Introducing GFI MAX

I am very pleased to announce today two important developments for GFI Software.

The first is that HoundDog Technology Ltd, a leading remote monitoring and management company in the UK, has joined the GFI family. HoundDog provides Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Valued Added Resellers (VARs) and IT support organizations with an easier, more affordable way to monitor and manage their clients’ network, while providing them with a recurring revenue stream.

The second is that we are re-launching the technology as GFI MAX™, which is undoubtedly the best monitoring and reporting solution you will find on the market and one that provides the best possible value to the channel.

This is an exciting time for everyone at GFI and the addition of HoundDog is something we have been looking forward to. And rightly so, because not only have we acquired a best-of-breed managed services software company that shares with us the same strategic vision and focus on the SMB, but it is also the first of a number of initiatives that GFI is undertaking to provide customers with a range of services that include both on-premise and on-line solutions.

HoundDog’s technology, which is being re-launched today as GFI MAX, is currently being used by MSPs to help over 27,000 customers in nine countries. It was recently selected as Best MSP solution at Gartner Group’s IT Channel Vision Awards, it received five-out-of-five Tech Stars from CRN Reviews, and has been shortlisted for CRN’s Software Vendor of the Year along with Microsoft, IBM, Oracle and Citrix.

Simply put, this is a fantastic solution for the Channel to provide added value to their clients and to create a recurring revenue stream with excellent profit margins.

There is a lot that can be said about the technology, how it can be used and what the benefits are for the channel. However, I think the following points summarize the benefits:

How will the Channel benefit?

• No upfront costs, contract commitments
• An easy-to-sell solution
• The best monitoring solution
• The best reporting solution
• A recurring revenue stream with excellent profit margins
• Set-up in just 10 minutes
• Tools to help you grow your business

GFI MAX gives the channel the ability to:

• monitor clients’ systems 24/7
• deliver daily health checks
• provide proactive, best-of-breed service
• spot emerging problems
• boost recurring revenues
• perform Workstation Monitoring
• perform effective hardware and software asset tracking
• fix problems remotely
• send email & SMS alerts
• deliver customized/branded reports
• provide a client portal

A dynamic integration process is currently in place and GFI will be channeling its resources to make GFI MAX an even better product; adding more value and functionality and over the coming months, we plan to introduce:

• Desktop management
• Scripting
• Patch management
• Remote access

We encourage all MSPs, VARS and IT support companies who are currently offering a managed service or are interested in expanding their services to take a look at what GFI MAX has to offer.

Stay tuned for more news about GFI’s plans to offer SMBs a more choice between on-premise or on-line solutions, but in the meantime, check out GFI MAX .

About the Author: Walter Scott (CEO)

Walter Scott is CEO at GFI Software. Walter most recently served as the CEO of Acronis, a provider of scalable storage management and disaster recovery software, where in the space of three years he increased revenues from less than $20 million to approximately $120 million for 2008. Prior to joining Acronis, he was CEO of Imceda Software where he executed a combination of leadership and marketing strategies that resulted in a successful sale of the company to Quest Software for $61 million. Walter was also instrumental in Embacadero's successful IPO in 2000. He started his career in sales with Banyan Systems where he contributed to the growth and success that lead to Banyan's IPO. Walter holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Maine.