Feb, 2009 : MSP Alliance Launches Master Certification

📅 February 10, 2009 - The international association of managed service providers, MSPAlliance (mspalliance.com) has introduced the Accredited Master MSP designation for MSPs, to ensure that value-added resellers, IT solution providers, and even other MSPs can trust their advanced managed services.

The Master MSP certification, or MSAP, is MSPA's latest effort to safeguard the integrity of the global MSP industry, according to the organization, which represents more than 7,000 MSPs and service enabling technology vendors.

Do IT Smarter (doitsmarter.com), which helps VARs and IT service providers successfully build their MSP practice, was among the first MSPs to gain accreditation.

"A Master MSP not only has more complex requirements for its respective systems and processes, but also needs to have a solution in place that guides younger MSPs to make the transition from break fix to managed services," Do IT Smarter president Lane Smith said in a statement. "This higher-level designation will help differentiate our firm, as well as other Master MSPs, from those that only deliver software-as-a-service solutions or other related granular offerings, rather than reselling proprietary NOC [network operations center] services."

According to the association, MSAP is the only standards-based program created for the managed services industry, and MSPA will provide IT solution providers with the necessary resources to take the MSAP exam, even if they do not have a functioning NOC of their own.

"With the continued evolution and proliferation of managed services, the Master MSP concept has become an accepted and important designation in our industry," MSPA president Charles Weaver said in a statement. "As more companies enter the managed services profession, it is critical for them to identify and partner with reputable organizations that will ease their entry into his lucrative and thriving global profession."

MSPA also said that member companies that have earned NOC accreditation before February 1, 2009, will receive the Master MSP designation.

Announced Monday, MSAP is the latest accreditation from MSPA, which has been very active in setting up regulations and certification procedures lately.

In November, MSPA unveiled its Green IT Program for managed service providers in an effort to promote environmentally friendly IT management practices and efficient use of energy.