A study that took place last year predicted the managed services provider (MSP) market to nearly double over the next five years.  The study, by research and consulting firm MarketsandMarkets, forecast a jump in the market from $142.75 billion in 2013 to $256.05 billion in 2018. The study includes managed data centers, networks, mobility, infrastructure, communications, security and other areas in the managed services market.

This study seems to fly in the face of many who predict negative effects on MSPs from the growth of cloud computing.  However, there are signs of an emerging symbiotic relationship where both MSPs and cloud-based services are growing in lockstep.

The core problem that MSPs solve is the ability to outsource some or all of an enterprise’s IT operations to service providers that allow more direct control over the infrastructure and application services.  While all MSPs differ in how they provide …