Good morning, channel partners. Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter, and plenty more to start your day for Wednesday, January 25, 2017.
Actually, there are 16 captivating entries 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…
16. Distribution Talent: ScanSource has named Brian Cuppett as senior VP for ScanSource KBZ. Also, Yvette McKenzie has been named VP of merchandising for ScanSource Communications, US and Canada.
15. PulSar360 Channel Chief: Pulsar360, a telecom solutions provider focused on SMB customers, has named Robert Harrison as chief channel officer.
14. Xirrus WiFi Embraces MSPs: Xirrus has launched an MSP enhancements for the company's WiFi management cloud. Created specifically for the MSP market, the Xirrus CommandCenter enhancements provides an aggregated method to monitor thousands of customer locations, the company says. Additionally, new application programming interfaces (APIs) enable MSPs to integrate their service platforms into a Xirrus's WiFi network.
13. Host.Net Pursues SMBs: Host.net, the multi-national MSP and CSP, has created IT packages tailored specifically for SMBs and startups. Among the key offerings: backup and recovery powered by Carbonite's EVault, and DRaaS services that leverage Zerto. The SMB packages start at $99 per month.
12. Ransomware's Impact: The typical company pays $2,500 per ransomware incident, and 46 percent of companies say the attackers demand payment in fewer than two days, according to The Rise of Ransomware, a research report from The Ponemon Institute and Carbonite. The big finding: Most companies have no formalized strategy to mitigate ransomware.
11. SD-WAN Distribution: AVANT has expanded its list of SD-WAN providers, while also making a "significant commitment" SD-WAN partners. We'll share more details soon...
10. SD-WAN Investment: Deutsche Telekom has invested in SD-WAN provider Aryaka. We'll share more details soon.
9. SD-WAN Trends: As you may have guessed... we're working on SD-WAN related coverage that will surface later today...
8. Business Valuations: The American Society of Appraisers (ASA) has launched a series of Business Valuation papers to help owners and entrepreneurs pinpoint the value of their companies. Of course, you could just attend our webcast tomorrow (Thursday) for all the info you need on VAR, MSP and CSP valuations...
7. OpenText Owns Documentum: OpenText has completed the $1.62 billion Documentum buyout from Dell Technologies. Dell and EMC sold the business in order to strengthen Dell's balance sheet and double down on data center solutions.
6. Riverbed Azure: Riverbed has released a "one-click" cloud/networking solution that provides secure connectivity to Microsoft's Azure.
5. Earnings Calls: AT&T, 8x8, Citrix Systems, F5 Networks and ServiceNow are expected to announce earnings today. We'll share some updates later today as channel-centric trends emerge within the earnings statements...
4. Microsoft Counters Chromebooks: Microsoft has launched a special Intune for Education platform and associated Windows 10 PC promotions. The goal: Counter Google Chromebooks in the education market. We'll share more details soon.
3. Microsoft CTO: Microsoft has named LinkedIn veteran Kevin Scott as CTO. The move suggests that integrations between LinkedIn, Office 365 and Dynamics 365 are a top Microsoft priority.
2. Tech Data Offering?: Is Tech Data preparing to raise some money to finance the $2.6 billion Avnet Technology Solutions acquisition? Hmmm... This SEC filing offers some clues...
1. Top Channel Partner Events: All of the IT channel's major partner summits and conferences are listed in the ChannelE2E Technology Event Calendar. Well, nearly all of them. Feel free to submit your conference for consideration if we overlooked it.
More: Read all of our daily 5 Channel Partner Updates. Plus: Subscribe to our daily enewsletter. Thanks to those who already have.
