Good morning, channel partners. Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter, and plenty more to start your day for Thursday, March 9, 2017.
Actually, there are 10 timely 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…
10. Microsoft Azure Cloud on ARM Processors: Microsoft is working to port Windows Server and associated Azure cloud code to ARM processors. The move could pressure Intel's cloud-related processor revenues. Moreover, it could signal Microsoft's growing reliance on the Open Compute Project -- an open source initiative originally pioneered by Facebook. Microsoft has plenty of experience on non-Intel processors. The original Windows NT Server was first developed on MIPS processors. In the mid-1990s, it also ran on additional RISC processors like PowerPC and Digital Alpha. But Microsoft abandoned the cross-platform work when Intel emerged as a de facto standard for server processors. Related Conference: OPC U.S. Summit 2017.
9. AMD Data Center Processors: AMD this week unveiled Naples, is a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) aimed to compete with Intel's Xeon processors within the data center and PC server markets. AMD claims the chips can perform big data computations roughly 2.5 times faster than Intel's alternatives. Of course, Intel may respectfully disagree. Naples chips are expected to ship in Q2.
8. The Best Managed CSPs: Gartner has published a Magic Quadrant for managed cloud service providers (managed CSPs). So what's next? Perhaps it's time to jumble the letters in the acronym a bit -- a Magic Quadrant for cloud MSPs? Hmmm...
7. Amazon AWS M&A: Amazon has quietly acquired Do, a meeting productivity startup, to further bolster Chime -- the company's emerging alternative to Microsoft Skype and Cisco WebEx.
6. Big Data Projects: Real-time analytics, metadata management, and self-service data access comprise nearly 70 percent of the projects IT leaders intend to execute in 2017, as they get their data in shape to pursue artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in the future. Still, the data could be a bit self-serving -- since it comes from a Talend survey.
5. Government Data Centers: Govplace and RackWare together have introduced software products that enable Federal agencies to "quickly and safely kick start their data center consolidation and cloud migration efforts as well as enhance their disaster recovery readiness," the two companies claim. Govplace is a federal government solutions provider. RackWare is a hybrid cloud management software provider.
4. Rackspace & Google Cloud: Rackspace has extended its managed services to support Google Cloud Platform. The company already supports Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. Rackspace's multi-cloud management strategy has gained momentum -- but not fast enough to fully offset weakness elsewhere in the company's business. Indeed, Rackspace recently confirmed plans to cut 6 percent of its U.S. workforce. An undisclosed number of international layoffs also are expected.
3. ConnectWise and HTG: ConnectWise will host Service Management Workshops during HTG's Q2 meetings in Dallas. ConnectWise develops business management and automation software for technology companies. HTG offers peer group, mentoring and training services to MSPs.
2. Talent - Cybersecurity: Former Sophos VP Curt Lindenberger is now an advisory board member at Cloud24x7, a "Next Generation Cybersecurity Services company" that provides solutions built for partners (VARs, LARs and MSPs)...
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