Good morning, channel partners. Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter and plenty more to start your day for Monday, December 14, 2015.
Actually, today's update involves 16 items for VARs, managed services providers (MSPs), cloud services providers (CSPs) and independent software vendors (ISVs) to sip on.
16. Dell-EMC Clears A Hurdle: Dell's pending $67 billion buyout of EMC and VMware cleared a major hurdle in recent days. Indeed, EMC's "go shop" period -- where the company is allowed to seek higher offers for the business -- has ended with no third-party bids. We'll share more details on this later today.
15. European IT Privacy: Privacy laws in Europe are expected to get much tougher. And penalties for violations could be steep -- anywhere from 2 percent to 4 percent of annual revenues. For a small channel partner (say, US$5 million in annual revenues), that's a $100,000 to $200,000 fine. Ouch...
14. Encryption and Terrorism: ChannelE2E told you encryption rights vs. terrorism would be the major IT security story of 2016. But the battle between regulators and technology companies has already heated up before the new year.
13. Microsoft Accelerates Azure Cloud Backups: Microsoft has enhanced its Azure Backup service, using its Update Sequence Number (USN) Journal to reduce backup times by up to 50 percent, Microsoft claimed.
12. Google Cloud Databases: Google has bolstered its Cloud SQL platform, and also is developing managed MySQL offerings. The enhancements come as Google seeks to strengthen its cloud offerings for business. VMware co-founder and former CEO Diane Greene is now running Google's cloud business, and Estee Cheng is playing a key role in the company's strategic partner strategy for Google for Work.
11. Security Partner Program: Exabeam, which specializes in user behavior analytics (UBA) for security, has launched its 3D (Data Integration, Data Analytics and Data Applications) Technology Alliance Program. The Exabeam platform provides an analytics layer that enhances existing log management, big data and security intelligence solutions, Exabeam claims...
10. Government Contractors and Multi-factor Authentication: IT service providers working with the US Department of Defense need to move fast and embrace multi-factor authentication, according to a Small Business Trends report. The security requirement could be particularly painful -- i.e., expensive and time consuming -- for small subcontractors... Thanks to Stuart Crawford of Ulistic for the heads up on this issue.
9. Vertical Market Opportunities: When it comes to vertical market IT services, many solutions providers focus on health care, financial services and retail customers. But there's plenty of room elsewhere -- including the accounting, legal and marketing services verticals, according to a new report from CompTIA entitled IT Opportunities in the Professional Services Vertical. Nearly one-half of professional services firms say technology know-how is the primary reason they engage with solutions providers.
8. Small Business Retirement Planning: This isn't exactly a solution provider case study... but check out this quick case study involving a pair of small business owners and a potential strategy to fund their retirement savings.
7. Microsoft's Next Database Move: So, what comes after SQL Server, Azure SQL, MySQL, NoSQL and every other SQL that you're already familiar with? Keep an eye on Graph databases -- along with Microsoft's own Graph initiatives for data access and analysis.
6. Big Data Skills Shortage: Large businesses will grow their big data headcount by about 33 percent over the next five years, but traditional sources of talent -- colleges and universities -- are still playing catch-up, according to an AT Kearney study.
5. Facebook at Work: More than 300 companies -- including Coldwell Banker -- are testing Facebook at Work, the enterprise-focused version of the social media platform. The new social platform is expected to launch within a few months.
4. Tech IPO Reality Check: Only 28 technology companies launched U.S.-based IPOs in 2015 -- the lowest figure since 2009, according to Dealogic. More than 130 unicorns (startups with valuations of $1 billion or more) remain privately held. Half of the tech companies that went public are trading below their IPO price, Dealogic also found. And Box, the file sync and sharing service, went public at a valuation below their final private round of funding. TechCrunch's Tech IPO reality check includes deeper details for those who are trying to navigate potential paths to public markets.
3. Yahoo CEO on the Hot Seat: Investor groups have developed new plans to fix Yahoo -- including scenarios that sell off businesses, slash thousands of employees and replace CEO Marissa Mayer. In addition to Yahoo's core business challenges, the company has faced a brain drain in recent months. Meanwhile, Mayer is expected to announce a more detailed reorganization plan in January 2016.
2. A Hadoop Primer: What is Hadoop? ChannelE2E has been educating readers in recent months, describing Hadoop's role in big data analytics -- along with emerging partner programs. Now, even main stream media is asking "What Is Hadoop?" -- and that means the technology's adoption is further accelerating...
1. Help Wanted: IT service providers and technology vendors continue to seek channel-savvy talent. Check out the latest positions on the ChannelE2E Job Board, which is free to our readers.
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