, N-able has erased the line between RMM (remote monitoring and management) and a new flavor of its remote control software.
Indeed, MSP Connect is based on SolarWinds N-able's MSP Anywhere remote control code base. The move is part of a larger, long-term strategy to blur the lines between N-able's RMM, remote control and MSP Manager offerings.
N-able has gone into production with N-central 10.2, General Manager JP Jauvin confirmed to ChannelE2E today. The added MSP Connect capabilities are "potentially the most exciting feature in the history of N-central," he asserts. "We've heard nothing but praise from the MSPs that have been using it so far."
In a blog, N-able said MSP Connect can connect to remote Mac and PC devices in an average of 5 seconds. The tool set is a "complete replacement for Direct Connect remote control in the N-central Remote Monitoring and Management system," the blog stated.
Meanwhile, MSP Anywhere is still available as a standalone remote control product for end-users and their MSPs.
- With MSP Anywhere, customers can grant remote control to resellers and MSPs for reactive services.
- With MSP Connect blended into N-central 10.2, service providers can offer a range of monitoring and remote IT management services.
SolarWinds N-able Rivals
Despite the progress, SolarWinds N-able faces a range of rivals on the remote control front. ConnectWise, for instance, acquired ScreenConnect last year and has been integrating the offering with LabTech. In theory, that means the LabTech/ScreenConnect offering is similar to the SolarWinds N-able/MSP Connect offering. Also of note, Continuum has a longstanding relationship with LogMeIn, among other RMM/remote control partnerships in the market. And Autotask is said to be preparing deeper integrations of its own.
So what's next? Watch for SolarWinds to further blur the lines between N-central, MSP Connect and MSP Manager -- the company's service management platform, Jauvin says. The goal is to support all types of MSPs -- regardless of size, complexity or services delivered -- with suite of tools that offer a fully integrated experience, he says.
