THE WHATIS.COM WORD-OF-THE-DAY November 11, 2002 managed service provider ______________ TODAY'S SPONSOR: NetIQ WebTrends
Free White Paper: The Executive Pocket Guide to Smarter Marketing Myth: The Web will never be a significant piece of the media mix. Fact: Your Web site is already a critical part of the blend. Break down the myths and get smarter about how the Web changes the marketing principles you already know. You can't afford to lose on the Web. So get your free copy of "Winning on the Web: The Executive Pocket Guide to Smarter Marketing" from NetIQ WebTrends today! http://WhatIs.com/r/0,,7336,00.htm?freewhitepaper ______________ TODAY'S WORD: managed service provider See our definition with hyperlinks at http://searchcio.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid19_gci522393,00.html A managed service provider (MSP) provides delivery and management of network-based services, applications, and equipment to enterprises, residences, or other service providers. Managed service providers can be hosting companies or access providers that offer services that can include fully outsourced network management arrangements, including advanced features like IP telephony, messaging and call center, virtual private network (VPNs), managed firewalls, and monitoring/reporting of network servers. Most of these services can be performed from outside a company's internal network with a special emphasis placed on integration and certification of Internet security for applications and content. MSPs serve as outsourcing agents for companies, especially other service providers like ISPs, that don't have the resources to constantly upgrade or maintain faster and faster computer networks. In addition to such basic communication service as leased line wide area network (WAN) and frame relay service, an MSP can manage and integrate a range of activities associated with enterprise networks. The range of outsourcing services includes basic transport and access, managed premises, Web hosting, VPN, unified messaging, video networking, or other more sophisticated services. The market for managed services is forecast to grow about 20 percent annually, according to The Yankee Group, due largely to the need for enterprises to be more flexible and timely in getting to market and communicating with customers. Nortel Networks, Lucent, and Checkpoint are three of the best-known companies that provide MSP services. Managed service providers sometimes are referred to as management service providers, which also manage information technology services for companies. However, some industry experts say managed service providers provide a broader range of services than management service providers, which tend to limit themselves to monitoring services for servers, routers, firewalls, and other applications. Management service providers typically deliver infrastructure management services on a subscription basis, similar to the model used by application service providers (ASPs). They most commonly offer network- and application-monitoring services to e-businesses. RELATED TERMS: hosting http://searchwebservices.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci213581,00.html access provider http://searchwebservices.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci211511,00.html virtual private network http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci213324,00.html firewall http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci212125,00.html wide area network http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci214117,00.html frame relay http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci212153,00.html application service provider http://searchwebservices.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci213801,00.html ______________________ SELECTED LINKS The Service Provider Industry Network distinguishes between different kinds of Internet service providers. http://www.xspsite.net/ The Strategic Sourcing Advisory Council provides information for companies contemplating network and related service management. http://www.ssacouncil.org/ SearchSystemsManagement.com provides more information about "Managing Outsourcing." http://searchsystemsmanagement.techtarget.com/bestWebLinks/0,289521,sid20_tax288477,00.html ______________________ QUIZ #32 | Logic Chips How much do you know about the little machine inside your computer that carries out the orders of whatever program happens to be in charge? We're betting you know quite a bit - no pun intended! >> Take the quiz http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci861268,00.html ______________________ CROSSWORD PUZZLE #6 | Wireless Improve your flexible thinking skills. Print out the puzzle and keep it nearby to work on throughout your day! http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci861329,00.html ______________________ REAL-LIFE CHALLENGE #19 | Internet banking while at work Rob's fellow employees want to know if it's safe to do their Internet banking over the company LAN. Can you advise them? http://whatis.discussions.techtarget.com/WebX?msgInContext@;233.yYyLaVl9sHU.5@.1dcfae0e/154 ______________________________ RECENT ADDITIONS AND UPDATES [1] absolute truth http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci861884,00.html [2] cookie poisoning http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci861584,00.html [3] Pong http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci861786,00.html [4] DOT4 http://searchhp.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid6_gci860597,00.html [5] foo http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci212139,00.html ____________________________________________________________________ ::::::::::::::::::: WHATIS.COM CONTACTS ::::::::::::::::::: LOWELL THING, Site Editor ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) ____________________________________________________________________ MARGARET ROUSE, Associate Editor ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) ___________________________________________________________________ :::::::::::::::::::: ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER ::::::::::::::::::::: Published by TechTarget (http://www.techtarget.com) TechTarget - The Most Targeted IT Media Copyright 2002, All Rights Reserved. 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