Cloud Computing

Junosphere Bolstered With Platform Tweaks (0) May 17, 2012 Juniper equipped its Junosphere cloud offering with added partnerships and a few platform enhancements, all aimed at facilitating greater ease of use for partners and accelerating adoption of cloud and virtual infrastructure for customers.
Services May Unlock Unified Comm's Potential (0) May 17, 2012 Unified communications – the integration of various forms of digital messaging in a single platform – remains of high interest among businesses, but adoption is still relatively low. A new CompTIA study finds the attachment of cloud and managed services may open the door for greater unified communications adoption.
CA Process Automation 4 Arrives (0) May 16, 2012 CA Technologies launches CA Process Automation 4, bringing a unified network automation platform for physical, virtual and cloud environments.
Reports: Enterprises Embracing BYOD Trend (0) May 16, 2012 Enterprise organizations have moved well past the acceptance phase to embrace the BYOD trend, creating swaths of opportunity for the channel to create holistic and scalable mobile security policies and management services for their customers.
Insider: Cloud, Not Recession, Haunts Cisco (0) May 16, 2012 Cisco is planning to roll out more cloud products, including its new Cloud Connect in June, to capitalize on this ever-expanding opportunity. However, its recently pessimistic outlook, says one insider, has more to do with cloud disruptions to its core networking business than global economics. It’s a rationale, noteworthy counterargument.
NetSuite Launches Commerce-as-a-Service (0) May 16, 2012 NetSuite launches the commerce-as-a-service platform "NetSuite SuiteCommerce," enabling both retail and corporate sales outfits to enhance customer service and customer experiences through a fully integrated ERP/CRM solution.
Nvidia Brings GPU To The Cloud (0) May 16, 2012 Nvidia launches the Nvidia VGX platform, a cloud-based GPU that can deliver real-time 3D rendering and highly responsive graphic applications to virtualized environments and the cloud. Cloud-based GPUs could turn thin clients into powerhouses and reshape what MSPs can provide their customers.
SSDs: A Hidden Channel Opportunity (0) May 15, 2012 Solid state storage is a hidden opportunity in the channel, especially as SSD prices are set to drop inside 2012. Partners can reach out to old and new customers by offering huge performance gains from application severs to storage devices.
Microsoft Study Says Cloud Brings Security (0) May 15, 2012 A new Microsoft study shows a correlation between cloud adoption and enhanced security measures. The channel has yet another opportunity to capitalize on the ever-expanding world of cloud services.
Intel's New Xeons Spark Server Surge (0) May 14, 2012 Intel launches three new series of Xeon CPUs designed to bring super-high performance computing to severs everywhere and provide powerful 'green' CPUs ideal for workstation environments.
Cloud EMRs Entice Healthcare Providers (0) May 14, 2012 A study finds SaaS EMRs are increasingly attractive offerings for healthcare organizations because of their ease of use and cost-effectiveness. This opens opportunities for partners to expand practices in healthcare security arenas.
Amazon Welcomes SQL, .NET ISVs to AWS (0) May 11, 2012 Amazon launches support for SQL Server and ASP .NET to Amazon Web Services, inviting a world of Windows developers to take advantage of Amazon's cloud capabilities.
Revisiting the Chasm, Again and Again (3) May 11, 2012 For all the talk about market development, technology maturation and selling technology into verticals, too few solution providers truly understand this lifecycle or how to use it to their advantage. The starting point hasn’t changed in two decades: Pickup “Crossing the Chasm.”
McAfee Targets SMBs with Cloud Services (0) May 11, 2012 McAfee is looking to bolster its midmarket fortunes with new products and services tailored specifically for the SMB market. Likewise, it’s offering channel partners new incentives and support for attacking and capturing more SMB opportunities.
Axcient Cancels Out Cloud Downtime (0) May 11, 2012 Axcient's Cloud Continuity platform can instantly and seamless transfer an SMB to a cloud continuity server in the event of data center failure. Axcient's in-house backup technology is proving itself a key differentiator in the channel.
The HP Cloud Arrives For Open Beta (0) May 10, 2012 HP finally unleashes the HP Cloud, a public beta of its cloud infrastructure platform to compete with the likes of Amazon and Rackspace. How will HP's public and open beta help build success for the budding cloud platform?
6fusion Moves Closer To Hypervisor Agnosticism (0) May 10, 2012 6fusion introduces open-source Xen and Citrix Xen support to the UC6 cloud management platform, allowing IT admins and MSPs to mitigate the headaches associated with multiple hypervisor environments and obviate vendor lock-in.
How Wyse's New Moves Benefit Dell (0) May 10, 2012 Wyse's new thin client and MDM solutions will provide a considerable bump to Dell, giving it a new competitive edge in the virtualization and enterprise space. Will Dell ultimately compete at the same level as HP, IBM and Oracle?
Cisco Study: Companies Fear Cloud Migration (0) May 9, 2012 A Cisco cloud migration study found that a significant number of IT decision-makers are stymied to overcome infrastructure hurdles when embarking on cloud migration projects, leaving a wide-open gap for the channel to address an anticipated slew of networking, security and configuration challenges.
Citrix Urges Rethinking of IT Assumptions (0) May 9, 2012 Citrix believes a root cause of the problems in building, managing and securing cloud and mobile systems is solution providers and enterprises continue to apply conventional and dated assumptions about the IT operating environment. Citrix is encouraging partners and customers to do is change their thinking and assume everything is cloud and mobile.
Motorola Launches WLAN Cloud Service (0) May 9, 2012 Motorola Solutions is looking to empower partners with new tools for optimizing and securing business wireless networks with a new cloud-based service. The service is intended to insure businesses increasingly dependent upon cloud and mobile device have quality wireless network connectivity.
Dell, Red Hat Build Open Source Workstations (0) May 8, 2012 Dell and Red Hat team up to ship Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Dell Precision Workstations and PowerEdge hardware. But is Red Hat the real winner in this open source partnership?
F5 Networks Offers SPDY Application Delivery (0) May 8, 2012 F5 Networks introduces the SPDY Gateway, an appliance designed to optimize the Web and Web-based applications via Google's SPDY protocol. F5 networks is also leveraging SPDY as an effective way to optimize Web apps for mobile use, and for browsers that don't natively support SPDY.
Unisys Unveils Security Suite, Partner Program (0) May 7, 2012 Unisys is making a bit of an about face by bulking up its channel team that paves the way for launch of its new partner program and expansion of its customer base for the release of its new Stealth Solution security suite.
Skype Stunting Microsoft, Nokia Turnaround (7) May 7, 2012 Nokia is blaming Microsoft’s ownership of Skype as the reason many carriers don’t want to carry the new Lumia smartphone powered by Windows Phone 7. There’s some truth to this excuse, but it’s more a reflection of what’s happening across the technology landscape in terms of allies becoming frienemies and competitors.
Zenith Infotech Barred from Selling Cloud Assets (0) May 7, 2012 An India court issued an injunction against the cloud and backup company after determining a previously submitted assessment of its asset value is incomplete. The ruling comes amid speculation that Zenith Infotech was getting ready to shed more assets.
Rethinking Differentiation Among VARs (1) May 7, 2012 The onset of new technologies is opening vast new opportunities for solution providers, managed service providers and systems integrators. The opportunity goes beyond just cloud computing. It's about building portfolios of services, products and values that provide a new level of differentiation from the conventional VAR of yesteryear.
Riverbed Offers Cost-Effective WAN Optimization (1) May 4, 2012 Riverbed launches the Steelhead 150 as a cost-effective physical or virtual WAN optimization appliance for small branch offices and the SMB. Cloud service providers may start adopting more optimization appliances, especially amid Riverbed's vCloud Connector partnership with VMware.
Access One, Stratosphere Bridge Channel Divide (0) May 4, 2012 Telecom provider Access One is teaming with solution provider Stratosphere, aligning their mutual capabilities to meet market demands for telephony and IT solutions. The partnership is a great example of how IT and telephony solution providers can cross the channel divide to amplify their market potential.
GFI Brings MSPs Managed Backup (0) May 4, 2012 GFI MAX Managed Online Backup is designed to provide MSPs with a 'business-class' backup solution that is easy to deploy and manage. Dr. Alistair Forbes discusses GFI's channel focus.
Sprint Picks Zenprise for MDM Service (0) May 4, 2012 Sprint’s selection of Zenprise MobileManager for its new mobile device management service offering reflects the growing need and demand for enterprise-class management and security of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. It’s another sign the channel needs to step up MDM adoption.
Cloud Services Can Eliminate IT Staff Risks (0) May 3, 2012 The Wall Street Journal suggest big companies are scrutinizing IT staff to weed out would-be hackers and data thieves. But a simple fix is already available: By outsourcing IT to the channel, the threat of rogue IT admins can be eliminated.
VMware View 5.1 Ready For Mobile Workforce (0) May 3, 2012 VMware View 5.1 arrives with new optimization features alongside the VMware Project Octopus Beta storage platform. With virtualization, cloud and storage capabilities under its belt, VMware readies itself for the mobile enterprise.
theCloud, ScaleXtreme Launch vCloud Partnership (0) May 3, 2012 ScaleXtreme's cloud automation services joins up with theCloud's hosting services, signalling that collaborations between cloud companies may become more commonplace in the not-to-distant future.
ShoreTel Reorganizes Channel Leadership (0) May 2, 2012 ShoreTel reorganizes its channel leadership as it looks to broaden its UC reach across the globe and accelerate the move to the cloud.
Google, Onix Finally Win Fed Cloud Contract (2) May 2, 2012 After a protracted legal and competitive battle between Microsoft and Google over the future of the federal cloud, the Department of the Interior decided to convert its 88,000 users to Gmail rather than Office 365. The win opens the door for cloud newcomers to challenge incumbents for federal business.
Report: Trend Micro is Cloud Security 'Leader' (2) May 1, 2012 Trend Micro is among those leading the charge in the global cloud security software market, according to TechNavio’s Global Cloud Security Software Market report.
Quest Software Boasts Robust Migration Services (0) May 1, 2012 Quest Software announces itself as a leading provider of Microsoft Office 365 migration. Are Quest Software's moves indicative of a recent change from public to private company or a company moving to cloud services? Or both?
Axcient Shows What It Takes to Build a Business (0) May 1, 2012 Cloud backup vendor Axcient expands management team with industry veterans. The additions are part of a master plan by founder Justin Moore for building a billion-dollar business. It’s a model that any channel business can – and should – follow.
Ingram Micro Cloud Summit: Focus On Services (0) May 1, 2012 Ingram Micro launches their third annual Cloud Summit. This year, Ingram Micro will focus heavily on how cloud technologies can help MSPs build their services up and out.
Zenith Infotech Launches Low-Cost Private Cloud (1) April 30, 2012 Embattled Zenith Infotech launches a new cloud infrastructure and backup service built on Intel and Microsoft technology that reportedly costs 70 percent less than comparable offerings. The new service is the result of a $38 million development project and comes as the company battles creditors over a $85 million debt default.
HP Slate 8: A Future Mobile Accessory (0) April 30, 2012 The designs and specifications of the forthcoming Hewlett-Packard Slate 8 tablet powered by Windows 8 were leaked over the weekend. On the surface, this tablet looks impressive as a business and consumer device. It may also be a part of the next-generation of computing devices as accessories.
ePlus Expands into Video Managed Services (0) April 27, 2012 ePlus Technology, an integration and services company, is expanding its portfolio to include video managed services for collaboration and conferencing. It’s a good example of a solution provider filling the skills gaps in the marketplace.
Why Jabber Is All About Mobile Enterprise (0) April 27, 2012 Cisco's ambitions with Jabber may be to build a de-facto UC platform for the upcoming wave of mobile devices in the enterprise.
IBM's Big Appetite For Big Data (0) April 27, 2012 IBM is buying up all the big data technology it can in an effort to become an arbiter of all things big data.
OS33 Introduces MSP Cloud Initiative (0) April 26, 2012 In an effort to bring more MSPs into the cloud services fold, OS33 has opened up the ability for "Master MSPs" to resell services and infrastructure to smaller MSPs, in an effort to generate additional revenue and expand the reach of cloud services.
OKI Data Expands Total Managed Print to Canada (0) April 26, 2012 OKI Data expands its cloud-based managed print services offering, Total Managed Print portal, into the Canadian marketplace. As managed print grows in the cloud, will it become part of larger cloud stacks?
NetSuite Touts Growing Midmarket Channel (0) April 26, 2012 The cloud-based ERP market leader announced the addition of four major midmarket solution providers to its channel program, reflecting the growing market demand for cloud resources. It may really be an indication of the market’s desire for cloud options.
Google Drive Is Really About Entanglement (0) April 26, 2012 The arrival of Google Drive has the IT world comparing and contrasting cloud storage offerings. But Google Drive isn't about cloud data, it's about encouraging user entanglement.
CloudOpen Event Spreads Open-Source Gospel (1) April 25, 2012 The open-source gospel will be read at the inaugural CloudOpen event. Spun on by The Linux Foundation, CloudOpen will exist as a "parallel" conference alongside LinuxCon, in order to best spread the good news of open source.
Avnet Boosts IBM Partners With New Services (0) April 24, 2012 Avnet puts IBM partners on the fast track for deploying automation tools, social networking cloud platforms and new health care management portals, all thanks to the acquisition of Ascendant Technology.
QlikTech Partners Build On Business Intelligence (0) April 23, 2012 QlikTech brings business intelligence to the market with QlikView, uniquely offered through specialized software integration with OEM channel partners.
CA ARCserve Hits Amazon Marketplace (0) April 23, 2012 CA Technologies brings CA ARCserve Backup and D2D solutions to Amazon's Web Services marketplace.
'Managed Services' Has Different Cloud Meaning (1) April 23, 2012 IT vendors and cloud service providers are talking up managed services as their preferred partnership model going forward in the cloud. This may sound like good news to the legions of MSPs in the channel. Trouble is, they’re not talking about that kind of managed services.
SAP Recruiting Partners To Expand Reach (0) April 23, 2012 SAP is focused heavily on expanding its partner program into key areas like mobility and data analytics as it looks to decrease direct sales involvement and expand market reach.
Earnings Quick Look: IBM, Intel and Microsoft (0) April 20, 2012 IBM, Intel and Microsoft post their quarterly earnings. What can we glean from the facts and figures and where are these companies headed?
Microsoft Extending Windows Intune’s Tentacles (0) April 20, 2012 At this week’s Microsoft Management Summit, the software company announced the next version of Windows Intune will include mobile device management capabilities including support for rival Android and Apple tablets and smartphones. Is this surrender or strategic genius?
The 21st Century Malware Malady (1) April 20, 2012 The ever-evolving threats of the 21st century require us to change the way we look at security. The channel has the potential to keep the entire world on lock down.
Amazon Doubles Down In The Cloud With APN (0) April 20, 2012 Amazon's new Partner Network Beta and Amazon Web Services Marketplace puts Amazon in the position to reach into the cloud marketplace using a two-pronged attack, both direct and with partners.
Cisco Exploring Brokering Intra-Channel Teams (0) April 19, 2012 Cloud service providers are looking to extend their sales reach through resellers. The problem: Resellers have trust issues. Cisco, the common party between the two sides, is looking to play the role of peacemaker by brokering trusted relationships.
CA Brings All Partners under Unified Program (0) April 18, 2012 CA Technologies, a vendor undergoing a channel renaissance through its expanding cloud portfolio, is bringing its diverse network of partners under a single global program to better distribute development resources and ensure consistency in channel operations.
TCI Building Network to Complement Porfolio (0) April 17, 2012 Technology Capital Investors is augmenting its portfolio of managed services and integrators with a network of complementary service providers across the country. The collaborative partner network could form a farm league of potential acquisitions for the private equity firm.
Is A Condensed Cloud the End of Backup? (0) April 17, 2012 Storage and backup has become so incredibly ubiquitous, it may be time to ask a particularly prickly question: has the expansion of backup solutions reached a critical mass? It's not unlikely that a massive resizing of available solutions may happen in the very near future.
DataMotion Launches Compliance-Ready PaaS (0) April 16, 2012 DataMotion's new PaaS offering brings pay-as-you-go compliance to a wide range of data center systems. Will compliance needs soon become de facto check-box features?
Citrix Acquisition Of Podio Signals SaaS Shift (0) April 16, 2012 Citrix's acquisition of Podio may signal a larger shift in the SaaS productivity world. Will the SaaS market start competing on levels of integration and differentiation?
The OpenStack Foundation Is Formed (0) April 13, 2012 The OpenStack Foundation is formed as major industry vendors sign on to help spur the adoption and development of one of the major open-source cloud infrastructure platforms.
VCE, vBlock Future in Question (11) April 13, 2012 EMC and its manufacturing partners made a big deal of the launch of VSPEX, the new virtualization reference framework that allows for customized deployments. The launch does have many forecasting the future of not just vBlock, but the VCE joint venture designed to support the virtualized data center in a box.
Gartner: iPad Still King in 2016 (0) April 13, 2012 A recent Gartner projection places Apple's iPad as the leading tablet well into 2016. But what does that say about other tablet contenders?
EMC Intends VSPEX for Data Center Flexibility (1) April 12, 2012 Unlike its existing vBlock fixed virtualization solutions, EMC says VSPEX – designed and delivered entirely by the channel – will give partners and customers the option of building virtualization solutions that meet their specific infrastructure and optional needs.
Synnex Pads CLOUDSolv With SoftLayer (0) April 12, 2012 Synnex and SoftLayer team up to bring SoftLayer's instant-on cloud technology for VARs looking to provision their own clouds, without investing in the infrastructure.
Microsoft Realigns Cloud Certifications (0) April 11, 2012 Microsoft launches three new of cloud certifications designed to focus on "real-world" solutions for the cloud. Microsoft believes they can spur smarter and more advanced cloud adoption.
Cisco, NetApp Expand FlexPod to Midmarket (0) April 11, 2012 Cisco and NetApp are making their storage and data center FlexPod virtualization solutions available to companies with 100 to 500 users. The move comes on the eve of EMC’s expansion of its virtualization framework, signally increased competition on all levels in the data center.
IBM Introduces PureSystems Family (0) April 11, 2012 IBM launches the PureSystems Family, converging virtualization, cloud services, storage and networking into one unit. IBM's Mark Hennessy discusses the new systems and channel implications.
1/3 of IT Budgets Spent on Cloud Computing (0) April 11, 2012 A new IDG report finds businesses are spending one-third of their IT budgets on cloud computing, mostly in storage and private cloud solutions. While cloud adoption is accelerating, solution providers still report trouble finding their way to the clouds.
HP Offers Converged Cloud For Enterprise (0) April 11, 2012 HP launches a huge conglomerated portfolio of managed cloud services dubbed HP Converged Cloud. It's aimed specifically at growing enterprise businesses, but will the channel come out and play?
Google's Cloud Empire Could Unite Everything (0) April 10, 2012 Could a hypothetical Google Unified reshape the relationship consumers, channel partners and vendors have with each other? Will cloud service integrators supplant traditional VARs and MSPs?
Open Data Center Alliance Simplifies the Cloud (0) April 9, 2012 The Open Data Center Alliance offers guidelines and tools for the long-term development of cloud technology, focusing on security, scalability, identity management and more. But can the ODCA pull it off?
CA Brings Backup to Ingram Micro Cloud (0) April 6, 2012 CA Technologies brings MSP licensing models and ARCserve D2D On Demand to the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace. Will distribution companies become arbiters of all cloud services?
Google Taps MSPexcellence for Enablement (0) April 5, 2012 Google Apps partners with MSPexcellence for the Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP) program, designed to help Google Apps resellers and MSPs become CPSs, with Google Apps driving the heart of business revenue.
A Word about M&A in the Channel (1) April 5, 2012 Nary a day goes by when a headline doesn’t pop up of some solution provider buying a peer or a vendor buying another vendor – and there’s no signs of the deals abating. Since the beginning of the year, more than $10 billion has been spent on M&A activity. But not all M&A deals are the same, and their implications for the channel are vastly different.
Google Drive to Disrupt Box.net, Dropbox (2) April 5, 2012 With the advent of Google Drive around the corner, what will happen to the paradigm of the cloud-based data world if Google undercuts the entire cloud storage market with free solutions?
Cisco, EMC Double-Down on Cloud Education (0) April 4, 2012 Cisco and EMC team up to educate the IT world about building out the cloud. Can individual training help spur continued cloud growth?
Citrix CloudStack Floats Into Apache Territory (0) April 4, 2012 Citrix looks to bring CloudStack to the Apache Software Foundation, making it a certified and open-source platform. Can CloudStack gain the same level of success and momentum as Hadoop before it?
6fusion Continues To Fuse Cloud With Channel (0) April 3, 2012 6fusion looks to capture a larger segment of the enterprise with a new VAR-centric cloud program, in addition to a new MSP program designed to streamline MSP implementation of public and hybrid IaaS services.
N-able N-sists N-central 8.2 Is Best Yet (0) April 3, 2012 N-Able launches N-central 8.2, promising simple and enhanced functionality, plus new backup and remote management capabilities. N-able is calling 8.2 a "partner-lead" release, but does it deliver?
Best Buy’s Geek Squad Evolving into Integrator (2) April 3, 2012 Revel Systems is leaning on Best Buy’s Geek Squad to install its mobile point-of-sales systems in restaurants across the U.S. The partnership, along with Geek Squad’s new channel program, shows how the services arm is evolving into an integrator and contract services company. It’s another clue as to where Best Buy is going, too.
OS33 Looks to Unify Cloud Management (0) April 3, 2012 OS33 introduces a new "Webtop" unified portal for the consumption, reporting and billing of multi-vendor cloud solutions, making it easier for MSPs to manage their customers' resources while handling the onslaught of SaaS.
Dell+Wyse Focus on End-To-End Solutions (0) April 2, 2012 Dell acquires Wyse as it looks to capture the growing demand for thin clients and cloud computing, but can Dell's desire for end-to-end infrastructure solutions capture the real cloud opportunity?
3 Meetings Too Long to Explain Cloud (1) April 2, 2012 Cloud computing is everywhere. Unfortunately, the marketing and hype isn’t translating to understanding in the market. New research shows it takes service providers three meetings to explain cloud computing to customers – a process that takes weeks and delays sales.
Dell Buying Thin-Client Vendor Wyse Technology (0) April 2, 2012 Dell will announce later this morning its intent to buy Wyse Technology, a leader in thin-client software and hardware solutions. The deal is another in a string of strategic acquisitions transforming Dell into an enterprise portfolio IT supplier.
Cloud Gaining Ground In SMB: Study (0) March 30, 2012 A Microsoft study indicates cloud business will continue to gain traction in SMBs over the next five years, suggesting channel partners and cloud providers could have opportunities to expand their practice into lower market segments.
CenturyLink Consolidates Channel Programs (0) March 30, 2012 Telecom provider CenturyLink is reshaping its channel programs for growth and a better reflection of operational reorganization just shy of the one-year mark of its acquisitions of Qwest Communications and Savvis.
Red Hat Revenue Soars With Cloud Push (0) March 29, 2012 Red Hat is reaping the benefits of record sales revenues for its fourth quarter and full fiscal year, driven in part by rising demand for cloud and open-source architectures.
Dell Unveils New Cloud Certification (0) March 29, 2012 Dell is giving its service providers the opportunity to expand their own practices and leverage customer trust with its new Cloud Services and Solutions Certification, which enables partners to combine their services with Dell's technology.
10 Surprising Cloud Channel Stats (1) March 29, 2012 The Cloud & Technology Transformation Alliance’s annual State of the Channel Cloud report has some startling data about the rate of cloud adoption among solution providers and where the channel is going next. Here are 10 surprising cloud channel stats from this research.
Box Launch Addresses Mobile Collaboration (0) March 28, 2012 Box's OneCloud launch could give channel partners a way to enhance their mobile management portfolio with a slew of iOS apps dedicated to secure cloud collaboration on the iPhone and iPad.
Cloud Channel Poised for Rapid Expansion (1) March 28, 2012 The Cloud & Technology Transformation Alliance (CTTA) released the results of its second annual State of the Cloud Channel study, finding that IT solution providers and telephony agents continue to slowly build cloud computing practices and are poised for rapid growth over the next 12 months.
Study: Telecom-Channel Partnerships Profitable (0) March 27, 2012 The telecom world is increasingly relying on channel partnerships to stay competitive, acquire new customers and create new revenue streams, driven in part by the emergence of cloud computing and a greater demand for services.
HotLink Recruiting Virtualization VARs (0) March 22, 2012 Seven months after its official launch, virtual platform provider HotLink is looking to recruit channel partners with a new program featuring incentives and training for VARs that can deliver tiered virtualization solutions to VMware customers.
Zenith Infotech Begins Selling Telepresence (0) March 21, 2012 Zenith Infotech has said it shed its managed services business to focus on cloud and backup services. However, it’s quietly started selling the video conferencing and telepresence products of its sister company, Vu Technologies. The cross-selling comes as the company is fighting to stave off liquidation in an India court battle.
Riverbed Floats More Resources to Partners (0) March 20, 2012 Riverbed Technology is optimizing its channel program by focusing on specialties around its core products, more partner enablement resources and a holistic view of the market. What it’s aiming at is a $10 billion opportunity that's contingent on satisfying business value.
Office 365 Price Cuts a Cloud Harbinger (0) March 19, 2012 Solution providers reacted with surprise last week when Microsoft lowered the price of Office 365 by 20 percent as a means to lure more businesses to the cloud-based application suite. The initial price cut isn’t as bad as what it signifies for the future cloud in the channel.
CA, ScaleMatrix Team Up on Backup (0) March 19, 2012 Just about a month after introducing its first channel partner program, cloud hosting provider ScaleMatrix has signed a deal with CA Technologies aimed at expanding backup offerings for service providers.
Axcient Accentuates Image to Reflect Ambition (0) March 16, 2012 Axcient, a backup and recovery service provider, is a small, young company with high ambitious. It just completed a 10-city roadshow with Hewlett-Packard, attracting hundreds of would-be partners across the country. But a more significant sign of its ambition is a big billboard on a California highway. It’s a sign of where Axcient is going.
M5 Adds Biz Intelligence to Hosted VoIP (0) March 16, 2012 Hosted unified communications provider M5 Networks is partnering with InsightSquared to deliver a new SMB-focused analytics solution aimed at making it easier for partners to manage and utilize data. It’s another notch in a growing solutions and partner portfolio for M5.
Panda Security on Partner Recruitment Drive (0) March 15, 2012 Panda Security is touting “simplicity, power and control” tools, as well as new partnerships with the likes of Microsoft, to attract channel partners as it builds market momentum in a competitive year for security software dollars.
Channel Cloud Development, Maturation Lagging (0) March 14, 2012 Cloud computing in the channel is lagging behind the greater IT market. While IT vendors and enterprises continue to develop new cloud products and services at a blistering pace, solution providers and telephony agents are slow to pick up on cloud opportunities.
HP Building Mega Cloud Service to Rival Amazon (0) March 12, 2012 Hewlett-Packard will launch a new cloud service that melds the qualities of platform-, infrastructure- and software-as-a-service into a single offering to rival market-leader Amazon Web Services and lock out would-be contenders IBM and Oracle.
iPad HD Bad News for Business Networks (0) March 9, 2012 The big selling point of the new Apple iPad is its high-resolution screen. The bandwidth required to support its video and display improvements could crush many corporate network’s bandwidth. That’s the downside. The upside: Businesses need to upgrade their networks anyway.
Siemens Offers OpenScape UC as a Service (0) March 9, 2012 In a deal with Ingram Micro Services, Siemens Communications will start offering its OpenScape unified communications platform as a service to be resold through the channel. The service offering aims to tap into the growing demand for hosted VoIP, communications and collaboration services.
iPad’s Origins Weren’t With Apple (1) March 8, 2012 Apple chief Tim Cook says the new iPad is redefining the tablet category created by the iconic brand. Truth be told, Apple wasn’t the first IT company to field tablet with a touchscreen interface, nor was Apple first with the concept of a wireless tablet. Those honors go to two other companies who had these products and ideas nearly 20 years ago.
SAP Brings Practical Business Apps to the Cloud (0) March 8, 2012 Business software and analytics powerhouse SAP is pushing more practical business applications to the cloud design to increase the productivity of mobile sales and logistics professionals. The new offerings show how business applications are migrating to the cloud.
EarthLink Evolves Cloud Workspace Services (0) March 7, 2012 The addition of independenceIT’s cloud workspace to Earthlink’s IT Services is another nod in favor of the transition away from traditional IT to the cloud. For Earthlink channel partners, the deal means new cloud SMB desktop services.
Sage Pricing Changes Concern Partners (2) March 7, 2012 The ERP and CRM software vendor is changing its licensing scheme to user-based pricing and giving customers the option to pay on a recurring monthly plan. Sage says this will increase partner yields, while solution providers see it eating into their profitability. The conflict is a reflection of the cloud transition challenges facing the channel.
Cloud Sherpas Makes Monster Merger (0) March 6, 2012 The Google premier reseller has nabbed $20 million in fresh funding and is merging with GlobalOne, a Saleforce.com platinum business consulting firm. The new firm will have extended capabilities and global reach in cloud professional and application services. This could be the blueprint for the solution provider of the future.
NetEnrich Focuses on Mid-market Opportunities (0) March 6, 2012 Seeing capacity and capabilities gaps in the mid-market segment of the channel and end-user markets, NetEnrich crafted a new Mission Critical Operations package that provides infrastructure, applications and professional services as a remotely delivered and managed service.
Google Partners Evolve to Carve Cloud Territory (0) March 6, 2012 A variety of strengthened channel partnerships is adding competitive market muscle to the already partner-popular and expanding cloud world of Google Apps. CloudLock is one of the most recent, with expanded features to its cloud-based security software built specifically for Google Apps.
VMware Rounds Up Cloud Security Partners (0) March 5, 2012 VMware continues to expand its arsenal of vendor partnerships. This round focuses on integrated security and compliance solutions aimed at delivering secure infrastructures for the cloud to a variety of solutions providers to help spur adoption.
Diskeeper Resets under Condusiv Brand (0) March 5, 2012 New CEO Jerry Baldwin is changing the name of his company from Diskeeper to Condusiv Technologies, a branding that better reflects the company’s future direction in virtualization optimization and endpoint performance management. It’s a bold move for a company with a rich legacy.
Google Leads Service Providers in Cloud (0) March 2, 2012 In the Cloud & Technology Transformation Alliance’s State of the Cloud Channel report, Google leads the pack of hosting companies, carriers and service providers as best to partner with. Others ranking high in partnership ratings include Rackspace, CenturyLink and AT&T.
Axcient Gears Up for Channel Expansion (0) February 29, 2012 With a revamped partner program and an alliance with Hewlett-Packard, cloud backup specialist Axcient is looking to expand its channel beyond a core managed service provider base and attract larger, more traditional VARs to its ranks.
IBM Partners in a Cloud State of Mind (0) February 29, 2012 IBM has a lot to talk about this week, and much of it relates to Big Blue’s promise of cloud computing. Partnerships with interesting results, more focused partner resources and targeted incentives expand and better organize IBM’s increasingly comprehensive cloud infrastructure.
Study: On-Premise IT Targeted More Than Cloud (0) February 27, 2012 A new study conducted by managed security service provider Alert Logic finds cloud environments attract a fair amount of hacker activity and security threats, but not at the same level or frequency as on-premise environments. The conclusion: Cloud security concerns may be misplaced.
Creditors Want Zenith Infotech to Liquidate (0) February 27, 2012 Bondholders suing Zenith Infotech want the cloud and backup company liquidated to pay off nearly $85 million in defaulted debt payments. The India-based company, with its substantial U.S. partner network, maintains that it wants to renegotiate the debt.
Continuum Hits the Road, Inks Deal with LogMeIn (0) February 24, 2012 Continuum is charting a clearer market path this week via an exclusive deal with LogMeIn, and in-person partner meetings offering introductory trials on existing solutions and a sneak peak at what’s next.
Zscaler Takes Web Security to the Cloud (2) February 22, 2012 Looking to challenge conventional secure Web gateways and Web-filtering vendors, Zscaler unveiled a new channel program built around the delivery of Web content security via the cloud. The intent is making Zscaler and its partner ecosystem the equivalent of Salesforce.com in cloud security providers.
Top 5 Distributors for Cloud Enablement (0) February 21, 2012 Solution providers give Ingram Micro top marks in cloud partnerships among distributors by a wide margin. However, the distribution preference reveals a big gap in distribution cloud cover.
GreenPages Leads CA’s Cloud Partner Pack (0) February 17, 2012 CA’s newest cloud “accelerator” solution holds infrastructure-as-a-service opportunities for solution providers. GreenPages Technology Solutions is CA’s first U.S. partner out of the gate with it.
HP Can Declare ‘Mission Accomplished’ (0) February 16, 2012 Hewlett-Packard figuratively limped into Las Vegas for its Global Partner Conference, still suffering from the hangover of the 2011 management debacle. CEO Meg Whitman, her management team and a raft of new products and channel initiatives have lifted the dark cloud hanging over the vaunted vendor.
Parallels Targets Burgeoning SMB Cloud (0) February 16, 2012 Parallels unleashed a string of new software, services capabilities and technology partnerships this week with the aim of enabling service providers with ammunition to capture a growing $2.4 billion SMB cloud opportunity.
VMware: The Intersection of the Channel (0) February 14, 2012 At the VMware Partner Exchange in Las Vegas, vendors across all technology segments are craning to showcase how their hardware and software support or enhance VMware’s virtualization tools. The goal is acceleration and expansion of channel programs and penetration of existing accounts.
Microsoft Leads Vendors in Cloud Partnership (0) February 14, 2012 In new exclusive research by the Cloud & Technology Transformation Alliance, Microsoft leads the pack of IT vendors when it comes to forming productive partnerships in cloud computing with solution providers.
HP Making Big Moves to Penetrate Clouds (0) February 13, 2012 At its Global Partner Conference, Hewlett-Packard is unveiling a host of new programs and initiatives designed to stimulate cloud product and service adoption. Referral incentives between resellers and service providers is a bold move to accelerate cloud adoption; and it has a real chance of succeeding.
FBI Stands Solid on Cloud Security Standard (1) February 10, 2012 In the wake of the Los Angeles Police Department’s aborted adoption of Google Apps, the FBI has issued a clear clarification on the cloud service security requirements of all law enforcement agencies. The standard will make it hard for solution providers to sell cloud to law enforcement.
Resellers See IDM as Security Woes Solution (2) February 6, 2012 As security breaches and the cost of data compromises reach new highs, solution providers are looking for new technologies to counter security risks. According to a SafeNet survey, that solution may be identity management and authentication.
Xerox Unveils IaaS, Backup SMB Cloud Services (0) February 3, 2012 Move over copiers. Standby printers. Xerox is getting into the SMB cloud in a big way by offering infrastructure and data backup services through channel partners. The new offering is a significant step in the company’s effort to diversify from its document management legacy.
January Channel Sales Explode (0) February 2, 2012 While hard to quantify, reports are streaming into Channelnomics from solution providers experiencing unusually high sales and request for quotes in what’s normally a low period of the year. The sudden surge is a good omen for 2012.
ShoreTel Expands Hosted UC with M5 Deal (1) February 2, 2012 ShoreTel’s acquisition of hosted UC solution provider M5 gives partners a new choice between on-premise or cloud-based solutions. And its expansion to the cloud continues a growth streak that's turning heads in a red-hot hosted VoIP market.
Cloud Heating Up Security Competition (1) January 30, 2012 McAfee is emphatically denying rival Symantec’s claims of winning over several large enterprise customers in the last quarter. The truth is that security vendors and their partners are constantly trading customers in a tit-for-tat competitive game that's only getting more intense as the battleground shifts to the cloud.
6Fusion Exemplifies Benefits for Cloud Metering (0) January 26, 2012 Cost savings and efficiency are qualities commonly attributed to cloud computing. 6Fusion’s new UC6 Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) federation platform demonstrates these benefits are near-impossible without the ability to meter cloud utilization and performance.
Move over MS Word, Cloud Apps are Charging (1) January 25, 2012 Smartsheets, a cloud-based spreadsheet vendor, and IBM with its new Docs word processor are challenging Microsoft in office productivity software. There’s more to these challenges than meets the eye, and the volume of competitive launches to MS Office is signaling a potential sea change in the market.
Avnet Helping VARs Reach the Data Center (0) January 24, 2012 Avnet’s new SolutionsPath Engagement Services is a business planning and execution program designed to augment solution providers’ capabilities and resources in developing, selling and supporting cloud and data center services.
IT Buyers No Longer Looking at Tech in Isolation (0) January 23, 2012 Business analytics is the technology most on the minds of CIOs recently surveyed by Gartner. Along with mobility, cloud and social business, the survey reveals a shift in IT organizations newly focused on combining these forces to change the way a business interacts externally.
Webroot Exiting Email Security, Archiving (8) January 19, 2012 Webroot is getting out of the email security and archiving business, telling partners it will now focus on providing endpoint anti-malware software. The move is jarring to some partners who are coping with the shift in providers and places them in the stream of the already crowded endpoint security market.
Google, Partner Win Another Big State Contract (0) January 18, 2012 Utah is the latest state to adopt cloud-based email and collaboration, and the choice of Google Apps for Government through partner Tempus Nova is a reversal from a string of setbacks suffered by the service. Google and its partners are showing they can compete and win government deals against the likes of Microsoft and IBM.
Report: SaaS Vendors Need Local Partners (4) January 13, 2012 Global Industry Analysts reports businesses are rapidly increasing investments in Web-based applications, and the market will hit $26 billion by 2015. Multinationals are aligning directly with vendors, where SMBs are working with local partners. That means the cloud must go through the channel.
Reach for the Cloud, Get a Kindle Fire (0) January 12, 2012 The Cloud & Technology Transformation Alliance – a project of The 2112 Group and Channel Partners magazine – is looking to gauge the state of cloud computing in the channel. Our research is coming to a close, but there’s still time to take our survey and earn a chance to win a Kindle Fire.
BT, Microsoft Launch Hosted Lync Pilot (0) January 9, 2012 Microsoft’s partnership with British Telecom to offer Lync Voice to BT’s U.S. customers as a hosted cloud service is being view by industry watchers as yet another sign that unified communications, and managed cloud services, are attracting the attention of small to mid-sized businesses.
Acer, Lenovo Launching Cloud Synch Services (1) January 9, 2012 Looking to meet the growing demand for greater access to data from multiple and mobile devices, Acer and Lenovo are launching versions of their own cloud-based file synchronization services. These services are fast becoming as essential to computing devices as hard drives once were.
Oracle Building Channel Empire on HP Talent (0) January 6, 2012 Tom LaRocca is the latest high-profile Hewlett-Packard channel executive to defect to Oracle. It’s a significant loss, but may speak more about Oracle’s long-term market and channel ambitions. The lawsuits should start any minute.
Channelnomics 2011 Influencers Awards: Part 3 (1) January 5, 2012 The influencer awards continue to roll out with winners today in Systems, Security, Managed Services and Cloud Computing. Winners in these categories are doing more than just influencing the channel, but the industry as a whole, making this installment significant in the march to the unveiling of the Influencer of the Year.
Channelnomics 2011 Influencers Awards: Part 2 (9) January 4, 2012 Channelnomics continues conferring its inaugural 2011 Influencers of the Year awards by unveiling winners in four categories: Distribution, Europe, Voice/Data Networking and Channel Business.
MSP M&A Surge Driven by Taxes, Not Market (1) January 4, 2012 Several managed services mergers and acquisitions have heralded in the new year, perhaps signaling a surge in deals and buyouts. The reality is these deals were signed in December and are part of an annual rite of cashing out and buying up before the end of the tax year.
GoDaddy, SOPA and the Cloud Portability Need (1) December 27, 2011 The domain registrar withdrew support for the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), but not before thousands of accounts canceled. Customers say GoDaddy is making it hard for them to change providers. The episode is an example of the need and value of portability in cloud computing.
How Does the Cloud Impact the Channel? (1) December 21, 2011 The Cloud & Technology Transformation Alliance wants to know how the cloud is changing the channel and solution provider business models. Our first “State of the Cloud Channel” study will reveal cloud adoption trends, impact on business models and revenue expectations.
2112, Channel Partners Expand Cloud Program (1) December 20, 2011 The newly rebranded Cloud & Technology Transformation Alliance will study the evolution of cloud computing, mobility and other emerging technologies in the channel to provide strategic guidance on developing sound, profitable business partnerships and practices.
FishNet Buys IDM Specialist Logic Trends (0) December 20, 2011 Leading security integrator FishNet Security is buying into the identity management market in a big way through the acquisition of Logic Trends. The combined company will extend FishNet’s security product and services capabilities and propel it past the $500 million mark.
Google’s LA Story: A Folly for Cloud Computing (0) December 19, 2011 The city of Los Angeles is getting a bargain in its adoption of Google Apps, after Google and CSC agreed to reduce rates and pay for legacy systems to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The experience shows the need for due diligence in cloud adoption and how compliance can derail even the best-intended systems.
In 2012: Cloud No Longer Optional for Software (0) December 16, 2011 Progress Software is forecasting demand for business process improvement next year via “cloud, collaboration and control.” Digging a little deeper, the enterprise software provider singles out hosting, integration, efficiency, collaboration, mobility and security as solutions expected to be most in demand as cloud-based organizational adoption shifts from trial runs to deployment.
New Cloud Cert Reflects Growing Need (1) December 14, 2011 CompTIA has launched new certification to test and credential IT professionals' cloud computing awareness of business and technical issues. The certification reflects the growing need for cloud-savvy practitioners at solution providers and end-user organizations.
Cisco Enters Managed Services with OnPlus (0) December 13, 2011 Cisco calls its OnPlus an enhancing program that gives managed services a greater ability to manage network infrastructure. The reality is that OnPlus is Cisco’s foray into the remote monitoring and management segment, potentially competing against longtime alliance partners.
Zenith RMM No More; Now ‘Continuum’ (0) December 12, 2011 The managed services company formerly known as Zenith RMM is doing more than establishing an identity fully separate from its t, Zenith Infotech; it’s also going into competition with its former parent through a partnership with Datto.
Survey: Businesses Need Better Staff Controls (1) December 12, 2011 A survey of a surprisingly candid group of 300 IT professionals reveals an urgent enterprise need for solutions providers to help manage IT folks who can’t seem to control their curiosity.
Intermedia Milestone Reflects Cloud Migration (0) December 9, 2011 Weather service Earth Networks opened the 400,000th email account through Intermedia, the world’s largest Microsoft Exchange hosting provider. The continued growth of this partner- and cloud-enabler reflects the continued migration from on-premise to cloud email, as well as the value of add-on services.
CA Goes Consumption-Based Pricing for Backup (1) December 8, 2011 Looking to tap into the growing demand for data backup delivered by managed service providers, CA Technologies has launched a capacity-based pricing system that makes adoption by providers more economical. The general “pay-as-you-go” trend reflects true partnership in the services era.
Google Piloting Chromebooks Channel Sales (0) December 7, 2011 Nearly six months after launching Chromebook through retail channels, Google business partners are getting a crack as selling the subscription-based devices through a pilot program. Already some solution providers are touting their ability to integrate Chromebooks with existing infrastructure.
Creditors: Zenith Infotech Avoiding Bond Payment (1) December 7, 2011 Legal arguments are underway in India over Zenith Infotech’s default on a $33 million bond payment. In court this week, creditors charged the cloud and backup vendor is purposely avoiding paying its debts, and alleged fraud in its handling of proceeds from the sale of its managed services division.
Gartner’s IT Predictions Hold Channel Promise (1) December 2, 2011 It’s December, so it’s time for the prognosticators at Gartner to publish their annual list of things-to-come in IT. This year’s forecast is heavy in predictions for cloud computing, mobility, security and managed services. While some of the list may seem daunting, it’s full of great possibilities for the channel.
Level Platforms Release Reflects RMM Evolution (3) December 2, 2011 Level Platforms earlier this week announced the release of Managed Workplace 2011 R3, which includes new features for managing printers and power management systems. Much has been made of the managed print options, but is the real story the evolution of RMM to business control panels?
Retainer vs. Subscription: How to Charge? (4) December 1, 2011 In managed and cloud services, providers charge customers recurring fees in exchange for ongoing service delivery. Some companies call it a subscription. Some think this should be called a retainer to reflect the professional nature of the service. Which is best?
An End to Email as We Know It (1) December 1, 2011 Alternative tools such as social media, instant messaging and Web collaboration are putting pressure on email. The day may come when business email is a thing of the past. One big tech company has already implemented a "zero email" policy.
Salesforce: Shared Risk, Trust are Cloud Drivers (1) November 30, 2011 Salesforce.com is pushing more cloud services, development resources and mobile applications through the channel. Its model is one in which trust is paramount and shared risk is the path to profitability.
RIM Offers to Manage iOS, Android Devices (0) November 29, 2011 Research in Motion, the company behind BlackBerry, is expected to launch its Mobile Fusion platform that will extend management to iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. The new product is designed to stem customer defections. It’s also a sign of the increasing need for broad mobile device management.
Zenith Infotech Posts Loss, Revealing Earnings (0) November 22, 2011 Besieged Zenith Infotech posted its first quarterly earnings report since defaulting on its huge bond payment in September. The report reveals more than just a quarterly loss, but some of the reason behind its financial troubles and, perhaps, what it earned from the sale of its managed services business.
Nimsoft: MSPs Morphing from Chore to Core (0) November 18, 2011 Cloud computing is disrupting staid IT operations and changing customer expectations for the delivery of greater value. Nimsoft CEO Chris O’Malley believes the future of managed services isn’t in ‘chore’ break/fix services, but rather ‘core’ services that deliver greater business functionality and benefits.
IBM, CA on a Cloud Collision Course (0) November 16, 2011 The major vendors are reaching for the clouds, but perhaps no two are on a more spectacular collision course than IBM and CA Technologies. And where this clash of the titans will happen is most likely in the channel as each vies for the same type of partners to take their offerings to market.
CA Evolving IDM to Managed Services (1) November 15, 2011 CA Technologies unveiled two new cloud-based identity management products that will allow enterprises to better manage access hosted and on-premise resources. Eventually, these products will be made available to managed service providers, potentially breaking the enterprise IDM barrier.
Zenith Infotech Won’t Sell More Assets (0) November 15, 2011 At a court hearing yesterday, Zenith Infotech pledges not to sell its cloud computing or other assets while it appeals an order to disclose details of the sale of its managed services business.
CA CEO: Now's the Time to Change the Rules (0) November 14, 2011 CA Technologies kicked off its annual CA World conference in Las Vegas with CEO Bill McCracken setting the tone of increasing speed to market and enabling faster business transformation in the cloud computing era.
Former U.S. CIO: Cloud Will Disrupt Pro Services (0) November 14, 2011 Speaking at CA World, Vivek Kundra told the audience of 5,000 solution providers and end users that the cloud will be so disruptive to the procurement and delivery of technology that it will erode professional services opportunities.
Zenith Infotech Appeals Disclosure Order (0) November 11, 2011 Reports out of India indicate Summit Partners is willing to disclose the terms of its acquisition that lead to the formation of Zenith RMM. However, Zenith Infotech is appealing a court order to disclose the sale of its managed services assets, hoping to keep the details confidential as it tries restructuring its debt.
The Gravity of ConnectWise IT Nation (2) November 9, 2011 A sold-out crowd is gathered in Florida for the seventh annual ConnectWise IT Nation. What started out as a user group event has evolved into a center of gravity in the channel and managed services community, as evidenced by the number of attendees and significant announcements.
CharTec Supports Backup to Legacy Boxes (1) November 9, 2011 End users have invested money in legacy backup and disaster recovery servers that they don’t want to sacrifice even when presented with a cost-saving service. CharTec is providing a solution for those customers by decoupling its BDR software while still selling it as a service.
Bradford Networks Introduces Cloud-Based NAC (0) November 7, 2011 Bradford Networks may not be a household name in the channel, but it’s planning to make its presence known with a new cloud-based network access control (NAC) solution that makes the administration of what attaches to the network simpler and cost effective. And the route to market: managed service providers.
GM Hits the Road with Google Apps (0) November 4, 2011 General Motors isn’t confirming, but reports indicate the automotive giant is getting ready to ditch Microsoft in favor of Google Apps for email and collaboration for 100,000 of its users. If the reports prove true, the GM deal will be a huge win for Google and cloud computing.
File Synch Services Open New Opportunities (1) November 3, 2011 Backup is good for preserving and restoring data, but it’s not much of a mechanism for sharing files between devices and users. A growing number of file synchronization services including Dropbox, Box.net and YouSendIt are looking to the channel to grow their subscriber base and break out of their consumer roots.
Zenith RMM Chief: We’re Moving On (3) November 3, 2011 Zenith Infotech remains embroiled in a debt and legal crisis, but its spinoff company – Zenith RMM – sees its involvement in the controversy coming to an end now that India courts have ordered the disclosure of its acquisition.
Microsoft: Cloud for Gold Mandate Overstated (0) November 3, 2011 Microsoft says statements made by channel leaders about requiring partners to sell cloud services to maintain their gold status were misinterpreted and overstated. However, the software giant says cloud requirements may happen in time.
IBM Looks to Redefine ‘Managed Services’ (0) November 2, 2011 Big Blue is finding traction in the midmarket through “next-generation business partners” who not only deliver conventional managed services but also application and business services. Midmarket general manager Andy Monshaw believes it’s the next stage in channel evolution.
Axcient Brings Cloud Backup to SMB Channel (0) November 1, 2011 Axcient is addressing the data backup and business continuity needs of small and midsized businesses while creating another managed services opportunity for solution providers with its new Cloud Continuity offering.
Oracle, RightNow Deal about Cloud Options (0) October 25, 2011 Oracle is making its first cloud acquisition with RightNow Technologies for $1.5 billion. The software-as-a-service company gives Oracle a competitive weapon against rival Salesforce.com, but this deal is more about choice and options than the transition to cloud computing.
Managed Services Pricing Under Pressure (0) October 20, 2011 Managed service providers and the vendors that support them are seeing explosive growth opportunities over the next few years as more businesses look to outsource more IT functions. The problem is customers are pushing back on pricing, defying classic supply-side economics. Here’s why.
Zenith RMM Insulates Self from Zenith Infotech (1) October 19, 2011 Zenith Infotech remains silent on its bond default, but its spinoff company Zenith RMM is moving to distance itself from the distressed managed services vendor by developing alternative cloud offerings for partners and rebranding the company. Another Zenith company reports no problems or questions about its standing.
Intel Explains to Partners Why It Bought McAfee (0) October 18, 2011 Renee James, senior vice president of Intel’s Software and Solutions Group, told partners attending the Focus conference in Las Vegas that the processor giant has no plans to assimilate, disrupt or change McAfee’s operations and channel. Instead, the two companies will collaborate on transforming security for the future.
Symantec Opens Managed Security to Partners (0) October 13, 2011 Through a new specialization program, Symantec is enabling its partners to resell its managed security services. The specialization and referral program is a step toward greater enablement of channel-driven managed services.
Cisco, Citrix Enhance VDI Experience (1) October 12, 2011 Cisco has long said video would drive future networking and data center technology adoption. The barrier is bandwidth, so it’s partnering with Citrix to leverage virtualization in making unified communications and video less bandwidth-intensive in virtual desktop implementations.
IBM Wants Partners to Get Cloud Smart (0) October 12, 2011 Big Blue has unveiled an arsenal of products, services and support programs designed to bring independent software vendors, integrators and resellers into the cloud era. It’s almost too much to digest. The “SmartCloud” could be a reflection of slow adoption rather than high channel demand.
Box.net Closes $81 Million for Development (1) October 11, 2011 The file-sharing and storage company closed a long-anticipated venture funding round with more than double the cash it initially announced in August. Now it has the fuel to build out the business, potentially with channel partners. But is there hockey-stick growth in this service segment?
OS33 Bridges Clouds for Unified File Systems (0) October 11, 2011 The cloud-enablement platform that’s making it easier for managed service providers to deliver cloud-based services is now bridging the gap between cloud storage providers. Its new Cloud Drive enables MSPs and end users to provision, manage and access data hosted by different storage providers.
The McDonald's Rule of Cloud Computing (0) October 10, 2011 Everyone is talking about cloud computing as the wave of the future. The reality, though, is few end users are buying cloud services. The channel needs these offerings to give customers the option; just like McDonald’s offers salads but still sells mostly fries.
Cloud Paradox: Margins and Compensation (2) October 6, 2011 Cloud computing promises sustained profitability, but building a business around the cloud is proving challenging to channel partners. Two issues they struggle with: margins and compensation. The Cloud Convergence Council’s new report details how channel partners feel about margins and compensation, and offers some solutions to overcome these challenges.
Equus, Symform Team Up for Flat-Rate Backup (0) October 4, 2011 Equus MSP Solutions is teaming up with cloud storage service provider Symform and backup software vendor StorageCraft to create a new hardware-as-a-service storage offering with unlimited capacity for a flat monthly rate.
Zenith Infotech Spins Off RMM Division (0) September 28, 2011 Zenith InfoTech, a pioneer in remote backup and hosted managed services, is spinning off its remote monitoring and management products into a separate company called Zenith RMM. The new company will focus on continued development of RMM tools and work closely with its sister company in enabling channel partners.
Security Services Growth Continues Unabated (0) September 28, 2011 Ceaseless threats, increased risk with mobility and the migration to the cloud are driving businesses on all levels to adopt security services to augment or replace their data protection, according to a new market forecast. For the channel, it’s not necessarily good news, especially as one profitable segment of security services is expected to tumble.
Google Drops Lawsuit for Government Cloud (0) September 27, 2011 Google and its reseller partner have formally ended their legal quest to undo the Microsoft-only cloud email contract awarded by the Department of the Interior. The lawsuit may signal a shift in the battle for the federal cloud.
Cloud Salaries Rich for Those Who Get Paid (0) September 26, 2011 Selling cloud computing comes with a certain safety net, as the average salary is above or in line with average sales professional salaries. What’s surprising is the number of solution providers who offer no base salary to their cloud salespeople.
IBM Marries Smart Commerce, Cloud Services (0) September 21, 2011 Big Blue has long been a proponent of enabling holistic customer experiences. IBM is launching a new cloud program to make it easier for partners to deliver cloud services in support of commerce activities. It’s also a means for getting partners to standardize on IBM cloud tools.
Cloud Service Depot Becoming Cloud's Center (0) September 20, 2011 Cloud Services Depot, the regional aggregator of cloud services for resale by channel partners, is fast transforming itself into an enabler of cloud and hosted services through its ability to integrate service providers with solution providers' existing management tools. The latest example: supporting 6Fusion.
Ingram Launches Transformation Alliance (0) September 19, 2011 Ingram Micro’s European division spearheaded the development of the Channel Transformation Alliance, a program designed to bring vendors together to develop materials, training and support for solution providers entering the cloud marketplace. If successful, the program could go global.
Cloud Email: A Two-Horse Race? (1) September 19, 2011 Email is one of the more pervasive service offerings in cloud computing that’s dominated by a handful of suppliers. A new Gartner report suggests cloud email is actually a race between Google and Microsoft, with all others – including IBM and VMware – falling by the wayside.
Cloud Leads to Deeper Customer Engagements (0) September 15, 2011 A new report by AMI-Partners finds solution providers who adopt cloud services quickly expand their footprint within customer organizations with additional services. Sound familiar? It should. It’s the same trajectory as managed services.
TCI Pursues Channel Investment Strategy (0) September 12, 2011 Technology Capital Investors acquired a stake in Bravura Networks, adding another managed service provider to its portfolio of channel companies. It’s part of an overarching strategy to develop regional IT companies, and possibly a template for accelerating channel growth.
IBM Offers SMBs $1 Billion in IT Financing (0) September 8, 2011 Big Blue unveiled an ambitious and large $1 billion financing pool to help small and midsized businesses adopt advanced technologies such as analytics and cloud services. It’s yet another IBM push beyond enterprise. Will this time be different?
Clarification on Google Web Security (0) September 7, 2011 While Google is shutting down its Web Security service, its Postini services continue unaffected. Here’s the update.
Cloud is No Channel Bonanza, Yet (6) September 7, 2011 Conflicting surveys by CompTIA and the Cloud Convergence Council find wide ranges of cloud value and revenue performance among solution providers. The reality is that the cloud is transforming the way the channel delivers IT services, but it’s not the revenue gold mine producing vast fortunes at wildly accelerated rates.
Google’s Federal Cloud Protest Moves Forward (0) September 2, 2011 A federal court is expected to issue a ruling next week ordering the Department of the Interior to hire an independent expert to determine if Google Apps meets the government’s cloud security requirements. The decision is a blow to Microsoft’s dominance in the federal IT market.
VMworld: Ground Zero for ‘Cloud’ Backlash (0) August 29, 2011 The virtualization faithful are gathering in Las Vegas this week, and scores of tech companies are using the event as an opportunity to talk about their latest offerings, partner strategies and services offerings. The word everyone may try to avoid: “Cloud.”
NetEnrich Enables SMB Cloud Services (0) August 29, 2011 The cloud services provider to the channel launches a new program design to make it easier for solution providers to adopt and manage hosted infrastructure on behalf of their SMB customers.
Cisco Gets Small with New WebEx Offering (1) August 23, 2011 Cisco is pushing a lightweight version of its online collaboration platform that targets small businesses. The catch: It’s a direct sale only.
Box.net Raises $35m for Expansion (0) August 18, 2011 The content and collaboration cloud service takes in another $35 million to fuel its growth, including the development of new alliance and channel partners. The investment reflects increasing opportunity in cloud-based file sharing and data synchronization.
Google-Moto: A Catalyst for Convergence (0) August 16, 2011 Google is gambling on Motorola Mobility giving it the ability to create holistic mobile solutions and patents to fend off rivals. Google may be building a bridge between the IT and telephony channels to create a new converged world.
Value of Managed Services Lost on SMBs (1) August 16, 2011 Managed services has the power of reducing the cost and labor burden of IT on business operations. But a new study reveals many managed service providers continue to struggle in conveying the value of their offerings to small and midsized businesses. The saving grace: cloud computing, perhaps.
Shocker: Google Buys Motorola Mobility (1) August 15, 2011 The search giant is making a big bet on mobility by paying $12.5 billion for handset maker Motorola Mobility. The deal has the potential of reshaping the mobile market.
Stephen Colbert Explains ‘The Cloud’ (0) August 12, 2011 In his unique way, comedian Stephen Colbert aptly explains what cloud computing is, as well as some of its pitfalls. This should be required viewing.
Looming Cloud Storage Price Wars (5) August 11, 2011 Barracuda Networks recently doubled the capacity of its backup storage service while keeping prices steady. Other cloud storage services are wrestling with what customers are willing to pay and the cost of operations. Will this add up to a cloud storage price war?
Ingram Expands Services with Security, RMM (0) August 8, 2011 The Ingram Micro Services Division is bolstering its portfolio with new cloud security and remote monitoring and management tools from Symantec, Trend Micro and N-Able. The expansion reflects a larger trend of solution providers wanting more services support from distributors.
More Than One Cloud for Making Money (0) August 8, 2011 Everyone talks about ‘the cloud’ as if it rains cash from a single source. In the cloud computing era, there’s more than one way to make money in cloud services and more than one cloud to sell.
Symform Launches Freemium Cloud Storage (1) July 27, 2011 The cloud storage vendor is looking to disrupt the market with a 100-gigabyte freemium offering to partners and customers. The intent is to show price disparities and reveal channel opportunities in this service.
Ecosystem Developing Around Google Apps (1) July 27, 2011 Defining the size of the Google Apps market is exceedingly difficult. But the growing number of Google Apps specialists and add-on resources is a strong indicator that the online productivity suite is increasingly becoming a significant platform.
Report: RMM Users are More Profitable (2) July 27, 2011 Managed service advocates tout their model as being more profitable than conventional break/fix VARs. A new report by The 2112 Group and Corelytics finds that users of remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools are more profitable than their non-user counterparts. And the RMM benefits aren’t exclusive to managed service providers.
Cloud Security Starts at the Endpoint (0) July 26, 2011 Security concerns remain the chief obstacle in cloud adoption. End users don’t trust the security of cloud providers, but that shouldn’t be their only concern. Perhaps cloud security starts with the end user and their ubiquitous endpoints.
Buy Google Apps, Get a Tablet Free (2) July 22, 2011 Excel Micro, a Google Apps integrator, is enticing new customers to adopt the search engine giant’s business-class service with add-on security features and productivity customizations. The added incentive is a free tablet. The catch: It’s not an iPad2.
Channel Struggles with Cloud Commissions (1) July 20, 2011 The preliminary results of a new study by the Cloud Convergence Council found more than half the channel wrestles with making cloud compensations worthwhile for salespeople.
LifeSize Launches Cloud Video Conferencing (4) July 20, 2011 LifeSize, a division of Logitech, is acquiring new assets and launching cloud-based infrastructure to expand the availability and make high-definition video conferencing more affordable. But will help make video conferencing more relevant to businesses?
Microsoft is Right on Cloud Billing (1) July 18, 2011 Partners have long complained about Microsoft not allowing them to bill independently for cloud services. Microsoft is actually doing the channel a service by providing stability and consistency in cloud pricing. Here’s why solution providers should embrace Microsoft’s cloud billing policies.
Chromebooks Sell Well, But Not to Businesses (1) July 18, 2011 Early indications are the Google Chromebooks produced by Acer and Samsung are selling well enough to stave off the “flop” label. But all sales are flowing through retail. Just when Chromebooks are coming to the channel for business sales is anyone’s guess, including Google’s manufacturing partners.
8 Things to Watch for at Microsoft WPC (0) July 11, 2011 Microsoft opens its annual Worldwide Partner Conference in Los Angeles, where as many as 15,000 solution providers will gather to hear about products and strategy. Channelnomics is monitoring the confab and has eight things it’s looking forward to hearing about.
webOS and the Future of Mobility (0) July 8, 2011 Hewlett-Packard isn’t shrugging off bad reviews of its TouchPad tablet and underlying operating system. Instead, it’s using those reviews to improve its products – and that shows HP’s ambitions to be an operating system company and the true future of computing.
Microsoft Willing to Pay for Office 365 Users (0) July 6, 2011 Microsoft is pinning much of its cloud hopes on Office 365 – the Web-based alternative of its multibillion-dollar productivity software suite. A new report reveals Microsoft is willing to pay customers to choose Office 365 over rival Google Apps. And there’s good news for partners in this program.
Dimension Data Extends Cloud Capabilities with OpSource Buy (0) July 1, 2011 Dimension Data, the global systems integrator owned by NTT Communications, bought OpSource for an undisclosed sum. Some analysts say it's part of the cloud consolidation trend. In reality, the deal is more about extending capabilities and value propositions.
Box.net Channelizes Cloud Collaboration (0) June 29, 2011 The cloud-based content and collaboration services company launched a new channel program enabling partners to sell and support its solutions. The program is an example of the increasing importance of the cloud in data and user mobility.
Microsoft Goes to the Cloud with Office 365 (0) June 28, 2011 The cloud-based version of the Office productivity suite becomes generally available today, giving partners and businesses an alternative to the on-premise software version. Is Office 365 enough to bolster Microsoft’s cloud fortunes?
Wyoming Officially First State on Google Apps (0) June 24, 2011 The “Equality State” is famous for its firsts. It was the first to give women the right to vote. It’s home to the first national park in the world. And it’s now officially the first state on Google Apps. It’s the latest big win for Google in its cloud ambitions.
Cloud Spending: The Numbers are Big, Irrelevant (1) June 23, 2011 Analyst firms have released new projections on business spending on cloud services. These reports share three common characteristics: They’re all big numbers, they all focus on 2015 as the milestone year, and they all disagree. Do any of these forecasts really matter?
WPC: Why Should Microsoft Partners Attend (1) June 22, 2011 Today is the deadline for partners to suggest themes and topics for Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s Worldwide Partner Conference keynote. While there are many issues facing Microsoft and its community channel partners, perhaps the biggest issue is “why attend WPC at all.”
Dell Simplifies Virtualization with vStart (0) June 16, 2011 Dell aims to expand its foothold in virtualization and empower partners by offering plug-and-play virtualization hardware and software stacks purpose-built for enterprise deployments that will accelerate the speed of adoption and deployment of virtualization technologies.
2112, Virgo Renew Cloud Partnership (0) June 16, 2011 The 2112 Group, publisher of Channelnomics, and Virgo Publishing, publisher of Channel Partners magazine, have committed to continuing joint research and community development on the convergence of the IT and telephony channels in cloud computing.
Cloud is Changing Who Buys IT (1) June 15, 2011 Businesses have always had ‘rogue’ IT spending by line of business managers. Cloud computing is making rogue IT spending easier by eliminating the need for physical support and not impacting capital budgets. This shift will change how solution providers approach customers and identify selling opportunities.
iCloud and the Art of Changing Expectations (0) June 8, 2011 Solution providers are wondering whether Apple’s iCloud is a threat to their emerging opportunities in cloud computing. It’s likely not a threat, but could change the way businesses want to consume cloud services.
Fujitsu Launches Nuclear-Free Cloud (0) June 7, 2011 Fujitsu recently launched a free beta of its global infrastructure-as-a-service offering. And, believe it or not, it’s a nuclear-free zone in the cloud. There’s a lesson here on how service providers should think about the use of their clouds.
Amid Hacking Swarm, Change Passwords Quick (1) June 7, 2011 Hackers are targeting high-profile corporations, government agencies and public email services. One of the simplest ways to safeguard network assets and data is changing passwords. Isn’t it time you had a talk with your customers?
New Credentials Instill MSP Professionalism (5) June 3, 2011 Through two different credentialing efforts, CompTIA and MSPAlliance are setting new standards for managed and cloud services performance and excellence. The respective credentials are intended to provide MSPs with standards and market differentiators. Here's a look at their benefits and shortcomings, and what they ultimately mean for the channel.
Distributors' Cloud Strategy Turns to Facilitation (4) June 2, 2011 Ingram Micro announces the new Cloud Marketplace at its first cloud computing summit. It's the latest in a string of distribution initiatives designed to make it easier and more effective for solution providers to build and sustain robust cloud computing practices.
Exploring Cloud Value and Compensation Models (0) June 1, 2011 Cloud computing is attractive to end users because of its economics -- lower costs and affordability. Cloud computing is attractive to solution providers and vendors because of its predictable revenue model. But how do solution providers and vendors demonstrate the value behind the price of their cloud services? How do cloud companies compensate salespeople? And what's the revenue model for cloud in the channel? These remain issues open for debate.
Cloud Sherpas: Exemplifying Google Partnership (0) May 27, 2011 Google Apps is currently sold by conventional VARs and managed service providers. In the near future, success in the Google channel will require application development capabilities. Cloud Sherpa is an early example of this future channel state.
Linksys, WebEx for Sale, but Who’s Buying? (0) May 19, 2011 Speculation continues to build that Cisco will sell off its Linksys and WebEx product links. As unfathomable as that sounds, it’s harder to come up with a short list of could be the buyers.
GTDC: Channel Health Continues to Improve (0) May 19, 2011 The Global Technology Distribution Council reports steep increases in technology product sales through distribution and reseller channels, and it’s not just low-end products.
Auto-Renewals Preserve Cloud Value (1) May 17, 2011 Managed services and cloud providers face pricing pressures every time a contract expires. NetEnrich’s Justin Crotty says “auto-renewing contracts” are the answer to services commoditization.
CA Jumping Out of Antivirus is No Surprise (0) May 16, 2011 Venture capital firm Updata Partners will form a new company called “Total Defense,” making a run at the highly competitive antivirus market. CA isn’t exactly a leader in the security market, raising questions why it took so long to get out of the market and how well Total Defense will succeed in the new enterprise.
Google Chromebook: The Channel Outlook (0) May 12, 2011 Google is clearly gunning for Microsoft’s vaunted Windows cash-cow with partner-built laptops powered by low-cost, easy to use, Web-integrated operating system. It may also take a dent out of Apple’s PC business, in the process. Here are a few thoughts about Google’s disruptive ambitions and what they mean to the channel.
Riverbed, Akamai Partner on WAN Optimization (0) May 11, 2011 WAN Optimization appliance vendor Riverbed Technologies is teaming up with Internet acceleration service provider Akamai Technologies to speed application performance across private networks and public clouds.
Microsoft, Partners will Win with Skype (0) May 11, 2011 Microsoft is shelling out $8.5 billion to acquire online communications company Skype and its global community of 650 million users. There are many reasons for this expensive acquisition, but stickiness with customers for all of Microsoft’s products is the ultimate justification. And that will eventually help Microsoft partners.
GFI Takes Aim at Barracuda, Google (0) May 10, 2011 GFI Software is no longer content in operating in the periphery of the security marketplace, and it looking to pick a fight with two substantially larger rivals, Barracuda Networks and Google in the lucrative email security segment.
CA, VCE Team Up on Virtual Desktops (0) May 9, 2011 The company built on mainframe management is steadily increasing its footprint in cloud and virtualization technologies. Its joining with VCE on virtual desktops is further proof of the software company’s intent to move away from its previous isolation and assert itself as a major player in the cloud era. What still needs work is its channel strategy.
Interop Forecast: Cloudy with Chance of Rain (0) May 9, 2011 The annual Interop confab in Las Vegas is replete with talks and exhibits about cloud computing. This undoubtedly means a lot of unnecessary marketing spin by vendors who want to stake a claim in the cloud. What’s needed is a reality check on the limits of cloud computing.
Amazon Outage, Sony Breach and Cloud Futures (0) May 4, 2011 An Amazon Web Services failure knocked dozens of Web sites and businesses offline for hours. Sony is reeling from a massive security breach that compromised millions of user accounts. Many believe the rash of cloud computing incidents will slow services adoption. The more likely outcome is realistic cloud adoption, and that will create opportunities for solution providers.
7 Machine-to-Machine Channel Opportunities (0) May 2, 2011 The Internet will have more than 50 billion connected devices by 2020, but only a fraction will be human interfaces. Machine-to-machine connections are poised to skyrocket, opening new opportunities for products, software, professional services and cloud engagements.
Intacct Credits Channel for Growth (0) April 29, 2011 The cloud-based financial intelligence platform added 20 new reseller partners in the first quarter, which helped push channel-driven business to a tenfold increase over the previous year. Is there a secret ingredient to this success?
Cisco’s Goes into ‘Mythbuster’ Mode (1) April 27, 2011 Cisco is launching its “When Good Enough Is Not Good Enough” communications blitz to convince customers and partners that they shouldn’t buy or support lower-cost alternatives. Cisco’s figured out it’s fighting a war of perceptions, but may not have figured those perceptions are based on its core value.
CenturyLink Bolsters Its Cloud with Savvis Buy (0) April 27, 2011 The newly minted third-largest U.S. teleco adds more hosting and managed cloud capacity to its portfolio through the $2.5 billion Savvis acquisition. Best bet is other large acquisitions will follow quickly.
Sprint-Clearwire Deal Reflects Cloud Mobility (0) April 20, 2011 Over the next two years, Sprint Nextel will pay Clearwire more than $1 billion for access to its 4G network. The deal is as much about enabling the mobile cloud as it is about inter-carrier competition with AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Deals such as this may also accelerate cloud convergence.
Novell Completes ID Management Family (0) April 20, 2011 Novell completed its Identity Management 4 family of products with the release of Standard Edition, a package that provides rich identity management functionality without expensive add-on modules. Standard Edition puts identity management in reach of midmarket companies and service providers.
Microsoft Office 365 Well Positioned for Channel (0) April 19, 2011 The newly released beta-version of the online productivity suite isn’t easy to deploy and configure, and that means opportunity for solution providers. Here’s how Microsoft has done a good job of positioning Office 365 for the channel.
The PSA-Cloud Integration Imperative (5) April 13, 2011 Professional services automation software such as Autotask, ConnectWise and TigerPaw made the administration of managed services businesses easier and more efficient. Now they’re fast becoming a prerequisite for emerging cloud platforms.
Feds Doubt Google Security Certification (1) April 12, 2011 Google was dealt a setback in its bid to displace Microsoft as the provider of cloud-based email to the Department of the Interior when Justice officials disputed the cloud vendor’s claims of having an essential federal security certification. It’s another interesting turn in a legal case with serious ramifications for cloud computing and partner relationships.
Microsoft-Toyota Deal a Spark of Future Mobility (0) April 8, 2011 Microsoft and Toyota announced a partnership to develop integrated systems for extending onboard and cloud-based applications to vehicles. The partnership has tremendous potential for building a new foundation of channel service and support opportunities.
Spiceworks Adds Cloud Management Features (0) April 8, 2011 The provider of low-cost IT management tools gives its service providers and end users the ability to acquire and manage cloud services through Google and Rackspace. The new features could be a sign of new channel business models designed to support changing consumption trends.
Cisco Admits Problems, Partners Welcome Change (2) April 6, 2011 Cisco partners are hopeful John Chambers’ memo admitting mistakes in market strategy and product execution haven't hurt the company – and, by extension, the channel. Many partners believe the acknowledgment of a problem is the first step in long awaited improvements.
Acquisition Threat Casts Pale over Cloud (0) April 4, 2011 Rackspace CEO Lanham Napier declares the hosting company will remain independent amid buyout rumors. But every mid-tier hosting and cloud company is a potential target, and that will complicate cloud strategy and adoption among solution providers.
Four Biz Lessons from the Final Four (0) April 1, 2011 The match-ups are set for the ultimate college hoops showdown. Here are four lessons from the Final Four for solution providers.
7 Top Services Delivered Via Network Connections (1) April 1, 2011 While many MSPs strive to be all things IT to their clients, the reality is that customers’ comfort level with handing the IT reins to an outsider can vary from task to task and business to business. So what managed services are getting the most attention? Here are 7 top services delivered over the network.
5 Open Questions on HP’s Cloud Ambitions (0) March 30, 2011 Hewlett-Packard used this week’s Americas Partner Conference to unveil its ambitious cloud-computing initiatives and channel support programs. While no one thinks HP will fail, several questions remain about how HP will succeed in the cloud.
HP’s Cloudy Future in Cloud Computing (0) March 30, 2011 Hewlett-Packard unveiled its new channel cloud program this week at the Americas Partner Conference in Las Vegas. HP’s cloud goals are ambitious, but not revolutionary. Here’s a look at how HP is playing it safe.
5 Considerations for MSPs When Crafting SLAs (0) March 28, 2011 Carefully developing an SLA not only sets clear boundaries and responsibilities for service delivery, it can give an MSP a deeper understanding of the customer’s business and the impact IT services have on customer business processes. In order to get the most from your SLAs, be sure to consider these five factors when developing such agreements.
Cloud is a Big Deal among Small Businesses (1) March 28, 2011 A new study by Microsoft reveals small businesses are adopting cloud services at an accelerated rate. The numbers suggest a ripe opportunity for more than just cloud-based email – cloud-based voice, too.
Standardized IT Services: As IBM Goes, So Goes the World (0) March 24, 2011 Technologies such as virtualization and cloud computing are making standardized platforms acceptable... even preferable. Enter IBM with new, pre-engineered delivery of like servers, storage, service-desk assets and more as a way to speed deployment and lower cost. Are you ready for this shift?
Conflicting Channel Structures, Capabilities Hinder IT and Telephony Convergence (0) March 16, 2011 IT solution providers are increasingly offering voice services to customers. Telephony agents are also offering IT services with increasing regularity. But partnering with carriers isn’t as easy as with IT vendors, and that could hinder true convergence of these two channels.
More Than Clouds in the Channel Future (0) March 14, 2011 Analysts project rapid revenue growth in cloud-computing services over the next five years. But even with this astronomical increase, cloud computing will remain just a fraction of total IT spending. This means cloud will be a piece of the IT puzzle, not the entire solution.
Prepare for Increased Customer Demands in Cloud Services Deals (0) March 9, 2011 The cloud is serious business – and with that comes both opportunity and a new level of concern for cloud service providers trying to lure savvy-if-skittish CIOs. Are your contract cloud services enterprise-ready?
NetSuite 'SuiteStart' Reflects Channel Power (0) March 9, 2011 Solution providers may think they're in danger of being rendered obsolete by the cloud, but NetSuite is clearly thinking differently. The Web-based ERP vendor is adding rich incentives to attract partners, showing the need for the channel to maintain cloud momentum.
5 Reasons Managed Service Providers are Well Positioned for the Cloud (2) March 8, 2011 Managed service providers and conventional solution providers are living in fear that cloud computing will render them obsolete. The cloud is disrupting the entire IT marketplace, but it’s not the end of the channel as we know it. Managed service providers are actually well positioned to adopt cloud products and drive Web-based services
Consultative Selling Critical to Cloud Success (0) March 7, 2011 The IT channel was built on bits and bytes – businesses that not only understood the technology they were selling, but had the acumen to expand the capabilities of that technology with their organic know-how. The telephony channel, on the other hand...
Cisco Strikes Defensive Posture at Summit (0) March 2, 2011 Cisco executive and channel leadership put on the hard sell to partners of the vendor’s legacy of leadership and ability to stay ahead of change. The tone and message are ones of defense against the rising tide of competitive and technology challenges.
Share Shifting in Managed Services (0) March 2, 2011 A fundamental disconnect exists between vendors and managed service providers in the true potential of the market – and it’s the vendors’ fault. Vendors need to realize they represent only a small percentage of an MSP's business, and their job is to earn a greater share.
Cisco Assigns Partners Cloud Designations (0) March 1, 2011 Cisco Systems kicked off its annual Partner Summit in New Orleans today with the launch of a new channel cloud-computing program through which solution providers at different stages of cloud development can earn credentials and support.
“As a Service” Has Lost its Luster (1) March 1, 2011 Every vendor is announcing the latest delivery of applications and infrastructure “as a service,” as if it’s the greatest thing since slice bread or ice cream on a stick. Service models are no longer remarkable or a differentiator.
Why Some Businesses Will Never Adopt Clouds (1) March 1, 2011 Vendor marketing would have you believe that everything IT is heading to the cloud, and on-premises resources such as data centers and desktop applications will disappear with some miraculous flip of a switch. A more realistic view is that of steady e...
Going to Cisco, Looking for Answers (2) February 28, 2011 The once mighty Cisco Systems, seemingly indomitable in its core technologies and unstoppable in its ancillary ventures, is looking shaky. Shareholders are questioning strategy and rivals are gaining ground. What answers will Cisco have for solution providers at this week’s Partner Summit in New Orleans?
OS33 Enhances the Power of Integrated Clouds (0) February 25, 2011 The cloud services company launched OS33 Grid, an infrastructure as a service offering integrated with its cloud application services that provides managed services and solution providers with a fully integrated platform for delivering comprehensive, branded hosted services to end users.
Intermedia Combines PBX with Hosted Email (1) February 24, 2011 Another sign the IT and telephony channels are converging came with Intermedia’s announcement that it’s offering hosted PBX services integrated with hosted Microsoft Exchange for solution providers to deliver as a white-labeled cloud service.
Cisco Withdraws from Hosted Email Market (5) February 23, 2011 A little more than a year after launching Cisco Mail via the Webex platform, Cisco Systems is discontinuing the hosted service citing customer demand for new, advanced collaborative tools. Between the lines, there is much more at play.
Cloud Forces Change, Obsolescence (0) February 23, 2011 Solution providers in the IT and telephony channels are struggling to find their place in the cloud computing era. Without a doubt, the cloud is forcing change upon some solution providers, and may even render many obsolete.
End Users Drive IT, Telephony Convergence (0) February 17, 2011 We can speculate about the many reasons for the IT and telephony channels converging in the cloud: The two have different strengths that will complement each other in cloud engagements; and communications and data applications are consolidating into holistic systems, which will bring the two channels together. But the real reason is most likely the customer demanding a single (or as few as possible) source of technology and services.
IBM Cloud Specialties Reflect Complexity in Services Model and Channel's Value (0) February 16, 2011 Businesses are looking to cloud computing to simplify the cost and access to complex IT applications and resources. IBM’s new cloud specialties for channel partners reflect the skill sets needed to make complexity seem simple.
5 Things We Learned Today – February 11 (0) February 11, 2011 Here’s a look at some of the stories and trends that hit our radar screen that are relevant to the channel. My favorite: Microsoft tying up with Nokia in smartphones.
Wanted: Simplicity in Business Software, Systems (0) February 11, 2011 IT budgets are continuing to grow stronger as businesses feel more confident in their health to invest in IT systems and applications. But one analyst believes businesses will continue to put pressure on routine, operational spending initiatives in search of greater efficiency and productivity. It’s good and bad news for solution providers.
4 Things We Learned Today – February 10 (0) February 10, 2011 Here’s a look at some of the stories and trends that hit our radar screen that are relevant to the channel. My favorite: Rackspace's quarterly earnings report.
Level Platforms Tour an Entry Point for Managed Services (0) February 10, 2011 Level Platforms has garnered the support of 22 vendors for its North America road show. The tour is designed to showcase the evolution of remote monitoring and management tools, but it’s really more about the growing interest among big software vendors in the managed services market.
What to Call the Converged Cloud? (0) February 10, 2011 What’s the difference between “Infrastructure as a Service" (IaaS) and “Platform as a Service" (PaaS)? There’s a substantial difference, but probably not for much longer. In fact, the arbitrary lines drawn between many cloud-computing services is quickly blurring as service providers consolidate and simplify services.
New Riverbed Tools Details ROI, Performance (0) February 7, 2011 Riverbed is adding executive-level reporting tools to its WAN optimization portfolio, giving partners the ability to demonstrate ROI and plan for future needs.
Big Cloud Acquisitions Are Not a Channel Threat (0) February 4, 2011 First came the massive buyout of managed hosting company Terremark Worldwide by Verizon Communications for $1.4 billion. Days later, media conglomerate and cable company Time Warner paid $230 million for managed application service provider Navisite. Suddenly, every large hosting company on the market is up for a land-grab in the cloud. Is this a game changer for the channel and cloud computing? Not yet, but these deals are harbingers of things to come.
Cloud Changing ‘Service Provider’ Definition (0) February 2, 2011 Utter the term “service provider” to 10 people in the channel 10 years ago and you probably would have received concurrence in definition: a carrier or telecommunications company such as AT&T or Verizon that provides connectivity and bandwidth services. Today that definition is balkanized, first by the shift to managed services and now by the evolution of cloud computing.
Cloud Performance Tools Hasten SLA Model Shift (1) January 31, 2011 Cloud enthusiasts last week watch the Amazon launch of Beanstalk with fascination, as the master-platform-as-a-service blurred the lines with infrastructure by providing tools to make it easier for software developers to deploy applications on the sprawling cloud network. Yet, if you believe in the importance of data and resource availability, the much-overlooked CloudWatch announcement earlier this month was actually more significant because it addresses an oft-ignored problem in cloud computing.
Top 5 Cloud Services in the Channel Today (0) January 28, 2011 The Cloud Convergence Council, a joint venture of Channel Partners Magazine and The 2112 Group, recently conducted a survey of telephony and IT solution providers about the cloud services they currently offer. The most common cloud service in both channels is surprising.
Level Platforms, N-Able Renew MSP Push (0) January 26, 2011 The technology world can’t stop talking about cloud computing, but an entire industry around remote monitoring and management – or, as some people call it, “automated break/fix” business – makes up a huge part of the channel. RMM rivals Level Platforms and N-Able are renewing their push to penetrate deeper into the channel with managed services tools, even as some pundits (myself included) wonder whether parts of the channel will simply skip managed services on their way to the cloud.
Panda Plans Expansion; Acquisitions Possible (1) January 26, 2011 Panda Security, the totally cloud-based approach to anti-malware, had a great 2010 and is looking to grow even more in 2011. Rick Carlson, president of North America operations, is even holding open the opportunities for acquisitions.
Cirtas Looks to Disrupt Storage with New Funding (0) January 25, 2011 Less than six months have passed since storage management innovator Cirtas Systems came out of stealth mode, but the company has already closed its second round of venture capital funding and is moving aggressively to expand its unique brand of hybrid cloud storage. While storage is anything but sexy, the Cirtas funding round reflects why data storage and management remains a huge opportunity.
IBM: 2011 is the Year of Business Intelligence (0) January 24, 2011 Former GE chief Jack Welch’s business axiom is well known but rarely practiced among small and midsized companies: “It can’t be managed if it can’t be managed.” But there’s growing evidence that midmarket companies are looking to business analytics and applications as critical tools for improving and growing their businesses.
Disaster Recovery is a Cloud Convergence Point (0) January 24, 2011 The IT and telephony channels approach their respective customers very differently. The IT channel places value on its technical prowess, where the telephony channel emphasizes services and service delivery. Not surprising that, in the cloud, these two channels are focusing on products and services that best match their core skill sets – except in one place: disaster recovery and backup.
ShoreTel Aims for Growth through Focus, Disties (0) January 18, 2011 ShoreTel is gearing up for anticipated growth in VoIP and unified communications growth, particularly among midsized companies, by adopting a two-tier distribution channel strategy in the U.S. Under the hood of this strategy are some interesting nuggets for how the IP telephony company – and potentially other vendors – will approach the channel in the future.
‘Who Owns the Customer’ Fuels Roaring Debate (1) January 13, 2011 This is a conversation without end: the debate over who ultimately owns the customer in the cloud-computing era. Several solution providers and vendors have weighed in on the issue, providing a bevy of perspectives on this critical channel issue.
Smartronix, Amazon Pilot Treasury’s Cloud Migration (1) January 12, 2011 Much has been made of Microsoft and Google’s battle for a share of the burgeoning federal government cloud business under the Obama administration mandate of a “cloud first” for all new infrastructure investments. But solution provider Smartronix’s contract with the U.S. Treasury is showing how to win cloud business through partnerships with platform firms such as Amazon Web Services and Akamai.
In Cloud Computing Era, Who Owns the Account? (0) January 10, 2011 In cloud computing, vendors are going to market with partners to reach end-user customers. But they’re often retaining the billing functions, which makes many solution providers nervous over account control and ownership. So the question becomes: Who owns the customer relationship in the cloud?
Dell Buys SecureWorks to Push into Security (1) January 4, 2011 Any doubts of Dell’s desire to diversify its portfolio and provide more services were dispelled this morning with its acquisition of managed security service provider SecureWorks. The deal gives Dell a major footprint in security and another competitive weapon in its ongoing war with Hewlett-Packard and Cisco.
BPOS Channel Billing is the Canary in the Cloud (0) January 4, 2011 A lingering concern among solution providers in the great cloud migration is account ownership. While vendors such as Microsoft and Google say service accounts will belong to the originating solution providers selling the contracts, the channel is equating control of billing with account ownership. In this regard, what Microsoft ultimately does with BPOS billing may be the harbinger for cloud account ownership of the future.
Microsoft BPOS Breach Good for Cloud Security (1) December 27, 2010 Reports surfaced last week that Microsoft’s BPOS suffered a serious — albeit contained — security breach. Survey after survey exclaims security (or the perceived risk of a security breach or unwanted risk exposure) is the greatest or one of the most significant barriers to cloud adoption. Security is an important consideration, but more so is compliance, and not just in the regulatory respect. And the Microsoft incident is a good example of that.
Finding New Opportunity in Cloud Computing (0) December 20, 2010 Channelnomics frequently writes about the cloud computing evolution and how it’s disrupting the conventional IT reseller channel. After all, the cloud is more than just technology; it’s a new business model and customer relationship philosophy. And, it’s opening new doors for traditional solution providers and vendors, as well as newcomers to the industry. And that’s what we want to explore next.
Gartner Says Two Vendors Will Dominate the Cloud (2) December 15, 2010 Gartner, the great prognosticator of the technology marketplace, has confirmed what most already know: The cloud is overhyped. Nevertheless, the cloud is still in its infancy with adoption rates – particularly among enterprises – and is expected to explode over the next few years. The analyst firm says two vendors will dominate the cloud by 2015, but doesn’t say which two.
Virtualization and iPads: A Killer Channel Combo (0) December 9, 2010 Tablets – led by Apple’s iPad – are hot. It took years for laptops to displace desktop PCs as the king of computing, and now it looks as though tablets will displace both PCs and notebooks within the next year to 18 months. While built with consumers in mind, tablets are quickly finding their way into the enterprise – carried by a not-so-surprising catalyst: virtualization.
Channel Needs Less Cloud Debate, More Action (0) December 6, 2010 Many people in and around the channel are asking what impact cloud computing will have on conventional value-added resellers and solution providers. Actually, it’s a little more than inquisitive conversation and more like a looping dialogue that never quite advances understanding beyond the re-ignition of another round of debate. If Elvis were alive (and I’m not saying he isn’t), he might call an end to this ceaseless chatter by saying, “A little less conversation, a little more action.”
Google Pays $1.9B for Manhattan ‘Carrier Hotel’ (1) December 3, 2010 Google is putting down roots in Manhattan in a big way by buying the Chelsea Meatpacking District building that currently houses its sprawling Big Apple sales and engineering operations. But this is no ordinary building: It’s actually one of the most wired buildings in the world and considered one of the leading ‘carrier hotels’ in New York.
Google, Partner Scores Big with Federal Agency (3) December 1, 2010 The Obama administration is pushing federal agencies to take a “cloud first” approach to solving IT problems effectively and at a lower cost. The Government Services Agency today became the first department to migrate its 15,000 employees to a Web-based email system – Google Apps. The contract win signals a growing opportunity in the federal market for cloud services and the heating up of the war between Google and Microsoft.
Rapid Returns from Selling into the Cloud (1) November 29, 2010 The recent launch of WAN optimization products by Riverbed wasn’t revealing about the future of cloud computing, but rather the stark reality of the present impact the cloud and virtualized environments are having on the low-end of the channel. While service providers like AT&T and Amazon continue to reap huge shifts in revenue from cloud infrastructure services, smaller solution providers and traditional VARs struggle to find their way amongst the clouds. What many aren’t seeing is that the cloud is aggregating the IT marketplace in ways previously never seen.
First RetroDex Reveals What’s Next in Tech (1) November 17, 2010 Last night, I had the privilege of keynoting the new RetroDex event at the Seattle Music Experience – a wonderful museum dedicated to pop music (and science fiction memorabilia). RetroDex is intended to provide a live compendium to the revived Comdex in virtual form. More than 150 attended to network and hear about what’s going to happen next in technology. Here are a couple of the highlights.
Breaking Through the Hype of Cloud Computing (1) November 16, 2010 The IT market is one of continual change. Fast and constantly moving, our market’s pace of change is exciting and terrifying. Solution providers must grapple with falling and rising opportunities; as one area matures, another emerges. In between, there’s a lot of hype – and it’s time to break the hype cycle.
Cloudy Future for Channel in Web Services (0) November 15, 2010 Cloud computing’s impact on the channel remains a matter of great debate. Solution providers across North America are trying to define their role – if any – in “the cloud.” Our channel brethren across the pond are dealing with the same quandary. And, according to a new report, they’re opting to bypass the cloud in favor of another market opportunity.
Alternate Interpretation of Market Research (0) October 11, 2010 Oracle co-president Mark Hurd once said, “If you interrogate the numbers long enough, they will provide you the answer.” He was of course talking about business analytics – the study of market indicators, sales performance and customer trends. He was right; numbers don’t lie, but it’s all in how you interpret them.
Google’s New-Old Authentication Scheme (0) September 20, 2010 Google today took the wraps off its new two-factor authentication method for securing access to Google Apps accounts. Besides a username and password, users will have to enter a one-time passcode sent to them via their cellphone. Not a bad idea, considering this method has been kicking around for some time.
Exploring ‘The New Normal’ at MSP World (2) September 20, 2010 Over the last 10 years, managed services has evolved from boutique offerings targeting enterprise IT users to a revolution in the delivery of break/fix services to a mainstream professional services offering suitable for nearly any IT operation. It’s been a remarkable run for solution providers adopting the MSP model – in part or whole – since it provides deeper contact with customers while reducing operational costs.
Red Herrings in Cloud Computing (1) September 17, 2010 The “Bad Boy of the Week” award goes to David Barksdale, 27-year-old Google Site Reliability Engineer who got busted snooping on the Google Voice accounts of at least four minors. This type of security breach happens when people with access violate the trust granted by their employers. But is it enough to indict cloud computing over security and trust issues?
Intel Reveals the Cloud is Dead (5) August 30, 2010 Let me be the first to say this: “The cloud is dead!”In fact, I’m not sure if cloud computing was ever a real trend. The real disruption to the IT paradigm is mobility, which is part of the promise of cloud computing – access to data from any place, at an...