The report is a "comprehensive analysis of the global managed IT services market" and is based on the responses of 142 managed service providers from around the world. It covers a wide variety of operational metrics and emerging trends for the managed services profession, says the organization.

Key areas of the report include customer requirements driving industry demand, MSP market segmentation and key vertical markets, revenue growth and customer adoption rates, SLA policies and procedures, customer portal types and merger and acquisition activity.

The survey consisted of 31 questions regarding the business, technology and market trends that impact the MSPAlliance members. Respondents were asked to give anonymous information on these topics as they affected their MSP operations.

"One of the biggest emerging trends we have identified is the changing role of vendors and how MSPs view them," says Charles Weaver, MSPAlliance president. "When asked to rank vendor MSP programs, 40 percent of the MSPs said that no vendor had a good MSP program. The overwhelming message we are hearing from the MSPs is that they need their vendors to remain focused on creating great technology so the MSPs can remain focused on servicing their clients."

MSPAlliance says the report is available to interested parties for $3,495.

Earlier this month, MSPAlliance launched its new professional liability insurance, offered exclusively to MSPAlliance members that are in good standing with the association.