5 things

5 Channel Partner Updates: 10 March 2017

Good morning, channel partners. Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter, and plenty more to start your day for Friday, March 10, 2017. Actually, there are 18 tasty updates for VARs, managed services providers (MSPs), cloud services providers (CSPs), independent software vendors (ISVs), telco master agents and telco agents to sip on. Take a look…
Bob Cagnazzi
18. Watch This IPO: Presidio is expected to IPO today. The move could be an important bellwhether for VARs, MSPs and CSPs that are trying to pinpoint their own company valuations. Presidio, led by CEO Bob Cagnazzi, offers IT services to midmarket companies. 17. South of the Wall, er, Border: ChannelE2E is seriously considering a new office in... Mexico City. Why's that? Hmmm... perhaps we'll share details in the next week two weeks or so. Stay tuned.
Bob Godgart Bob Godgart
16. Next ChannelEyes CEO?: As you'll recall, former CEO Jay McBain exited ChannelEyes in December 2016. ChannelEyes develops apps and big data technologies to help channel leaders more effectively manage their partner programs. Chairman Bob Godgart hasn't announced a new CEO yet. But stay tuned... 15. Google Drive Data Migration Tool: Google has acquired AppBridge, a company that specializes in migrating data to Google Drive and G Suite from Office 365, SharePoint, Box and on-premises storage. 14. Google Launches Windows Partner Program: ChannelE2E told you several weeks ago that Google Cloud Platform wanted to become the best cloud for running Microsoft Windows Server and SQL Server. Fast forward to present day and Google has launched a Windows-centric partner program...

13. Ingram Cloud for Resellers: Ingram Micro Cloud Referral Program is now available globally. It allows resellers to drive additional commissions by directing their end-customers to Ingram Micro Cloud’s new referral website. Among the things to keep in mind: It's a simple way for resellers to generate recurring revenues from Office 365. Related Partner Conference: Ingram Micro Cloud Summit, which is set for April.

12. Distribution - SD-WAN: Promark Technology, an Ingram Micro company, has agreed to distribute CloudGenix to its extensive network of U.S.-authorized resellers and system integrators.

11. Funding - SD-WANs: Cradlepoint, which specializes in wireless SD-WAN technology, has raised $89 million in Series C funding. The SD-WAN market, though widely hyped, seems like a legitimate market opportunity for channel partners. But wait. More content awaits you on page 2. Proceed to page two now and sip up the remaining items... Welcome to page two. Enjoy a second serving of channel content -- items 10 to 1 -- here. 10. Partner Program: CloudHealth Technologies, which specializes in cloud service management, has doubled the size of its channel partner program over the past year, and partner-related revenues have grown more than 300 percent during that time, the company asserts. Bob Kilbride, director of channel sales, is driving the effort. 9. Partner Program:  Scality, which specializes in object and cloud storage, is now a Platinum partner in the Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) program. Scality's expertise includes high-performing backup and archive solution for Oracle Databases using Oracle Secure Backup (OSB) and Recovery Manager (RMAN). 8. Talent - NetApp: NetApp has named Anthony Lye as senior vice president, Cloud Business Unit, reporting to CEO George Kurian. Lye previously was EVP and chief cloud officer at Guidewire Software.
Guy Cunningham

7. Talent - Security: Guy Cunningham has joined Netsurion and EventTracker as VP, channel sales and distribution. Cunningham will help resellers, managed service providers (MSPs), and distributors "realize the full potential of Netsurion and EventTracker’s offerings for small to mid-size organizations," the companies said. Cunningham's previous experience includes key partner roles at Veritas, Connectria Hosting and Symantec. Netsurion and EventTracker merged in 2016, one of our Top 100 M&A deals of the year.

6. Endpoint Security: VIPRE has launched VIPRE Advanced Security for Business, a single solution that provides endpoint protection, anti-phishing and email security to defend against ransomware. For SMBs with 250 employees, VIPRE Advanced Security is priced at $12 annually per seat.

5. IoT Security Lawsuit:  A judge appears willing to move forward with the FTC's lawsuit against D-Link. The suit alleges D-Link's networking equipment doesn't properly protect consumers from potential IoT security dangers. D-Link claims otherwise, but a judge in the case says the FTC doesn't have to wait for major damages to occur before launching lawsuits like this.

4. IT Project Management Nightmare?: The commonwealth of Pennsylvania on Thursday accused IBM of racking up tens-of-millions in cost overruns while failing to deliver under a $110 million contract to create a new integrated computer system for handling the state’s unemployment compensation program, according to Law360. We're poking around to see if IBM has a response.

3. IT Service Management Survey: An overwhelming 88 percent of IT executives believe IT service management is important to their digital transformation efforts. Likewise, the majority of IT executives also see ITSM as important to related initiatives around cloud computing (86 percent), mobility (83 percent) and big data (83 percent). Now, the twist: While 86 percent surveyed understand that the pace of IT change and transformation is increasing, over half (55 percent) state that the share of IT budget spend on ongoing management and maintenance is growing, according to BMC survey results. What does all that mean? Companies are still spending too much to "keep the IT lights on" and too little on innovation, BMC asserts.

2. M&A - Data & Network Services: FirstLight Fiber of Albany, N.Y., has acquired Finger Lakes Technologies Group, Inc. (FLTG). Together, the companies have a combined 555,000 fiber mile network that spans six states -- Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Moreover, the company will operate 74 data center, colocation and dry paper record facilities, many of which are SOC 2 certified and HIPPA compliant, the company said.

1. Do This Today: Participate in our Top 100 Vertical Market MSPs survey, and your company could earn honors. We'll announce results, honorees and associated research in April. Complete the survey today.
Joe Panettieri

Joe Panettieri is co-founder & editorial director of MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E, the two leading news & analysis sites for managed service providers in the cybersecurity market.