Autotask, which markets managed services products to IT companies, said that more than 300 individual IT service companies placed new orders or upgrade orders in October. And it said that more than 1,000 new seats have been added to its subscriber base, which it reads as an indicator of renewed hiring.

The company also saw gains in 13 countries. More than 20 percent of its sales are made internationally. Autotask said growth had started to accelerate at the end of the third quarter and attributes part of the activity to sales of Taskfire, its Internet-based service desk.