:: EXECUTIVE BRIEFINGS ::
Smaller businesses long have outsourced tasks such as payroll and Web site management, but now hosted services allow them to let others manage their networks, data centers and storage as well. Merle Sandler, research manager for SMB and Home Office Programs for IDC, will discuss the trend.
The 451 Group's Jay Lyman says the opportunity for open source in the SMB market isn't as big right now as the media says it is. But that doesn't mean it won't ever be. It's just that a few things need to happen first — namely, a bigger SMB channel and a chance for vendors to find the right applications and business models for SMBs.
Forrester analyst Michael Speyer will discuss what SMBs should think about when selecting value-added resellers. He will also explain how to avoid common pitfalls in a VAR-SMB relationship.
Virtualization of servers, storage and PCs is growing and moving down to even smaller businesses. Anil Miglani, senior vice president of AMI-Partners, will discuss what virtualization can offer small and mid-sized businesses and what the future looks like in that space.
