CA Technologies: Really, Truly A Trusted Cloud Partner?

By samdizzy

cloud services partners

During a recent call, Nimsoft CEO Chris O’Malley told me that MSPs (managed services providers) will be the strategic gatekeepers and influencers who recommend and connect corporate IT environments to various cloud computing services. O’Malley built on that theme at CA World today, asserting that IT is transforming “from infrastructure owner into service broker.”

To reinforce that point, O’Malley claimed that MSPs and IT departments increasingly leverage Nimsoft IT monitoring, IT service desk and cloud user experience solutions.

But the story doesn’t end there. Over the past year or two, CA Technologies has gradually overhauled its software portfolio and business strategy — pushing beyond direct sales of mainframe and client-server solutions to cloud- and MSP-centric offerings sold through the channel.

Admittedly, we’ve heard this story before. Several times since the mid-1990s, the old Computer Associates openly proclaimed its love for channel partners, only to betray some partners with direct sales initiatives.

Recent Momentum

Still, the current CA Technologies management team seems to be avoiding the company’s legacy mistakes. Four prime examples:

Lingering Concerns

Despite those milestones, I’m a realist. CA Technologies must work overtime to build mind share with MSPs and cloud services providers. Also, some VARs refuse to forgive CA Technologies for channel missteps in the 1990s involving such acquisitions as Cheyenne Software.

Still, CA Technologies seems to be making progress with many of its MSP and cloud services partners. True believers include ScaleMatrix, which build its private cloud strategy atop AppLogic. That case study and other signs of CA progress are on display at this week’s CA World in Las Vegas.