MSP business model transformation
Get the information you need to stay on top of the rapidly evolving managed services sector. News, tips and trend pieces cover the challenges of MSP business model transformation.
Top Stories
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Guest Post
31 Jan 2022
2022 predictions include more cloud offerings, more breaches
Service providers must stay abreast of the forces shaping the market. Dave Sobel revisits his 2021 predictions to assess how accurate they were and dives into predictions for 2022. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jan 2022
Accenture, Celonis partner in process mining technology
The strategic relationship aims to speed up process improvement, embedding Celonis' technology in Accenture offerings such as MyConcerto and SynOps; other IT channel news. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Dec 2019
Corporate IT training gets high profile in 2020
The pace of technology change will make training an important service provider theme in 2020, as companies look to boost IT education for employees and clients. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Dec 2019
FedRAMP authorization and the quest for a better process
Service providers and consultancies are among the organizations attempting to build a better way to get cloud-authorized under the government's FedRAMP program. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Dec 2019
Top 10 2019 feature stories for channel partner companies
Channel partner readers in 2019 took interest in a wide variety of topics, including emerging tech and business management challenges. Here are our 10 most-read feature stories. Continue Reading
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News
20 Dec 2019
Impinj partners get new program to drive IoT business
IoT resellers, service providers and distributors are among the channel companies Impinj will support in its new partner program; more news from the week. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Dec 2019
IoT security services emerge as channel partner offering
IoT adoption is rapidly expanding the attack surface of customer organizations, creating an opportunity for channel firms to provide consulting and security services. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Dec 2019
Computer vision technology, chatbot reboot on tap for 2020
Look for retailers to emerge in 2020 as a key adopter of AI in vision applications. Other anticipated developments include chatbot integration and a boost for cloud-native apps. Continue Reading
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News
17 Dec 2019
Cisco to acquire Exablaze for high-performance switching
Cisco plans to acquire Australia-based Exablaze and eventually use its technology in AI applicatons. The acquisition is similar to rival Arista's 2018 purchase of Metamoko. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Dec 2019
Why partners shouldn't lose faith in blockchain technology
Keep blockchain on your radar. Despite setbacks in adoption, blockchain endures as relevant technology for channel partners, according to CompTIA and other channel industry watchers. Continue Reading
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News
17 Dec 2019
Google Cloud partners key to 2020 enterprise expansion
In this Q&A, Kirsten Kliphouse, president of Google Cloud North America sales, discusses her top priorities and opportunities for channel partners in 2020. Continue Reading
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News
16 Dec 2019
6 storage startups to watch in 2020
Even as cloud and flash flourish, it is tougher than ever for data storage newcomers to take root. We've highlighted six startups trying to crack the enterprise market. Continue Reading
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News
16 Dec 2019
AWS, Microsoft, IT services companies top 2019 channel news
Our top 10 news stories of 2019 feature major moves by AWS, Microsoft and global IT services companies such as Accenture, DXC Technology and Wipro. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
16 Dec 2019
Clarity Insights to bolster Accenture's AI consulting
Clarity Insights, an AI and data science consultancy, will become part of Accenture's Applied Intelligence business if a recent acquisition agreement goes through. Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2019
RSA, Yubico dream of a password-free future
RSA Security joined forces with Yubico to eliminate passwords within the enterprise. RSA's Jim Ducharme explains what it will take to the reach the 'last mile' of the pursuit. Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2019
Vendors step up MSSP partner initiatives in 2020
Security vendors are looking to MSSPs to drive their business growth in 2020. Find out about MSSP initiatives at SonicWall, BlackBerry Cylance and Siemplify. Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2019
CyberX launches partner program in IoT security market
Managed service providers, consultancies and integrators are among the channel partners participating in CyberX's partner program; more news from the week. Continue Reading
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News
12 Dec 2019
Amazon tech VP lays out ambitious AWS storage vision
Amazon storage plans include central management console in 2020 and support for more than 30 file systems over time, AWS VP of technology Bill Vass says. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Dec 2019
Container adoption accelerates, consulting execs say
The potential to massively speed up software cycle time is generating more container technology demand for channel partners, particularly in the new app development field. Continue Reading
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News
11 Dec 2019
Silver Peak SD-WAN orchestrator scales to thousands of sites
Silver Peak has launched a cloud-based SD-WAN orchestrator that provides centralized control of multiple Unity Orchestrators deployed in separate locations. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Dec 2019
LucidLink taps partners to boost file access service
The San Francisco company targets managed service providers as a channel for its file streaming offering, which aims to address rising data volumes. Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2019
4 SD-WAN vendors integrate with AWS Transit Gateway
Aruba, Cisco, Citrix and Silver Peak are among the first SD-WAN vendors to integrate their products with the AWS Transit Gateway. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
06 Dec 2019
MSP automation taps PowerShell as multi-tool
As MSP automation becomes increasingly important amid complex customer environments, service providers have turned to PowerShell as a flexible multi-tool. Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2019
Intel partner marketplace to drive ecosystem collaboration
Intel aims to make partner-to-partner collaboration easier with the launch of its Solutions Marketplace; other IT channel news from the week. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Dec 2019
Desktop-as-a-service combo targets channel via Ingram Micro
Citrix, IGEL and Ingram Micro are collaborating on a desktop-as-a-service offering, which could provide channel partners with a mechanism for replacing clients' Windows 7 desktops. Continue Reading
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News
05 Dec 2019
AWS cost management tools cut cloud bills for Lyft
AWS users like Lyft and Salesforce have figured out how to keep their cloud costs as low as possible, and a new cloud management tool from Amazon aims to help others do the same. Continue Reading
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News
04 Dec 2019
3 networking startups rearchitect routing
Networking startups Arrcus, DriveNets and Volta Networks help service providers redefine routing in the data center and at the edge. Continue Reading
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News
04 Dec 2019
Logically acquires Carolinas IT in geographic expansion
The purchase of Carolinas IT is another transaction that demonstrates the active managed services merger and acquisition environment, which has seen more than 30 deals this year. Continue Reading
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News
03 Dec 2019
HPE takes aim at hybrid IT management as a service
Starting with its GreenLake family, Hewlett Packard Enterprise is building out a hybrid platform from the edge to the cloud. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
27 Nov 2019
Understanding co-managed IT services
MSPs sometimes avoid prospective clients that already have internal IT staff, but by taking the co-managed IT services approach, they don't have to. That's according to Bob Coppedge, owner of ... Continue Reading
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News
27 Nov 2019
Dell admits Intel chip delay could impact Windows refresh
In the earnings call for Dell’s Q3 2019 results, the company admitted that up to one-third of Windows PC refresh orders may not be fulfilled until 2020. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Nov 2019
2020 channel partner events to mark on your calendar
Expect a busy channel partner event schedule for 2020. Our listings feature the year's conferences for VARs and MSPs, hosted by vendors, distributors and industry associations. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
27 Nov 2019
MBX Systems reinvents itself in computer hardware manufacturing
Twenty-five-year-old MBX Systems, a computer hardware manufacturer, is an example of how technology companies can continually adapt to the ever-changing marketplace. In 1995, the organization ... Continue Reading
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Blog Post
27 Nov 2019
IT channel news: Buyout target Tech Data sees 2% drop in sales
IT channel news this week includes Tech Data's financials, DLT Solutions' state government deal and D&H Distributing's credit line boost for select partners. Continue Reading
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News
26 Nov 2019
Managed print players caught up in customer tension
IT decision makers hold different views about printing and collaboration compared with the rest of the workforce. MPS suppliers have to bridge that gap. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Nov 2019
MSP software vendors play catch-up with security threats
Hackers have exploited MSP software tools such as remote monitoring and management as a conduit for cyberattacks, leading some vendors to issue new security measures and resources. Continue Reading
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News
26 Nov 2019
Accenture cloud tool aims to shorten decision cycle
Consulting firm Accenture has launched a cloud tool that industry watchers find interesting for its simulation capabilities and potential to speed up adoption. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Nov 2019
PowerShell automation helps MSPs, but with some caveats
PowerShell scripting can help MSPs automate mundane and time-consuming chores, but service providers need to test their scripts and look to security first. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
26 Nov 2019
Consultant's free FedRAMP readiness assessment tool gets early looks
ISVs have struggled with the cost of the government's cloud security process, but a consulting firm aims to make the FedRAMP readiness assessment task a bit easier. Continue Reading
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News
25 Nov 2019
Ransomware threats evolving ahead of 2020
Threat actors have employed new techniques and built more sophisticated business models for their ransomware campaigns, which has had devastating consequences. Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2019
Google Cloud Explainable AI aims to clear up outputs
A new Google product suite enables users to create and deploy more interpretable machine learning models with output visualizations, feature attribution and evaluation tools. Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2019
ESG defines vendor relationship strategies for channel firms
A report by Enterprise Strategy Group identifies what MSPs should seek in their cloud vendor relationships. The report warns that some alliances can undermine key business goals. Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2019
TCS, Microsoft aim for intelligent cloud, edge
Tata Consultancy Services' Microsoft Business Unit is one of a handful of such IT services entities focused on the software giant; more news from the week. Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2019
IBM's new security Cloud Pak unifies federated data
IBM Security is shifting its strategy with a new Cloud Pak designed specifically to unify data from multiple security tools and vendors through accessing federated data. Continue Reading
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News
19 Nov 2019
Cohesity, Pivot3 update channel partner programs, MDF funds
Cohesity and Pivot3 are revamping established channel partner programs, emphasizing ease-of-doing-business, expanded financial incentives and MDF funds. Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2019
Businesses move key applications off public cloud to save costs
A new study has shown that while many enterprises are able to keep public cloud costs under control, spending can quickly escalate. Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2019
Silver Peak cautions against sitting on the fence over SD-WAN
The market is reaching a tipping point and those resellers that have not yet got involved with SD-WAN need to make a decision soon. Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2019
Accenture: AI scaling looms as existential challenge
Partners deploying AI take note: 75% of the executives Accenture polled believe they risk business failure if they are unable to scale the technology; more news from the week. Continue Reading
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News
14 Nov 2019
Slack services partners to help vendor target enterprises
Slack services partners will help the vendor's largest customers build integrations, train employees and develop migration strategies. Continue Reading
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News
14 Nov 2019
Vancouver Canucks defend data with Veeam backup
To prepare for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the Vancouver Canucks used Veeam to protect against point-of-sale system failures -- a major upgrade over its previous tape backup. Continue Reading
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News
14 Nov 2019
Synchronoss joins US big four operators in cross-carrier messaging initiative
Joint venture aims to deliver advanced mobile messaging experience across suppliers’ mobile networks. Continue Reading
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News
14 Nov 2019
Enterprises begin mandating open APIs as part of RFPs
Back-office implementations see increased demand for native support for TM Forum’s Open APIs, boosting interoperability and helping service providers improve agility and reduce IT integration and maintenance costs Continue Reading
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Blog Post
13 Nov 2019
Apollo begins countdown to Tech Data acquisition
Apollo Global Management's pending Tech Data acquisition would add the distributor to its technology portfolio, which includes Rackspace. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Nov 2019
CPaaS market could boost partners with the right skills
Channel companies that want to become CPaaS partners should expect to encounter a new set of buyers, a rapidly changing technology and the need for coding skills. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2019
Cisco CX sees greater formalization at partner summit
The Cisco Partner Summit put the spotlight on the company's customer experience and Lifecycle Advisor efforts. Cisco also unveiled a DevNet specialization for partners. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Nov 2019
Cybersecurity puts managed services industry at a crossroads
MSP software vendor ConnectWise's annual IT Nation Connect event revealed the pressures managed service providers are under to transition to advanced cybersecurity. Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2019
Stolen Trend Micro data used in tech support scams
A Trend Micro employee stole and sold customer support data, which was used by a malicious third-party actor to scam consumer customers of the cybersecurity company. Continue Reading
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News
06 Nov 2019
Latest Cisco switch uses Meraki software, Catalyst hardware
The MS390 is the first Cisco switch built using Meraki software and Catalyst hardware. Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2019
New Microsoft Edge browser gets competitive with Chrome
The new version of Microsoft's Edge browser promises new enterprise features and simplified management for Windows admins. Experts say Edge is now competitive with Google Chrome. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
05 Nov 2019
SADA's dotMaps app rolls out in Seattle
SADA Systems' dotMaps application gets the green light from Seattle's Department of Transportation. Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2019
Rackspace set to buy AWS partner
Rackspace's pending purchase of Onica, an AWS partner with consulting and professional services capabilities, underscores the continuing interest in cloud services specialists. Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2019
Managed security services, professional services to top $35B
Security service providers can expect growth in fields such as incident response and assessment services, but they will need to right-size their offerings. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
31 Oct 2019
DoD JEDI contract: Following old plot lines?
The recently awarded DoD JEDI contract is a new story that nevertheless recalls a much older chapter in federal IT contracting. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Oct 2019
Single cloud counters multi-cloud trend among MSPs
For some services providers, focusing resources on one cloud platform makes more sense than distributing resources across two or more public cloud environments. Continue Reading
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Opinion
31 Oct 2019
Alibaba Cloud taps channel partners for growth
Alibaba Cloud is outpacing AWS, Azure and Google Cloud Platform when it comes to worldwide revenue growth. And it has its eye on MSPs and other channel partners. Continue Reading
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News
30 Oct 2019
ConnectWise-Continuum buyout shakes up MSP software market
ConnectWise is purchasing its longtime competitor Continuum in a deal that is guaranteed to reshape the managed service provider software space. Continue Reading
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News
29 Oct 2019
NetApp goes big on hybrid, multi-cloud
Admins at NetApp storage conference consider moving everything from physical data centers into public clouds, although such a shift is likely years away for most enterprises. Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2019
Microsoft cybersecurity strategy, hybrid cloud in focus at Ignite
Microsoft will reveal its latest plans to extend its cybersecurity strategy and a new architectural approach to hybrid clouds during Ignite. Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2019
UCaaS vendor Intermedia adds Telax CCaaS to portfolio
Intermedia, cloud-based unified communications vendor, has added CCaaS to its portfolio through its acquisition of Telax. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
25 Oct 2019
Teridion SD-WAN expands to China, sparking channel business
Teridion, an internet routing platform provider, has extended its global SD-WAN offering to mainland China, filling a gap for partners that target multinational customers. Enterprise customers ... Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2019
Rackspace security alliance with Armor aims for hybrid cloud
Hybrid cloud security is the focus of a new partnership between managed cloud provider Rackspace and security-as-a-service company Armor; more news from the week. Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2019
Google hires former Microsoft exec to run G Suite
Google has hired Javier Soltero, a former corporate vice president in charge of Outlook, Office and Cortana at Microsoft, to run G Suite. Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2019
Dell's head of infrastructure spells out strategic plan
EMC veteran Jeff Boudreau takes control of Dell Infrastructure Solutions Group, with plans to 'out-innovate' hyper-converged and software-defined storage competitors. Continue Reading
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News
23 Oct 2019
ServiceNow CEO shakeup portends product strategy shift
SAP's Bill McDermott will take over as ServiceNow CEO, replacing John Donohoe, in a move that analysts say could take the fast-growing ITSM vendor in new product directions. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Oct 2019
Channel partner account manager role is due for a refresh
As change continues to sweep through the IT industry and channel ecosystem, vendors need to evolve the functions of partner account managers to keep up with the times. Continue Reading
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News
21 Oct 2019
Commvault users react to SaaS, software-defined storage
Customers at Commvault Go said they were having trouble coming up with reasons for adopting Metallic SaaS backup or Hedvig software-defined storage until they hear more details. Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2019
Hard disk capacity will soon hit 20 TB
Age-old hard disk drives get a new twist as energy-assisted technologies fuel Western Digital's upcoming new 20 TB HDDs and rivals Seagate and Toshiba work on product plans. Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2019
Dell Technologies partner strategy reaps steady growth
At the midpoint of FY20, Dell Technologies partner executives pointed to evidence that the company's channel strategy has matured while highlighting areas for ongoing improvement. Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2019
Post-quantum cryptography unlocks opportunity for partners
A DigiCert study highlights a role for channel partner in preparing customers for quantum computing security threats; other channel news from the week. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Oct 2019
Channel firms take on multi-cloud management challenges
As enterprise customers begin to grapple with the complexities of multi-cloud environments, channel partners have found a role in reining in and optimizing cloud spending. Continue Reading
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News
15 Oct 2019
Amazon consumer division sheds Oracle database
Amazon has moved its consumer division's IT operations off of Oracle's database and onto AWS services, a towering effort that gives it a calling card to attract highly critical enterprise workloads. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2019
CEO of longtime ERP, BI vendor SAP abruptly steps down
Bill McDermott, CEO of longtime ERP, CRM and BI software vendor SAP, resigned on Thursday triggering a succession plan that promotes Jennifer Morgan and Christian Klein to co-CEOs. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
11 Oct 2019
MSPWorld 2019: Five things I learned at the conference
Here are several observations from MSPAlliance's MSPWorld 2019 conference, which wraps up today in Las Vegas. 1. The industry wants to reframe the MSPs-as-target discussion MSPAlliance leadership ... Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Oct 2019
Media and entertainment cloud use poised to shake up industry
The media and entertainment industry is moving workflows to the cloud in a dramatic cultural shift. InterVision's Ray Panahon sheds light on this development. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2019
Digital transformation service providers Ahead, Data Blue merge
The CEO of Ahead said the merger will expand the companies' reach in the U.S. enterprise market and paves the way for future acquisitions; other channel news from the week. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2019
MSP cybersecurity concerns may inspire break/fix nix
The heightened publicity surrounding cyberattacks targeting managed IT service providers was a central focus of the MSPAlliance's MSPWorld Conference. Continue Reading
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News
10 Oct 2019
AWS courts SAP cloud ERP with new instance types
New AWS high-memory instances geared for SAP ERP implementations reflect an ongoing push by hyperscalers for these lucrative workloads. But many SAP customers are early in their move to the cloud. Continue Reading
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News
10 Oct 2019
MSPAlliance debuts MSP cybersecurity risk rating system
As customers increasingly question the cybersecurity postures of MSPs, MSPAlliance aims to give firms a way to show they are proactively dealing with threats. Continue Reading
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News
09 Oct 2019
Hitachi Vantara VSP 5000 combines NVMe, SAS storage
Large commercial consumers have been the primary target for Hitachi storage systems of late, but new Hitachi Vantara VSP 5000 targets Dell EMC PowerMax enterprise storage. Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2019
Oracle to add 2,000 jobs for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
Oracle plans to hire 2,000 workers to boost Oracle Cloud Infrastructure IaaS. It’s part of an aggressive global expansion as Oracle seeks to differentiate from AWS and others. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Oct 2019
Nerdio for Azure arrives in Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace
Nerdio's cloud transition continues with its distribution agreement with Ingram Micro, which offers Nerdio's Azure automation product for MSPs on Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
04 Oct 2019
Digital process automation: Bonitasoft tool boosts BPM work
Digital process automation technology is playing a key role in enabling business process management projects for one IT services firm. Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2019
WVD to spark demand for consulting, implementation services
Microsoft's Windows Virtual Desktop offering is poised to boost partner business as it opens opportunities in the desktop-as-a-service market; other news from the week. Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2019
SASE takes network security from hardware to the cloud
SD-WAN and network security vendors tailor their portfolios to deliver SASE, a cloud security architecture for the age of SaaS, public clouds and IoT. Continue Reading
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News
03 Oct 2019
Rubrik CEO: We're not for sale
Rubrik's CEO shot down a recent article claiming he was looking for buyers. Experts say unless there's a buyer making a massive offer, there's no good reason for Rubrik to sell. Continue Reading
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News
03 Oct 2019
Flash storage pioneer Violin cuts staff, relocates HQ
Pioneering all-flash array vendor Violin changes CEOs and eliminates San Jose headquarters and executive staff to cut spending, but plans new NVMe-based storage products in 2020. Continue Reading
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News
03 Oct 2019
Zendesk disclosure is light on details
Zendesk disclosed a previously undetected security incident from 2016 in which data for 10,000 customer accounts was accessed, but the disclosure is missing some key details. Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2019
HPE points distribution towards the 'as a service' opportunity
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is sitting down with distributors this week to talk about ‘as a service,’ SMEs and its channel programs. Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2019
Alabama, Australia hospitals hit by ransomware attacks
Ransomware attacks hit seven hospitals in Australia and three in Alabama, with the Alabaman hospitals being forced to turn away patients because of the attacks. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Oct 2019
Office 365 managed services call for workflow, vertical skills
Subscription business models, a focus on automating workflow and becoming a thought leader are important for taking advantage of the Microsoft Office 365 opportunity. Continue Reading
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News
01 Oct 2019
Sophos launches Managed Threat Response service
The new offering is built on Sophos' endpoint security platform Intercept X Advanced, with capabilities supported by the company's recent acquisition of Rook Security and DarkBytes. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
01 Oct 2019
One Identity partners expand in IAM security market
One Identity, a cybersecurity business unit under Quest Software, revealed that channel partners are driving a dominant portion of its sales. One Identity, which focuses on identity and access ... Continue Reading