Skip to main content
SolarWinds MSP
  • Login
  • Support
  • Partnerships
    • Solution Provider Program
    • Technology Alliance Program
SolarWinds MSP
  • Products
    • Remote Monitoring & Management Protect your customers with a platform from the global leader in monitoring and management.
    • Backup & Recovery Manage backup for servers, workstations, applications, and business documents from one cloud-based dashboard.
    • Mail Protection & Archiving Protect users from email threats and downtime.
    • Password Management Easily adopt and demonstrate best practice password and documentation management workflows.
      • Passportal Demo
    • PSA & Ticketing Manage ticketing, reporting, and billing to increase helpdesk efficiency.
    • Threat Monitoring Detect, respond to, and report on threats across your managed networks.
    • Remote Support Help support customers and their devices with remote support tools designed to be fast and powerful.
  • Solutions

    I'm looking to...

    I'm looking for...

    • Drive Efficiency with Automation
    • Manage my MSP Business More Efficiently
    • Manage my IT Department More Efficiently
    • Layered Security
    • Data-Driven Insights
    • Cross-Platform Support
  • Resources

    Webcasts & Events

    Resource Center

    • Ask the N-Central Experts
    • Daily Live Demos
    • Backup Foundations Training
    • RMM Foundations Training
    • Upcoming Events
    • Upcoming Webcasts
    • Resource Library
      • Case Studies
      • Product Information
      • eBooks
      • White Papers
      • Infographics
    • SolarWinds MSP Free Tools
    • GDPR Resource Center
    • Security Resource Center
    • MSP Institute Webinar Series
    • MSP Advice Project
  • About
    • Contact
    • Worldwide sales and support
    • Careers
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Get A Quote
    • Newsroom
      • Press Releases
      • In The News
      • Media Contacts
    • Leadership Team
    • Legal
      • Cookie Policy
      • Privacy Notice
      • Software Services Agreement
      • Terms of Use
      • Backup Fair Use Policy
    • Security
      • SolarWinds Security Statement
      • Vendor Data Protection Requirements
    • Support
  • Blog
  • Contact Sales
    • Get A Quote
    • General Inquiry
  • TRY NOW
    • SolarWinds RMM
    • SolarWinds Backup
    • MSP Manager
    • SolarWinds Passportal
    • SolarWinds Mail Assure
    • SolarWinds Risk Intelligence
    • SolarWinds Take Control
Filter Blogs
  • Filter by:
  • MSP Business
    • Automation
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • Security-series
    • Best Practices
    • Business
    • Business Growth
    • Business Risk
    • Cloud Computing
    • Customer Service
    • Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity Awareness Month
    • Data
    • GDPR
    • Internet of Things
    • IT Support
    • ITSM
    • LOGICcards
    • Machine Learning
    • Mail
    • Managed Services
    • Marketing
    • Mobile
    • Networking
    • Operations
    • Podcast
    • Product
    • PSA
    • Remote Management
    • Research & Trends
    • Risk Intelligence
    • Security
    • Security Vlog
    • Service Desk
    • Services & Support
    • Tips & Advice
    • Training
Home Blog MSP Business Postini Changes: What it Means for MSPs
MSP Business

Postini Changes: What it Means for MSPs

By Scott Calonico
3 December, 2012

If you, or one of your clients, is among the 26 million people who use Google’s Postini email security services, you may be aware that changes are afoot.

 

Postini is an email security and archival product, which was purchased by Google in 2007. Up until now, it has continued to operate as before, albeit under Google’s banner. In 2013, however, Google is retiring the product, which will force users to migrate to the Google Apps platform.

Google clearly doesn’t wish to panic Postini users, and is at great pains to emphasize an easy transition, as well as the fact that Google Apps can integrate with Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes.

In reality, however, it’s not necessarily that simple. According to cNet News, there will be no replacement for the mail filtering services provided by Postini. In addition, at the time of writing, there are no firm details as to exactly how message encryption will work after the migration.

Pricing may also be an issue. Although Google state that some services will remain at their existing prices, there are mentions of price increases in certain scenarios when you look, in detail, at the FAQs relating to the migration.

One thing is for certain: if you or your clients use Postini, you are facing some migration work next year. With this in mind, perhaps it is time to look at the marketplace for email security and archiving products? You may not wish to be forced to work with Google Apps, especially if you are already maintaining Exchange or Notes servers.

Here are a few things to consider when you evaluate new products and services:

Longevity

If you are considering cloud-based services, are you confident they will remain in operation? If a Google product with 26 million users can be retired, the same could happen to anything. It’s certainly a relevant question to ask.

Migration

How straightforward will it be to migrate from Postini to a new service? Will it be more of less complex than the migration to Google apps?

Functionality

You will need to make sure a replacement system does all you need it to. If, for example, Google Apps doesn’t replicate the message filtering functionality that you use, moving away from Google altogether may be a necessity rather than an option.

User Transition

Regardless of your strategy, users will have to be transitioned to a new archival system, which will be disruptive and have training implications. When considering a replacement product, it makes sense to compare the user experience of other products with what can be expected from Google Apps.

What this Means for MSPs

The discontinuation of Postini has thrown some mandatory work in the direction of thousands of businesses and IT consultants, but as an MSP, you shouldn’t see this as a bad thing.

At a basic level, it probably means some consultancy revenue, but it also provides the opportunity to make sure that customers migrate to the perfect archival and security platform. Just make sure you keep track of Google’s information updates to give yourself time to plan.

You might also like...

MSP Business

A guide to cold calling for MSPs

MSP Business

Selling to Line of Business Managers

MSP Business

Why Integration Is a Critical Component of MSP Growth

MSP Business

5 Best Practices for Adding Business with Existing Customers

MSP Business

MSP Customer Retention: 6 Tips for QBRs

MSP Business

Six big reasons you should give your technicians sales training

Want to stay up to date?

Get the latest MSP tips, tricks, and ideas sent to your inbox each week.

Loading form....

If the form does not load in a few seconds, it is probably because your browser is using Tracking Protection. This is either an Ad Blocker plug-in or your browser is in private mode. Please allow tracking on this page to request a subscription.

Note: Firefox users may see a shield icon to the left of the URL in the address bar. Click on this to disable tracking protection for this session/site

Recent Posts

  • Why Properly Documenting Non-Technical Conversations and Decisions is Essential
  • Password Stealing 101: Common Methods and Defenses
  • Imaging vs. Cloning: Key Differences
  • Should You Give Your Clients Gifts Over the Holiday Season?
  • DDoS—What You Need to Know

Categories:

  • Business Growth (420)
  • Security (345)
  • Tips & Advice (334)
  • Managed Services (303)
  • Best Practices (247)
  • Business (214)
  • Cybersecurity (194)
  • Backup & Disaster Recovery (116)
  • IT Support (109)
  • ITSM (78)
  • Data (64)
  • Product (63)
  • Cloud Computing (61)
  • Marketing (57)
  • Mail (53)
  • Networking (34)
  • Risk Intelligence (31)
  • Customer Service (29)
  • Remote Management (27)
  • Automation (19)
  • GDPR (17)
  • Operations (16)
  • Services & Support (16)
  • Service Desk (15)
  • Research & Trends (14)
  • PSA (12)
  • Business Risk (12)
  • Mobile (11)
  • Training (11)
  • Internet of Things (11)
  • Security-series (8)
  • Cybersecurity Awareness Month (6)
  • LOGICcards (4)
  • Machine Learning (3)
Show moreless
SolarWinds MSP

© SolarWinds MSP Canada ULC and SolarWinds MSP UK Ltd.
All Rights Reserved.

Products

  • SolarWinds RMM
  • SolarWinds N-central
  • SolarWinds Backup
  • SolarWinds MSP Manager
  • SolarWinds Mail Assure
  • SolarWinds Risk Intelligence
  • SolarWinds Take Control
  • SolarWinds Threat Monitor
  • SolarWinds Passportal

Solutions

  • How We Help MSPs
  • Layered Security
  • Cross-Platform Support
  • Data-Driven Insights

About

  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Leadership Team
  • Upcoming Events
  • Privacy
  • Legal
  • Security
  • Subscription Preferences
  • SolarWinds

Support

  • SolarWinds RMM
  • Solarwinds N-central
  • SolarWinds Backup
  • SolarWinds Mail Assure
  • SolarWinds Take Control
  • SolarWinds MSP Manager
  • Solarwinds Risk Intelligence
  • Solarwinds Threat Monitor
  • SolarWinds Passportal
  • SolarWinds Take Control Downloads
  • Backup & Recovery Downloads
  • Sitemap
  • Service Status