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5 Channel Partner Updates: Friday 01 February 2019

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Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter, and plenty more to start your day for Friday, February 1, 2019.

Actually, there are 11 timely updates designed for managed services providers (MSPs), cloud services providers (CSPs), IT consulting firms, systems integrators, VARs, independent software vendors (ISVs), and telco agents to sip on.

11. IBM - Layoff Controversy: In sworn testimony filed recently as part of a class-action lawsuit against IBM, a former executive says she was ordered not to comply with a federal agency’s request that the company disclose the names of employees over 50 who’d been laid off from her business unit, according to ProPublica. An IBM spokesman says claims related to potential age discrimination are “false,” according to the report.

10. Symantec Gains Momentum, But...: The security company delivered stronger-than-expected financial results in its most recent quarter, but Symantec failed to discuss any type of partner momentum during its earnings call. Instead, company leadership mentioned a competitive win against an MSP within a Fortune 500 account. The company's financial press release also did not mention partners.

9. Partner Program - HP Displays: The HP Partner First program now features a Display & Accessories (D&A) Accelerator for partners. The effort doubles the benefits and incentives for U.S.-based Platinum and Gold PC Partners on multiple commercial displays and accessories SKUs.

8. Talent: Riverbed has promoted Dante Malagrino to senior VP and general manager, overseeing the company's cloud infrastructure business unit, where he now oversees development of software-defined networking solutions.

7. Microsoft Azure Cloud Customer Wins: Microsoft CFO Amy Hood says Azure is gaining larger, more lucrative cloud services contracts. Key wins, she says, include a five-year deal with Gap.

6. Amazon Web Services Revenues: They hit $7.4 billion in Q4 2018, up from $5.1 billion in Q4 2017, according to financial results released yesterday. AWS operating income was $2.17 billion, up from $1.35 billion in Q4 2017. We'll share more thoughts soon.

5. MSP - Amazon Web Services: AURO, a Canadian enterprise public cloud, has announced their new Managed Amazon Web Services plans. The service blends the power of AWS with the Canadian-friendly compliance expertise of AURO, the company claims. The strategy sounds somewhat akin to Rackspace, a cloud provider that also introduced MSP services for AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

4. Private Equity Warning Sign?: Apollo Global Management reported an economic net loss for the fourth quarter as the firm's private equity funds depreciated 11 percent during the period, The Wall Street Journal notes. The loss comes at a key time for the IT market, where Apollo already has numerous investments, and has considered acquiring Ingram Micro in recent weeks, according to reports.

3. MSP - SAP Partner Momentum: American Digital, an MSP focused on SAP customers, says managed services sales rose 35 percent in 2018 -- driven mainly by SAP HANA deployments and related services. The company's overall sales grew 50 percent during 2018.

2. M&A - Communication Services: KonaTel Inc. a voice/data communications holding company, has acquired Apeiron Systems, a provider of real-time voice/data business communications services, including cloud-based Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) and Internet of Things (IoT) services.

1. Your Most Profitable MSP Service: That’s the topic of ChannelE2E’s February webcast. Register now to join us.

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.