Managed Service Providers
Replace your clients' proprietary SaaS with open source, and spend the savings on services you sell.
Federated Computer has the tools a managed service provider (MSP) needs to replace proprietary SaaS such as Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, and Salesforce with private, flexible, easy-to-use open source alternatives.
Much of what a client spends on per-seat software licenses goes to the software vendor, not to you. Moving that spend to open source leaves more of the client’s budget for the services you provide: setup, training, first-line support, security, and backup.
Why it works for MSPs
- No per-seat licensing. Each client gets their own Core with unlimited user accounts. You pay per Core, not per person, so a growing client doesn’t mean growing license costs.
- One private server per client. Nothing is shared between Cores. Each client’s data lives on its own virtual machine, which simplifies conversations about privacy and data location.
- A familiar set of tools. Email, calendars, file sharing, office documents, chat, video meetings, password management, CRM, project management, and more, all with one sign-in. See the software catalog.
- Less maintenance for you. Federated Computer keeps the software patched and up to date, so your team can focus on clients, not upgrades.
What you do and what Federated Computer does
| You | Federated Computer | |
|---|---|---|
| Client relationship, pricing, and billing | ✓ | |
| Provisioning Cores for clients | ✓ (in the dashboard or through the API) | |
| Onboarding, training, and first-line support | ✓ | Optional, with the Customer Service add-on |
| Managing each client’s users and app access | ✓ (in Superpanel) | |
| Software updates and security patches | ✓ | |
| Health monitoring and automatic fixes | Optional, with the Monitoring add-on | |
| Backups | Optional, with the Backup add-on | |
| Technical support for you | ✓ |
Running client Cores
Each client gets one Core. From your account you can:
- Provision and delete Cores, and see them all in one place. See Provisioning a Core.
- Attach add-ons to individual clients’ Cores, so you can offer monitoring, backup, or end-user support as part of a higher service tier. See Add-ons.
- Give your own staff Admin or Member access to the account. See User roles.
- Use Federated domains, or register custom domains for clients that want their own brand. See Federated vs. custom domains.
Inside each Core, your technicians use Superpanel to add people, organize groups, and decide which applications each person can use.
Services you can add on top
Because the software itself costs less, there is room in the client’s budget for services such as:
- Migration from Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, including mail, files, and calendars.
- Staff training and help-desk support.
- Security services such as password management rollout, VPN access, and policy reviews.
- Backup monitoring and restore testing.
- Custom workflows that connect the applications, for example sending CRM contacts to a mailing list.
Choosing a plan
Pricing depends on how many Cores you run. The Consultant tier is usually the most cost-effective for between 5 and 39 Cores, and the You host tier from 40 Cores up. See the tier comparison for prices and worked examples.
Next steps
- Create an account and provision a Core for an internal test or a pilot client.
- Email info@federated.computer to discuss migration support, bundles, or co-marketing.
- Join the Federated Builders community to compare notes with other partners.