Channel Brief: Managed Cloud Spend, Xceptional, Kyndryl, EY

Grab a cup of your favorite morning beverage and check out our daily market briefing for managed services providers (MSPs), IT service providers (ITSPs), technology service providers (TSPs), cloud service providers (CSPs) cybersecurity consultants, systems integrators, VARs, independent software vendors (ISVs), and distributors.

Check out regular updates our industry Mergers and Acquisitions list. We have a fresh list posted for 2024, and our data archive goes all the way back to 2020. Check out the whole thing here.

Scroll down for a quick view of upcoming in-person channel and MSP events at the bottom of this post (while we spiff up our industry calendar behind the scenes. It will return!)

And please send your news tips, information, and industry chatter to editorial director [email protected].

A. Today’s Tech, Channel and MSP News

1. Managing cloud spend - ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corp. and a provider of enterprise IT management solutions, has extended its cloud cost management tool, CloudSpend, to support Google Cloud Platform (GCP). By expanding its cost optimization services to GCP, following AWS and Microsoft Azure, CloudSpend now covers the three largest public cloud computing platforms worldwide by market share, enabling organizations with a multi-cloud setup to streamline their operational expenses.

2. Second acquisition coming soon - Technology solutions provider Xceptional is embarking on the next phase of its regional expansion strategy with a planned acquisition this year. This will be the company’s second acquisition, facilitating further market growth, innovation, and diversification of its portfolio service offerings. Xceptional completed its first acquisition of managed services provider Altitude Integrations in June 2022. 

3. Kyndryl EY partnership renewed - IT infrastructure services provider  Kyndryl is renewing a five-year agreement with Ernst & Young LLP (EY) to continue managing its SAP environment, as well as provide modernization and security services for the mission-critical systems that support its auditing and consulting operations. This work builds on a nearly decade-long collaboration under which Kyndryl has run and managed EY SAP workloads. 

4. Network engineer app - Global MSP SmartCIC Global Services has launched its Site Visit Reporting (SVR) application to provide real-time information flow from network engineers in field to global support centers. All 25,000 of SmartCIC’s certified network engineers have access to the mobile application with data from enterprise sites managed in a centralized platform. The mobile app enables SmartCIC to deliver information in real-time to its customers and digitalizes what is typically an offline and manual reporting process, the company said.   

5. New boss - MSP to alternative investment firms, Abacus Group, has appointed Anthony J. D'Ambrosi as new chief executive officer, replacing Chris Grandi, who has transitioned to the post of chairperson, D'Ambrosi expects to more than double the size of the business within the next three years, while further bolstering service delivery capabilities and innovation.

6. Keepit expands to Switzerland - Cloud backup and recovery provider Keepit is opening its first two data centers in Switzerland in a partnership with Equinix.. The new locations will enable Keepit to offer a data storage solution that complies with Swiss laws and regulations for businesses inside and outside Switzerland. 

7. Partner portal for revenue help - Revenue tool provider Xactly has unveiled a new partner portal, built with Xactly Extend. This provides partners with streamlined access to every project, managed service, referral, and tool necessary to drive mutual success and deliver exceptional outcomes for customers, the company said.

B. In-Person MSP and Channel Partner Events