2010 may not be the year of desktop virtualization, but the technology is getting a lot more looks from business customers and broader adoption, VARs say.

With its shopping, games and video apps, there is nothing more consumer-oriented than Apple's iPad. But the popular touch-screen device is already making its presence known in corporate IT -- with or without official sanction.

 Our first MSPmentor Live webcast of 2010 is scheduled for January 20. Our guest speakers — representing three top managed service providers and Nimsoft — will cover key questions for growth-oriented small, midsize and large MSPs. Here’s a closer look at the webcast.

While companies in general continue to limit their hiring internally, the Department of Labor report shows that they are turning to outside contractors, solution providers and MSPs for their technology needs.

Barbara Darrow, channel advisory board, Google, IT channel products and technologies, Microsoft, Oracle, public cloud, Sun VARs remain extremely cautious on public cloud computing and are obsessed with which vendor giants will remain standing after more expected M&A activity.

Question: I've heard that most business laws are designed to regulate large corporations. I have a small online business. What laws do I need to be aware of?

The down economy means many of your customer companies are going to go through layoffs. Kevin McDonald explains why and how to maintain your customers' security amid layoffs, and what the consequences are if you do not.

“Sexting” is a term used to describe the act of sharing or receiving sexually explicit nude or partially nude photographs by teens through the use of mobile phones. It has been occurring since cameras and picture messaging became part of the mobile phone experience. Adult awareness, sheer market ubiquity and some very public cases have brought this issue to the top of the public mind. Albeit disturbing to many, it is a “sexy” topic that cannot be avoided. So, why is sexting a big deal? 

The recently passed economic stimulus package is a bit of a mystery to many people, including solution providers. In this edition of Patrolling the Channel, Oli Thordarson, CEO of Alvaka Networks, and Tim Jemal, CEO of Jemal Public Affairs, break down the stimulus package and discuss how it will affect solution provider businesses.

Imagine you've met an amazing woman. You enthusiastically exchange info with her, but when you call a few days later, she doesn't pick up or call you back. What happened? She probably did what every modern woman does: She googled you. Thanks to debauched Flickr photos, a boneheaded blog remark, or racy posts on your Facebook wall, she's concluded that you're a cad.