SolarWinds CEO: N-able Competitors Are Scared

Discussing SolarWinds’ (SWI) $120 million buyout of N-able Technologies, SolarWinds (SWI) CEO Kevin Thompson and N-able GM JP Jauvin told MSPmentor today that their combined efforts have the potential to “leave competitors in the dust,” alleging that rivals are scared of the SolarWinds/N-able business combination. At the same time, Thompson and Jauvin vowed to protect MSP investments in N-able’s software while offering a powerful roadmap forward.

When the deal was announced last week, MSPmentor raised seven key questions about the business combination. Today, Thompson and Jauvin answed each of those questions — and plenty more — during an MSPmentor interview today.

Among the topics covered:

1. Transition Plan: Will SolarWinds force N-able MSPs to shift from on-premises software to N-able’s cloud?

No. SolarWinds will not force MSPs to change the way they buy or consume N-able’s software. MSPs can continue to run the software on-premises (at the MSP site) or in the N-able cloud.

2. Pricing and Payment Models: Will SolarWinds force N-able MSPs to shift from perpetual licensing to subscription licensing?

No. The goal is to focus on subscription licensing for MSPs — basically having the MSPs pay the same way that end-customers typically pay MSPs. But for those MSPs that already have N-able’s perpetual licensing in place, that financial approach can remain unchanged.

3. Migration Plans: If SolarWinds makes a wholesale shift from N-able on-premises to N-able in the cloud, what is the migration plan for MSPs?

SolarWinds does not plan to force N-able MSPs to make such a shift.

4. Direct vs. Indirect: What if MSPs run into end-customers that are running SolarWinds’ software on-premises. Is there overlap between the N-ble and SolarWinds customer base? If so how will channel conflict be addressed?

Thompson and Jauvin mentioned that a significant number of N-able’s MSPs run SolarWinds’ free tools. Over time it’s safe to say key SolarWinds capabilities will surface in N-able’s products. Generally speaking it sounds like there is very low overlap between Nable’s MSPs and SolarWinds’ customer installed base.

5. Technology Partnerships: N-able has strong relationships with multiple technology companies. Does SolarWinds ownership potentially strain any of N-able’s technology relationships? If so, how those challenges be addressed?

Without mentioning specific vendors by name, Thompson said some of N-able’s technology partnerships might get replaced by SolarWinds’ own technology. It sounds like SolarWinds and N-able are working out that roadmap now.

6. Corporate Compliance: Some of N-able’s MSPs run businesses in Europe and other highly regulated regions. Do N-able and SolarWinds have cloud coverage in all regions to make sure MSPs don’t face compliance issues? Also, what about MSPs that have no plans — at all — to shift to the cloud because of ongoing compliance concerns?

Again, SolarWinds will not force N-able’s MSPs to shift to a cloud-based approach. But SolarWinds does have offices worldwide and there will be opportunities for N-able to leverage that SolarWinds footprint over the long haul, Thompson and Jauvin said.

7. Integrations: Some larger MSPs may already run N-able and SolarWinds in tandem. For those MSPs, what’s the long-term product roadmap for potential synergies between the two product portfolios?

Here again, Thompson and Jauvin hinted that some integrations will be coming. But it sounds like “features” from the SolarWinds product portfolio being extended to the N-able platform. 

Our conversation touched on plenty more. Stay tuned for additional blogs today — including this gem from Jauvin and Thompson: “I would not want to be an N-able competitor today. We’ve got the potential to leave our competitors in the dust.”