Managed service providers stand before a gate that can open to a world of new opportunity as cloud-based services become in greater demand.

At this point in the game, most mid-size and large service providers have addressed the first phase in their cloud computing strategy by developing a new service offering using virtualized infrastructure, with some elements of automation built in.

While the market remains in its early stages in 2012, it will see the full range of large enterprise providers fully engaged in delivering a range of offerings to build cloud environments and deliver cloud services, according to IT research firm Gartner (News - Alert).

Market researchers are projecting cloud services will grow at a rate five times faster than traditional IT products. With cloud, the opportunity for hosting providers and

MSPs are to manage the customer’s migration to the cloud.

According to the experts at ScienceLogic (News - Alert), while still executing on that objective, MSPs need to get ready to embark on the next phase and create a series of overlay services that will set them apart from the competition.

New cloud-based services will likely revolve around four core requirements: security, automation, orchestration and management.?

A webinar on Jan. 18 will focus on the monetization of these services, made possible by the dissolution of traditional constraints and new ways to introduce and manage services. It will also include interactive Q&A with executive guest speakers from cloud service providers who will describe how they are expanding their cloud services catalog to drive business growth.??

Topics to be discussed include: New services opportunities for service providers in the cloud era; providing and managing to SLAs; and monetizing the management of new services.

To register for the event, click here.

Want to learn more about cloud communications? Then be sure to attend the Cloud Communications Expo, collocated with TMC’s ITEXPO East 2012taking place Jan. 31-Feb. 3 2012, in Miami, FL. The Cloud Communications Expo will address a growing need of businesses to integrate and leverage cloud based communications applications, process enhancement techniques, and network based communications interfaces and architectures. To register, click here.

Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO (News - Alert). Follow us on Twitter.