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5 Channel Partner Updates: 25 October 2016

Good morning, channel partners. Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter, and plenty more to start your day for Tuesday, October 25, 2016. Actually, there are 19 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… 19. Microsoft Surface All-in-One PC Counters vs Apple iMac?: Expect details from a New York-based Microsoft event tomorrow (Wednesday, October 26, 2016). The Verge will live blog details. Pundits expect Microsoft to unveil an all-in-one Surface that includes a 24- or 27-inch display -- essentially countering Apple iMac desktops... 18. AT&T-Time Warner Concerns: Shares in AT&T and Time Warner fell yesterday because some investors think regulators may block the $85.4 billion deal. Time Warner shares are trading about $20 below AT&T's buyout offer figure. 17. Bad IBM Math: IBM is negotiating a settlement with Australia's government over a botched online census project. IBM blamed subcontractor NextGen Networks and ISP Vocus Communications for the project derailment. However, IBM also accepted responsibility as the prime contractor, according to The Wall Street Journal. The botched project cost Australian taxpayers at least A$30 million, The Journal reported. 16. Government UCaaS Cloud Services: The State of Utah has awarded collab9 with the “NASPO ValuePoint Cloud Solutions contract.” The contract allows collab9 to sell its FedRAMP Authorized Cisco Powered Unified Communications (UC) cloud service to participating U.S. states. Additionally, authorized collab9 Value Added Resellers (VARs) will also be able to sell through this agreement, the company says. collab9 specializes in Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS). 15. UCaaS Partner Program: CoreDial, a white label SaaS provider for cloud communications, has launched a new Partner Success Program. It's designed for channel partners offering cloud communications to both the SME and large enterprise markets. 14. IoT for Channel Partners: Tech Data has launched MIIMETIQ EDGE, an all-in-one Internet of Things (IoT) development platform that enables systems integrators and service providers to jumpstart their IoT projects, the distributor claims. MIIMETIQ EDGE, developed in collaboration with Dell and IoT technology partner NEXIONA, is available as an integrated solution with the Dell Edge Gateway 5000 Series. The solution will be available in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium starting this month, with global deployment beginning in 2017. 13. Big IoT Security Question: If connected devices are easily hacked why aren't we holding the manufacturers accountable? That key question, from Recode, emerges less than a week after a massive IoT bot network knocked out Web sites and ecommerce systems across the United States.. Hacked webcams involved in the attack last week are being recalled, the site noted. 12. DDoS & Malware Research: Talk about timely. DDoS-sourced malware is on the rise, according to a Q3 Global Security Report from AppRiver. The report surfaces as many Internet managers seek to better understand last week's massive DDoS attacks. 11. Avoid Azure Cloud Pricing Pitfalls: This top 10 list from Datamation is a keeper for MSPs and IT service providers that manage Azure workloads for end-customers. Also, check out these cloud cost management tools... Here endeth Page One of this captivating daily update. You can now safely proceed to Page Two for items 10 to 1. Welcome to page 2 of our daily update. Here's the rest of the rundown... 10. Channel Talent: Datto VP of Business Development has been named vice chair for CompTIA's Vendor Advisory Council. Rae will engage with a group of executives and leaders from across the IT community to set strategies designed to advance the industry. 9. Network Operations CentersINOC has launched an Enterprise Network Operations Center (ENOC), dedicated to supporting the complex and evolving requirements of enterprise customers. The move comes as multiple NOC industry veterans seek to evolve for cloud, mobile and security services. NetEnrich, for instance, recently hired Justin Crotty for a major channel push. And Continuum is preparing a Security Operations Center (SOC) offering for its MSP partners, CEO Michael George revealed during the company's Navigate 2016 conference in September. 8. Distribution Part I: D&H Distributing is enhancing its Cisco PRO (“Partner Revenue Opportunities”) program. The effort caters to SMB resellers, as well as accommodating those who are contemplating a foray into managed services. D&H partners can find details here. 7. Distribution Part II: Avnet's data analytics specialists plan to work more closely with IBM Business Partners. Under terms of the effort, Avnet will provide IBM Business Partners with training, pipeline development support, industry education, and pre- and post-sales services across high-growth industries, such as finance, insurance and retail. The effort surfaces amid the IBM World of Watson conference this week in Las Vegas.

6 . Distribution Part III: Tech Data has inked an exclusive agreement with Kony. The distributor will deliver turnkey mobile applications to its network of solution providers in the United States. Kony's cloud-based platform is designed for mobile application development.

5. IT Service Management: Anybody else notice that Fusion 2016 -- a major IT service management conference -- is set for next week in Las Vegas? Among those expected to have a presence at the show: CareWorx, which blends managed services and health care technology services. 4. Managed Security Services In Europe: BlackStratus has partnered with Alpha Generation to launch CYBERShark and channel operations in the United Kingdom (UK). CYBERShark is a white-label, Security Information Event Management (SIEM) platform designed to monitor and remediate cyber security threats and compliance violations within small to midsize businesses. The company has been particularly active with MSPs in the United States. The SIEM market, meanwhile, has been evolving rapidly in recent years. 3. Xceedance Enters London: Xceedance, a global MSP focused on property/casualty insurance technology, analytics and consulting services, has established an office in London to serve the European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market. 2. Apple, Microsoft MSPs Merge: Asta has acquired Crunch IT, essentially uniting Apple- and Microsoft-centric MSPs located in Melbourne, Australia. The push for Apple-centric MSP skills has been intensifying worldwide. Among the reasons: Apple customers are willing to pay a premium for high-value services, a growing number of MSPs believe. 1. Top 50 Cloud Management Tools: Not sure how to manage your customers' cloud-based workloads across Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform and more? Here's a list of 50 cloud management tools that have caught our attention... More: Read all of our daily 5 Channel Partner UpdatesPlusSubscribe to our daily enewsletter. Thanks to those who already have.
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.