5 Channel Partner Updates: 05 April 2017

Good morning, channel partners. Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter, and plenty more to start your day for Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Actually, there are 24 updates for VARs, managed services providers (MSPs), cloud services providers (CSPs), independent software vendors (ISVs), telco master agents and telco agents to sip on.

24. This Just In: HP Inc's new A3 multifunction printers (MFPs) are now shipping to more than 80 countries in all major markets worldwide. The A3 offerings, which feature cloud-based management along with security-centric designs, are critical to Channel Chief Stephanie Dismore's strategy to expand and accelerate partner opportunities. 23. H-1B Visa Overhaul: Amid all the concern about H-1B Visas, the overhaul could actually benefit big tech companies, Bloomberg now suggests... 22. Avaya Reorg Plan?: Avaya, currently navigating chapter 11 bankruptcy, expects to file a reorganization plan in the "very near future." Avaya originally expected to file the plan in March, but it sounds like the document will surface within the next few days. The reorg plan is particularly important to Avaya retirees, many of whom are wondering whether the proposed pan will potentially impact Avaya pensions. 21. Managed Broadband Services: Nitel, a nationwide managed telecom service provider, has launched multiple managed broadband solutions for midmarket and enterprise customers. The move comes a few weeks after Nitel unveiled SD-WAN and associated services with Versa Networks. 20. Cloud Distribution: Tech Data's Avnet Cloud Marketplace now offers HotLink (disaster recovery as a service), ParkMyCloud (cloud cost optimization) and Zadara Storage (storage as a service) to its partner ecosystem. Tech Data acquired the Avnet Cloud Marketplace as part of the recent Avnet Technology Solutions buyout. Tech Data had its own cloud marketplace ahead of the M&A deal. The big question: When or how will Tech Data merge or evolve its two cloud marketplaces? Hmmm... 19. Distribution: PlanetOne channel partners can now market and sell Global Capacity’s suite of products and services including Ethernet, Internet, Private Line and Hybrid WAN solutions to their enterprise customers. 18. Enterprise Managed Services: Entisys360, an IT consultancy specializing in IT infrastructure, virtualization and cloud-first solutions, has an Enterprise Managed Services offering; it features a suite of technology management and support services for virtualization and cloud-based infrastructure environments. 17. Virtual Desks & Contact Centers: Dizzion,which specializes in virtual desktops, has joined the inContact inCloud Ecosystem (iCE). inContact develops contact center software. 16. Free Cloud Monitoring: DigitalOcean, a cloud for developers, has launched a free monitoring service for cloud servers. Developers can collect and visualize metrics in graphs, monitor performance and receive alerts in one interface, with no configuration required, the company claims. Related:, Check out the top 50 cloud monitoring and management tools. 15. Cloud Compliance: Cloud9 Technologies, a cloud-based voice trading communication and analytics platform for financial firms and institutional traders, has successfully completed the Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type II certification. 14. USB Thumb Drive Security: Honeywell Process Solutions has launched a USB thumb drive security solution for industrial sites. Honeywell's Secure Media Exchange (SMX) protects facilities against current and emerging USB-borne threats, the company claims.

Matt Knutsen

13. Security Partner Program: Avecto, an endpoint security software provider, has launched a revamped channel partner program along with a roadshow across the US, Canada, UK and Germany. The company has 80 partners worldwide, including 28 in North America. VP Matthew Knutsen is driving the partner effort. Avecto shifted from direct sales to a channel partner model roughly two years ago.

Scott Barlow

12. Sophos Growth: Revenues at Sophos are skyrocketing, and the company has increased its full-year revenue forecast to $630 million -- up from a previous estimate of $613 million. What's behind the uptick? The cybersecurity threat landscape -- along with ransomware -- certainly set the stage for growth. But Sophos has gone the extra mile with an end-to-end security management dashboard for MSPs. Related: Sophos VP Scott Barlow described the MSP effort in this ChannelE2E podcast.

Marya Munir

11. Talent - Security: VIPRE has hired Marya Munir as senior director of channel marketing. She brings more than 20 years of IT channel experience to VIPRE and most recently served as director of worldwide partner and alliance marketing at Webroot, the company says. But wait. More content awaits you on page 2. Proceed to page two now and chow down the remaining items... Welcome to page two. Enjoy a second serving of channel content -- items 10 to 1 -- here.

Erica Ruliffson Schultz

10. Talent - New Relic Channel Chief: New Relic President Hilarie Koplow-McAdams is retiring. Take a look and you'll notice that CEO Lew Cirne is taking on more responsibilities. Also, Erica Ruliffson Schultz will now lead the entire global sales organization -- which means she's essentially the company's global channel chief as well. New Relic is a fast-growing provider of application performance management (APM) and other software that allows businesses to monitor and optimize their digital systems. 9. IBM Layoffs (Update): In recent days we told you that IBM made staff cuts to its Power and Kenexa teams. A new report suggests IBM has also made cuts to its Emptoris team, which focuses on supply chain intelligence. IBM acquired Emptoris and its 725 employees in 2012. The business's current headcount is undisclosed. 8. Freshly Funded, Part I: Qumulo, which specializes in scale-out storage, has raised $30 million in Series C funding. Total funding to date is over $130 million. Qumulo will use the funding to fuel market and global expansion, the company said. 7. Freshly Funded, Part II: Cohesity, which specializes in hyperconverged secondary storage, has raised over $90 million in Series C funding. The decision to seek additional funding was driven by a "rapid uptick in customer demand for Cohesity's hyperconverged secondary storage platform," the company claims. 6. Freshly Funded, Part III: LogPoint, which specializes in SIEM (security information and event management), has raised $10 million in SEries B funding from Evolution Equity Partners. 5. M&A - Telecom: Liberty Ventures Group has acquired General Communication Inc., Alaska's largest telecommunications company. The $1.12 billion buyout allows GCI to magnify its already dominant position in Alaska and expand to markets outside the state, ADN reported. We'll share more details soon. 4. M&A - Data Centers: Trying to figure out why private equity firms, real estate trusts and other financial specialists keep buying data centers? National Real Estate Investor offers some clues here.

Len DiCostanzo

3. Autotask Endpoint Backup: Autotask has launched a partner program for its endpoint backup platform. I believe the Endpoint Backup offering leverages Autotask Workplace, a file sync and sharing technology that the company acquired in 2015. Len DiCostanzo, senior VP of channel development, is expected to further describe the partner program next week during Autotask Community Live Europe 2017. 2. State of the MSP Report: Datto has released a 2017 State of the MSP report, which surveyed 1,200 managed services providers about their daily lives - in out of the office.  It also answers the age-old debate for MSPs: Star Wars or Star Trek? Hmmm... Are Larry Walsh's fingerprints somehow on this? 1. Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards: Talk about an especially timely celebration... The Immigrant Learning Center of Massachusetts will host an Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Dinner May 4 in Boston. Check out the list of 36 nominees from 23 countries here.