Competing network management suites are often overpriced and cumbersome to deploy, Melvin argued. Most don't play to the needs of managed services partners, which for Apparent are growing its business much faster than traditional networking VARs, he said.

Among those MSPs is RonEK Communications, Los Angeles, which recently joined Apparent's Powered by PathView partner program, using PathView, PathView Cloud and the PathView microAppliance for VoIP customers.