This week marks my 17th anniversary working at N‑able. Unbelievable. Where has the time gone?
Although we have approximately 1,300 employees today, it’s crazy to think that when I started back in 2004, I was employee #126.
Before starting at N‑able, I was working for a large financial institution in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The bank had just upgraded their computer systems from a DOS-based system to a Windows environment, and had installed a new CRM platform. My job was teaching the employees how to use the new CRM program within a customer setting.
When prepping for my interview with N‑able in October 2004, I distinctly remember reviewing their website and then commenting to my husband, “I have no idea what they do! What is ‘network monitoring?’ And what is this industry called ‘managed services’ even about?” To say I felt in over my head was an understatement.
Since that time, the managed services industry and N‑able itself have evolved tremendously, and I am thrilled to have been part of the ride almost the entire time!
So how did we get to where we are today?
The N‑able 1.0 to N‑able 2.0 Timeline
2000: N‑able is founded by Mark Scott, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
2003: HoundDog Technology is founded in Scotland by Doug Wilson.
2006: Scott leaves N‑able to launch a second startup. Gavin Garbutt—investor turned CEO—takes over.
2009: HoundDog Technology is acquired by GFI Software. Walter Scott is CEO of GFI. HoundDog services more than 1,700 VARs and MSPs, while GFI services over 10,000 partners globally.
2013: Texas-based SolarWinds acquires N‑able for US$120 million, and is rebranded “N‑able by SolarWinds.” SolarWinds was interested in adding MSP service automation to the large range of IT management software they were then offering. At the time of the acquisition, N‑able served approximately 2,600 MSPs.
2014: LOGICnow is created when the business units of GFI are restructured into separate companies. LOGICnow included MAXfocus (formerly GFI MAX), IASO hybrid cloud backup, and ControlNow (formerly GFI Cloud and Mail Essentials Online).
2015: A light rebrand occurs for N‑able as it goes from being “N‑able by SolarWinds” to “SolarWinds N‑able.” N‑able now has 3,600 partners globally.
2016: SolarWinds acquires LOGICnow and merges it with N‑able to create “SolarWindsMSP.” John Pagliuca, the CFO of LOGICnow, takes charge.
2021: ”The Great Spinoff” occurs. SolarWinds MSP goes IPO (NYSE:NABL) and spins out from SolarWinds to become N‑able…again. It starts to trade on the New York Stock Exchange in July. John Pagliuca shifts from president to CEO. N‑able has 25,000 partners. Mike Cullen—N‑able Group Vice President who has been with N‑able almost since inception—remarks: “It’s the dream, isn’t it, to build a company, and take it public.”
But two prominent questions arise from this spin:
- Why the spinoff in the first place?
- Why did we revert to the name N‑able?
Reason for the spinoff
The spinoff allowed both companies to refocus on their respective businesses: N‑able on the MSP market, SolarWinds on developing IT management software for IT professionals. As an independent company, N‑able is now in a better position to grow and invest in technologies and services that will best benefit our MSP partners.
As emphasized by David Weeks, Sr. Director of Partner Experience: “The spinoff gave N‑able the ability to double down on our investments that we are making in our partners. N‑able is now in a better position to grow and further support our partners’ growth. It is all about us being able to engage with our partners further and make it easier for them to do business with us. As an independent company, it allows us to be solely MSP focused, so our investments can be directed to areas that cater to this vision.”
Why revert to the name N‑able?
I think John Pagliuca explained this best: “The common thread is a focus on partnership. That’s what we built our reputation on a couple of decades ago. And that’s what we continue to build our reputation on. That’s why we went back to the N‑able name.” As someone who was initially hired 17 years ago as a Partner Development Specialist, my sole responsibility was to ensure that I did whatever was necessary to help our partners succeed. And I’m proud to say that is still our singular focus, and I am elated that there are now over 1,300 N-ablites who share this same cause.
So as I embark on my 18th year at N‑able, I am thankful for every opportunity that N‑able and this incredible industry has afforded me. I am honored to be a part of something truly special and looking forward to many, many more years ahead.
Stefanie Hammond is Head Sales and Marketing Nerd at N‑able. You can follow her on LinedIn and on Twitter at @sales_mktg_nerd.
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