Auvik Surges as MSPs Flock to its RMM for Network Infrastructure

Troubleshooting the reason behind a slow network is expensive and time consuming.

That’s the problem that inspired Auvik Networks’ remote monitoring and management (RMM) software.

Unlike most RMM tools – which are focused on computers, servers and other endpoint devices – Auvik’s SaaS product enables monitoring and management of network infrastructure: Switches, routers, firewalls, Wi-Fi and hypervisors.

Demand for the product is fueling dramatic growth at the Waterloo, Ontario, Canada-based startup, which is seeing an explosion of new partners, investment and staff.

“In general, networks tend to usually work,” said Alex Hoff, vice president of product management at Auvik. “But I’ve never had an MSP that hasn’t asked ‘why is my network slow?’”

Often, those tickets end up in the hands of the most expensive staffers for an onsite visit or otherwise time-consuming assignment.

“Is it the switch, it is the firewall, the internet connection or the app running in the cloud?” Hoff said.

“For most MSPs, the typical response to customers is, ‘don’t worry, let me take a look at it,’” he continued. “It’s a very manual process to troubleshooting.”

He recalled one example where a slow network was quickly traced to a recent change in the scheduling of a backup operation to the middle of the workday, instead of after hours, which taxed the network to near capacity.

“The takeaway there is, it took about 10 minutes to find that problem with Auvik, as opposed to running out and troubleshooting,” Hoff said.

Auvik’s RMM functions as a complement to traditional RMMs and is integrated with Autotask, ConnectWise Automate (formerly LabTech), and Continuum.

The Continuum service layers in integration with that vendor’s network operations center, enabling Continuum’s team to access Auvik’s network performance data.

Auvik also works with the ConnectWise Manage professional services administration software, and with Autotask’s PSA.

Early indications suggest Auvik might be on to something.

The company began 2017 with somewhere north of 300 MSP partners.

With more than a month yet to go in the year, the number now hovers around 1,000.

That momentum helped attract the attention of OpenView, an expansion stage venture firm that in August led a $15 million Series B investment round in Auvik.

In response to the demand and investment, Auvik is filling out its staff, growing from about 30 employees a year ago, to roughly 90 people by the end of this year.

Auvik’s go-to-market model is a sell-to, rather than a sell-through, based on the company’s belief that network performance has become the inherent responsibility of IT services providers.

“There’s an implicit expectation that if the network goes down, the MSP will be able to handle that,” Hoff said.

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