Good morning, channel partners. Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter, and plenty more to start your day for Tuesday, January 31, 2017.
Actually, there are 12 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…
12. Silicon Valley vs. Trump: Airbnb, Google and Netflix Inc are among the companies expected to meet in Silicon Valley today, Reuters says. The agenda: How to fight President Trump's immigration policies. Multiple tech company leaders and IT service providers have voiced concerns about Trump's executive order on immigration. Consumer companies like Coca Cola and Starbucks also have expressed concerns. Banks and energy company leaders are mostly mum about the issue. Meanwhile, India-based IT service providers have expressed concerns about potential visa rule changes...
11. Dropbox for Business: Dropbox on Monday introduced multiple business-focused services including: (1) Smart Sync—a cross-platform, on-demand cloud storage solution; (2) Paper, a flexible workspace for teams, officially launches in 21 languages worldwide; (3) all new Dropbox web interface brings modern collaboration to files; and three new business packages for customers to tailor Dropbox to their needs. $1B Run Rate.
10. Partner Program: Kasepersky Lab's 2017 partner program officially launches on April 1, 2017. The program includes increased regional support; more rewards and technical offerings; regional conferences; and closer work with MSPs. Kaspersky specifically mentions ongoing work with ConnectWise as part of its efforts.
9. Female Entrepreneurs: Several female entrepreneurs have launched XXcelerate Fund. Their vision: "Despite starting businesses at twice the rate of men, women receive 3% of venture capital and 5% of bank loans. The XXcelerate Fund supports women entrepreneurs by providing access to the debt financing that growing women-led businesses need, and the financial education, mentorship, and peer support necessary to build strong, profitable Oregon-based businesses. Our goal is threefold: more women-owned businesses that are bankable, investable, or profitable and independent." Additional groups like Golden Seeds also focus all of their investment dollars on women-owned companies.
8. SaaS, MSP Sales Compensation Plans: Still looking for guidance on SaaS compensation plans? SaaStr offers one here. Also, we've got ChannelE2E's MSP sales compensation plans available for download here.
7. SD-WAN Managed Services: Teneo has launched a managed SD-WAN service based on Riverbed SteelConnect, an application-defined SD-WAN solution.
6. Data Center Acquisition: QTS Realty Trust (QTS) has completed the purchase of a 260,000 square foot data center in Fort Worth, Texas from Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC). The facility becomes QTS' second mega data center in the broader Dallas-Fort Worth-Irving market, the company says. QTS purchased the existing 8 gross megawatt facility for approximately $50 million which represents an upfront cost per megawatt of approximately $6 million. Side note: QTS purchased VMware's FedRAMP government cloud business in October 2016.
5. Google Cloud Audit Logging: Google's cloud audit and logging tool -- aptly called Google Cloud Audit Logging -- is now available for a broader range of Google cloud services...
4. Oracle Cloud Pricing: Oracle allegedly raised license fees for customers who run the database on Amazon Web Services. The move might be designed to pull AWS customers over to Oracle's own database cloud. But on the flip side, Amazon's own Aurora database is gaining momentum.
3. Westcon Sale?: Is Westcon up for sale? Hmmm....
2. Office 365 in the Legal Vertical: Keep an eye on developments from Lighthouse, FTI Consulting and others...
1. Datto Acquires Open Mesh: Confirmed this morning... Datto is making a big networking and security push -- focused entirely on MSPs.
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