Channelnomics

Networking

  • Fortinet Fills Channel Gaps in Enterprise Push (0)May 21, 2013Fortinet fills major channel gaps left by executive departures, signaling rejuvenated channel effort and increased reliance on partners as it revs for an enterprise expansion.
  • Huawei Shows Ambition at First Partner Summit (0)May 21, 2013Embattled hardware vendor Huawei is putting its ambitions on full display at its first North America partner conference. The three-day event treats solution providers to a cavalcade of Huawei-based opportunities in data centers, mobility, Big Data and cloud computing. The underlying message: Huawei isn’t retreating.
  • Cisco’s McCool Lands at Firetide as CEO (0)May 21, 2013Wireless mesh network vendor Firetide scored a corner-office coup this week, naming veteran Cisco executive John McCool as its new CEO. The move is part of Firetide’s push into high-growth government, commercial and industrial applications with its high-bandwidth mesh software and hardware technology.
  • Sourcefire Raises Advanced Security Profile (0)May 20, 2013Sourcefire is upping the stakes in the advanced threat security race with the launch of an appliance touting file- and device-trajectory capabilities, additions that give partners new paths for high-margin forensic services.
  • BYOD Isn’t Just About the D (1)May 20, 2013Recent data from CompTIA shows 66 percent of companies are allowing or mandating the BYOD trend in their organizations -- but IT departments and solution providers are finding the devices are only the beginning.
  • Barracuda Firewall Release Spurs Upmarket Push (0)May 17, 2013Barracuda debuts a Web application firewall that defends against DDoS attacks, taking the firm further in its upmarket journey. And it's hoping the security and storage channel will recognize its enterprise efforts.
  • Cisco Earnings Reveal Shift in Priorities (0)May 16, 2013Cisco Systems surprised the market yesterday by posting a 14.5 percent jump in profits on a 5 percent increase in sales. The spurt came from substantial shifts increases in non-switching and routing products, showing there is a shift in hardware buying priorities.
  • Cisco Rolls to Ninth Straight Revenue Jump (0)May 16, 2013Cisco Systems Inc. is hailing a ninth consecutive quarter of record revenue as it hints at "good signs" in certain parts of the global economy.
  • Sophos Broadens Endpoint in UTM Release (0)May 13, 2013Sophos is expanding endpoint security, wireless and VPN features in its latest UTM release -- additions to keep the company on top of a crowded and and competitive race in UTM.
  • Westcon Collaboration Targets BYOD (0)May 13, 2013Westcon is attempting to fill the needs gap in BYOD solutions to help partners take advantage of the burgeoning mobility market with a subscription-based, easy-to-deploy package that aims to take some of the complexity and risk out of BYOD initiatives. Is this a glimpse of the future of distribution?
  • Webroot Boosts Security in XRoad Alliance (0)May 13, 2013Webroot is once again partnering to make an entrance into new markets, this time forming an alliance with bandwidth and unified management firm XRoad Networks, a move that gives partners a bit more exposure in network security arenas.
  • ShoreTel CEO Blackmore to Resign (0)May 10, 2013The executive rumblings that shook up channel leadership at unified communications stalwart ShoreTel Inc. are apparently reverberating all the way to the corner office as CEO Peter Blackmore announces he'll retire as soon as a successor can be found.
  • WatchGuard Hyper-V Support Targets Enterprise (0)May 9, 2013UTM firm WatchGuard launched support for Microsoft Hyper-V customers, who will have access to the firm's spate of network security functions in virtual environments. It's a move that also gives WatchGuard a bigger foot in the door when targeting enterprise markets.
  • McAfee Touts Power in Network Security Push (0)May 9, 2013On the heels of the Stonesoft acquisition that will position it better against next generation firewall competitors, McAfee has launched a power-driven IPS platform that it hopes will expand its reach amid a concerted network security push.
  • Huawei CEO: We’re Not a Security Threat (0)May 9, 2013The latest move by China-based Huawei to remediate its image as a security threat to governments and enterprises comes straight from the top.
  • Dell Targets Cisco With SonicWall NGFW Debut (0)May 8, 2013Dell SonicWall is eyeing an upmarket push with the latest next generation firewall release, a move that it hopes put it more on par with legacy rivals Cisco and others.
  • Barracuda Vies for Virtual Networking Market (0)May 8, 2013Barracuda Networks is once again reaching beyond its comfort zone, debuting a virtual-networking platform it hopes will further its upmarket expansion.
  • Check Point Eyes SMB With Appliance Launch (0)May 7, 2013Check Point Software Technologies made a departure from the enterprise to launch an appliance line geared for specifically for the SMB, a move that expands channel reach and fulfills a company pledge to make greater inroads into lower markets.
  • Huawei Turns on Charm With ICT Nation (0)May 7, 2013Huawei, the controversial Chinese hardware vendor accused representing a national security threat to the U.S., is looking to win friends and influence the industry with ICT Nation, a collaborative community of IT vendors, solution providers and CIOs.
  • Avaya Smooths Quotes, Orders With One Source (0)May 7, 2013Resellers of Avaya Inc.’s business communications and collaboration wares may finally be getting some relief from navigating thousands of price groups and hundreds of catalogs as the vendor moves to streamline and simplify the ordering process for its channel partners.
  • Fortinet, FishNet Partner In MSSP Services (0)May 3, 2013Unified threat management firm Fortinet and FishNet Security are partnering in a managed security services launch that will provide a slew of service options around management and security analysis for partners. The release is also another step in Fortinet's sustained foray into the MSSP space.
  • SolarWinds Targets Firewall Management (0)May 2, 2013IT management firm SolarWinds is launching two free tools that aim to ease partners' burdens around firewall rules. But it's also a move that likely aims to better position the company in a nascent, but potentially lucrative, firewall management market.
  • Intel COO Krzanich to Succeed Otellini as CEO (0)May 2, 2013For only the sixth time in its 45-year history, Intel has a new CEO. The company tapped 31-year veteran Brian Krzanich to succeed Paul Otellini who is set to retire later this month.
  • Obama’s FCC Nominee Likely Good for Channel (0)May 2, 2013Tom Wheeler may be better known to wonky Beltway insiders than to those in technology, but his appointment Wednesday by Pres. Obama to head the FCC should be good news for the channel.
  • Citrix Tunes Channel Programs to Enhance Value (0)May 1, 2013For the better part of the last decade, Citrix Systems’ channel program was a well-working yet highly subjective affair. That’s changing with two initiatives that formalize processes, increase certification requirements and impose objectivity. The goal: Provide partners with transparency, consistency and predictability in their Citrix practices.
  • For Many, It’s BYOD or the Highway (1)May 1, 2013Gartner finds 38 percent of companies worldwide say they expect to stop providing mobile devices to their staff by 2016.
  • Juniper Taps New VP of Americas Partner Sales (0)May 1, 2013Juniper Networks this week made public its choice of a new head of partner sales for the Americas, introducing Christopher M. Jones to replace well-known channel executive Frank Vitagliano.
  • HP Networking Goes SDN to the Core (0)April 30, 2013The vendor says its FlexFabric 12900 family of data center switches are the industry’s first core switches to support OpenFlow and will offer twice the scale of Cisco’s rival Nexus 7000 switch.
  • A View From the Trenches at Infosec 2013 (0)April 25, 2013Our partners at CRN UK are all over the action in London at the annual Infosecurity Europe extravaganza. For an exhibitor's-eye view, check out their conversation with reps from Palo Alto Networks.
  • HP NGIPS Launch Fills Networking Gaps (0)April 24, 2013HP is building out a comprehensive security stack, and the latest installment is the release of a TippingPoint next-generation IPS line. But the real channel value will be in how well the solution integrates with other security offerings in HP's portfolio.
  • Huawei No Longer Interested in U.S. Market (0)April 24, 2013After months of allegations and denials regarding its potential as a threat to U.S. national security, Huawei officials say they are giving up efforts to expand into the U.S. market and will instead focus on 'the rest of the world.'
  • AlgoSec: Insiders Biggest Management Threat (0)April 23, 2013An AlgoSec security survey cited insider challenges and BYOD issues as the biggest threats to network security management. Nothing new there. But the study does highlight the fact that complexity isn't going away any time soon, and will only spur a burgeoning firewall management market for the channel.
  • Catbird Takes Flight in Search of UK Partners (0)April 23, 2013After quietly making a name for itself in the fledgling Software-Defined Security (SDS) space over the past few years, Catbird Networks is taking its show on the road, announcing this week it is scouting for its first partners in the U.K.
  • Symantec: A Company In Transition (0)April 17, 2013Most opening keynotes generate excitement and pump up the audience with a "let's go get 'em" team spirit. But at Symantec Vision Conference 2013, CEO Steve Bennett laid it out in no uncertain terms that the company is in a state of transition and has a long ways to go before it gets back on…
  • Check Point Launch Makes Small Branch Foray (0)April 11, 2013Check Point Software Technologies is ramping up its presence in small branch and remote office markets with the release of a dedicated appliance line. And a $599 price point indicates the firm is serous about going after lower market competitors.
  • Aruba Adds App Controls to ClearPass MDM (0)April 10, 2013The new Aruba WorkSpace component extends current ClearPass capabilities for provisioning and managing mobile devices by adding network-aware applications controls, which can limit the apps allowed on the corporate network, enforce network prioritization policies for work applications and change security profiles on the fly.
  • New Offerings Bring Brocade’s HyperEdge to Life (0)April 9, 2013Brocade says its approach to simplifying the campus network will make the campus opportunity accessible to more of its partners. But it will need partner help to get the message out and start re-architecting customers’ edge networks.
  • Heavy Hitters Team Up on Open-Source SDN (0)April 9, 2013The OpenDaylight Project, founded by the non-profit Linux Foundation, aims to overcome the disjointed and increasingly stagnant development of SDN with the tried and true method of developing a community-led meritocracy around an open-source framework backed by the resources on the deepest pockets in the industry.
  • HP Looks to Shake Off Funk With Moonshot (0)April 9, 2013HP's release party for their hyperscale Moonshot servers was filled with references to HP’s desire to help save the planet. The real question for partners is whether Moonshot can help save the struggling vendor.
  • Huawei Riding Stellar Wave of Growth (0)April 8, 2013For the 2012 calendar year the Chinese giant's revenue rose to $35.52 billion, up from $32.87 billion in the prior year. Net profit jumped 32 percent to $2.48 billion, equating to net margins of about 7 percent.
  • IP Video Surveillance Missed Channel Opportunity (0)April 5, 2013Indicated with everything from research reports to a groundswell of vendors emerging with products, the IP video surveillance market is set for a revival. But that means the channel will have to get out of its network security comfort zone and take calculated risks if it wants to see profitable returns.
  • Arbor Networks Revamps Partner Program (0)April 4, 2013Arbor Networks is refreshing its channel program with a new tiering structure aimed at better servicing a broader and more diverse range of partners. Among other things, the network security firm is revving to take on other major challengers in the growing DDoS prevention space.
  • Cisco Bolsters Mobile Wares With Ubiquisys Buy (0)April 4, 2013The Swindon-based firm supplies service providers with 3G, long-term evaluation (LTE) and small-cell technologies, and is set to be integrated into the networking giant's Service Provider Mobility Group in Cisco's fourth fiscal quarter which begins at the start of next month.
  • D-Link Camera Expands Surveillance Niche (0)April 3, 2013D-Link is edging further into physical security arenas with the launch of a new video surveillance camera, a release that furthers the industry's burgeoning, and potentially profitable, revival and opens new service add-on opportunities for SMB and mid-market partners.
  • Organizations Struggle To Find Big Data Value (0)April 2, 2013A Cisco survey underscored that Big Data represents a glaring opportunity for organizations. That said, few organizations are equipped to adequately process Big Data to extract business value and achieve a competitive edge, representing an imminent frontier for the channel in the not too distant future.
  • Modern Threats Outsmart Standard Antivirus (0)April 1, 2013A Palo Alto Networks review indicates modern malware is consistently evading standard antivirus and other security solutions. What does that mean for the channel? A chance to up the ante by adding more layers to a multi-layer security strategy -- even if the solution still works.
  • U.S. Pressures Sprint, SoftBank to Ditch Huawei (1)April 1, 2013Sprint and SoftBank are prepared to promise that if the $20 billion buyout is approved, they will rid their systems of telecommunications gear made by Chinese manufacturer and perceived espionage threat Huawei Technologies Ltd. and give U.S. authorities – including national security officials -- unprecedented visibility into any future network improvements.
  • Dell Filings Reveal Pressure of Transformation (0)April 1, 2013Dell’s regulatory filings reveal the company is forecasting a steady revenue decline in core PC business and that enterprise acquisitions haven’t yielded strong returns. Dell is fast becoming a case study of how challenging change is to implement.
  • Cisco’s Liebo to Head Global Partner Marketing (0)March 29, 2013Sherri Liebo, who takes over the post vacated last summer by popular global channel marketing chief Amanda Jobbins, brings a host of experience working with partners in Cisco's $10 billion-a-year services business.
  • Emulex Program Refresh Spurs Market Expansion (0)March 28, 2013Network connectivity, management and monitoring firm Emulex is upping its market presence with a channel program refresh that better equips partners to build out a small, margin-rich niche market.
  • Tablet Envy: Weathering the Post-PC Era (0)March 27, 2013Warnings of the post-PC era shone a little brighter this week with new figures showing traditional computing devices floundering, while tablet sales are set to overtake desktop shipments this year and laptops by 2014.
  • Foundry CIO Facing Charges in Brocade Deal (0)March 27, 2013The SEC says former Foundry CIO David Riley tipped off a pair of friends who worked as investment professionals days before the Brocade deal was announced in July 2008.
  • Palo Alto Study Shows Shortcomings of AV (0)March 26, 2013Palo Alto Networks says the majority of today’s malware is simply relocated and repackaged versions of the same code. The company urges security teams to think beyond traditional AV and employ a multi-pronged security-policy approach to identify and block bad actors on the corporate network.
  • Cisco Leads 2012 Security Appliance Pack (0)March 25, 2013The rise of unified threat management (UTM) technology was one of the key drivers as the global security appliance market finished 2012 in style.
  • Cisco Hit With $70M Fine for Duping Partner (0)March 25, 2013XpertUniverse claimed it was teased with the prospect of becoming part of Cisco SolutionsPlus, a reseller program designed to augment Cisco's advanced technology products to create complete solutions by placing select products on the Cisco price list and allowing them to be sold by Cisco sales teams and channel partners.
  • Juniper Weathers Downgrade With New Products (0)March 20, 2013Juniper is touting the release this week of two new routing products aimed at service providers working with converged networks even as financial analysts pummel the vendor for its lagging competitive stance.
  • Citrix Brings Big Data to NetScaler (0)March 19, 2013The new NetScaler Insight Center aims to increase visibility and real-time insight into data center activity and provide a 360-degree view for all mobile, Web and virtual desktop traffic.
  • HP: Partners Don’t Know Everything We Do (1)March 19, 2013Hewlett-Packard is pitting its future on innovations in security, Big Data and cloud computing, all while retaining its core businesses in personal computing, printing, networking, servers and storage. Despite everything the channel knows about HP, the vendor doesn’t believe partners know enough about what it does or has to offer.
  • Cisco Upgrades Boost B2B Video Performance (2)March 19, 2013The new set of improvements should also give partners more options for packaging and managing value-added services for clients looking for better face-to-face communications in their daily business routines.
  • FireEye, Bradford Partnership Expands MDM (0)March 19, 2013FireEye is the latest security vendor to add mobile device management capabilities by partnering with NAC firm Bradford Networks, a move that gives partners in both camps new reach and cross-sell opportunities. The union also indicates that Bradford is seizing a market opportunity to extend BYOD capabilities to vendors otherwise on the fringe of the…
  • Linksys Brand Survives Cisco Sale, Belkin Buy (1)March 18, 2013Peripherals vendor Belkin says it plans to let Linksys operate separately with its own brand and channel. The strategy means one of the more popular channel brands will not just survive, but be revived after being owned by Cisco for the last 10 years.
  • Fortinet E-Mail Security Launch Drives MSSPs (0)March 13, 2013Fortinet is hoping to further build out its growing managed services business with the latest version of its FortiMail 5.0 OS and additions to its e-mail security appliance line that equip MSSPs with a few new service options. The objective? A greater entrance into large enterprise markets as it revs to take on Palo Alto…
  • Ingram Micro Debuts Hosted Cisco Collab Wares (0)March 12, 2013The distributor this week rolled out a new Cisco Systems Inc.-powered hosted collaboration offering for partners looking to deliver standardized and easily repeatable cloud-based unified communications services.
  • Ruckus Makes Noise With Mobile WLAN Apps (0)March 11, 2013Ruckus Wireless is promising to make the planning and testing of Wi-Fi networks a bit easier with a set of free mobile apps to fine-tune and monitor WLAN environments.
  • Logicalis, MobileIron Join Forces for MDM (0)March 11, 2013Global systems integrator Logicalis has rounded out its BYOD strategy by forging a partnership with MDM vendor MobileIron
  • SolarWinds Mapping Tool Evolves Market (0)March 8, 2013IT management firm SolarWinds launched a dedicated network mapping tool, giving partners a leg up with added topographical visibility and insights and allow them to remain competitive amid a slowing network management market.
  • Top 10 Sights From Mobile World Congress (0)March 7, 2013More than 72,000 mobile technolphiles from 200 countries packed Spain’s Fira Gran Via last week for GSMA’s Mobile World Congress. If you couldn’t make it to Barcelona for the event, here’s some of what attendees saw and heard at the show.
  • Dell Shareholder Demands Look at Books (0)March 6, 2013Eight percent shareholder is not happy with Michael Dell's plans to take company private.
  • WLAN Sales Soar, Routers Stagnate (0)March 6, 2013Infonetics Research finds global WLAN sales bulged by more than 20 percent to $4 billion in 2012 as enterprises continued to bolster their wireless capabilities.
  • FireMon: Channel Origins Influenced Growth (0)March 5, 2013Firewall management and risk mitigation firm FireMon identified a unique market opportunity, got in on the ground floor of a burgeoning niche and is now reaping the benefits. But its channel origins had a lot to do with that.
  • Dell Raises the Bar for Premier Partners (0)March 5, 2013If you want to climb to the highest level of Dell Inc.’s partner program – and stay there – be ready to bring your A-game. The company is boosting Premier Partner enterprise gear revenue requirements by 33 percent in the U.S. and 50 percent in Canada.
  • Fortinet Threat Services Boost MSP Presence (0)March 4, 2013Fortinet is giving managed service ambitions a little bit more traction with the launch of sandboxing and IP reputation services, a debut that gives its networking security partners a few more ways into managed service markets and better positions it against rivals Check Point and WatchGuard Technologies, which are getting more serious about their presence…
  • Challengers Beware: Cisco Back on Track (0)March 4, 2013Cisco accounted for more than one of every two dollars spent across the six main segments of the enterprise networking market in 2012, according to Synergy Research.
  • Yes, West Virginia, Cisco Does Give Refunds (8)March 1, 2013After being sharply criticized by a state auditor for selling West Virginia high-priced routers and support services it didn’t need, Cisco has agreed to allow the state of West Virginia to return routers it doesn’t need for a full refund.
  • F5, Websense Team In Security Expansion (0)March 1, 2013F5 Networks and Websense have launched a partnership that aims to combine unified access, firewall and Web gateway solutions with DLP, e-mail and Web security offerings with the aim of covering a much larger security footprint. For now, it's a solution that gives partners a ready-made differentiator while expanding cross-sell opportunities into new markets.
  • Barracuda Eyes Mid-Market With Cloud, Storage (0)March 1, 2013In a highly commoditized firewall market, Barracuda Networks is adding storage and cloud functions into its network security appliances that enable a multitude of features at a digestible price point. The result? The ability for partners to better target mid-market opportunities.
  • Can HP’s Big Vegas Bet Win? (0)March 1, 2013HP turned up in a gambler's paradise to stake its future on chief executive Meg Whitman’s turnaround plan. What are the key parts of this big bet, and do partners believe it can pay off?
  • Juniper Reportedly Explored Selling Assets (0)February 27, 2013Reuters reported yesterday that Juniper Networks unsuccessfully floated the idea of selling off some assets, such as its enterprise firewall group, as well as selling the whole company.
  • Verizon Revs Partner Program in Midmarket Push (0)February 27, 2013Verizon is wringing much of the complexity out of its disparate business channel programs, consolidating partner efforts in an effort to marshal reseller efforts for an all-out assault on the midmarket.
  • Sophos Names Valentine to Lead Channel Efforts (0)February 26, 2013Sophos appointed Fortinet channel vet Mike Valentine to head global channel and sales teams, a move that likely heralds big plans for the Boston-based endpoint security firm
  • Cisco Overcharges and Sales Responsibility (0)February 26, 2013The state of West Virginia accuses Cisco Systems of selling it equipment it didn’t need, resulting in millions of dollars in unnecessary spending. The state’s audit report says Cisco had a “moral responsibility” to not oversell them. The incident has two conflicting forces at play, and a lesson for solution providers.
  • Global IT Spending Topped $2 Trillion in 2012 (0)February 26, 2013Global spending on smartphones exceeded that of PCs for the first time in 2012, according to the market watcher, which claims that the popularity of mobile devices is continuing to reshape the IT landscape, according to IDC.
  • Aerohive, AirWatch Gearing Up for IPOs (0)February 25, 2013Wireless networking startup Aerohive and mobile device management vendor AirWatch are making moves that will eventually lead to an initial public offering. Both companies provide unique insights into two burgeoning channel opportunities.
  • Dell Increases Focus on Preferred Partners (0)February 22, 2013Dell’s channel organization is increasingly focused on enabling and enhancing the quality of existing partners over recruiting new resellers and integrators to its program. Giving priority to new data center and cloud technologies and the partners qualified in these segments is paying dividends, says Dell’s channel leadership team.
  • Cisco Rethinking SMB Strategy (2)February 22, 2013Cisco has been racing to shed its consumer and low-end products from its portfolio, in favor of its more traditional enterprise offerings. If the telegraphs from its SMB sales director are any indication, Cisco is not giving up on the SMB market when it comes to networking, cloud computing and mobility.
  • IT Resellers Flocking to Lenovo, Fleeing Acer (0)February 22, 2013The 1,725 resellers that took part in Context's ChannelWatch research were asked which of the major IT brands they are planning to add to their portfolios over the next three months, and which they are thinking of dropping.
  • HP Struggles Continue as Q1 Profits Fall 16% (1)February 21, 2013While the company narrowly bested the pessimistic outlook of Wall Street analysts, the news was mostly grim across the board for HP, which saw revenues fall 6 percent from a year ago to $28.4 billion.
  • AT&T Opens Doors to New Channel Program (0)February 21, 2013AT&T relaunches its channel program to enable resellers and OEM partners to reach new market opportunities, as well as attract solution providers to integrate and resell AT&T products. The revamped AT&T Partner Exchange is reflection of carriers becoming less hostile toward the channel to maintain relevancy and profitability.
  • VCE Talks New VBlocks, Partner Relationships (0)February 21, 2013The VCE launches two new systems and a specialized platform with SAP HANA. D Martin, vice president of global channels for the VCE discusses how the VCE has been building out its channel presence.
  • Huawei Invests Globally in Empowering Partners (0)February 20, 2013The Dandelion Empowerment Program is the latest initiative by Huawei to train and mobilize partners in information and communications technologies. The global program is designed to help Huawei reach its goal of becoming a $100 billion vendor.
  • HP’s Whitman Thrills VARs With Channel Stance (0)February 19, 2013To an enthusiastic response from the thousands of partner representatives gathered, the HP CEO outlined a hard stance on any reseller business being taken direct by the vendor's sales force.
  • Connectivity Consultation Is Next Specialization (0)February 19, 2013Channel partners have an opportunity to become connectivity specialists, offering consultation practices that help create custom-designed cloud solutions for industry-specific purposes. A connectivity specialist will be less concerned about offering a specific set of services and instead, more focused on ensuring all needed services and solutions are properly deployed and connected.
  • Brocade Tech Data Deal has Competitive Focus (0)February 18, 2013Brocade's partner training deal with Tech Data is part of a larger channel enablement strategy for Brocade, as it seeks to drive its networking portfolio deeper into the market and compete against rivals like Cisco, HP and Dell.
  • Pertino Offers Cloud Networking-as-a-Service (1)February 18, 2013Pertino, a growing networking startup, seeks to redefine the SMB networking space with an networking-as-a-service platform, allowing any IT pro to spin-up a network operation in the cloud and connect disparate devices -- and cloud resources -- like they were local.
  • A10 Networks Plans Post-Lawsuit Products (0)February 18, 2013A federal court denied A10 Networks request to postpone the imposition of a permanent injunction for selling products that use pilfered source code from Brocade Communications. Undeterred, A10 says it will soon release lawsuit-compliant products and continue to appeal the damages awards to Brocade.
  • Brocade Blames CA Tax Switch for Q1 Loss (0)February 18, 2013The San Jose, Calif.-based storage and networking vendor says a change in its home state's tax laws resulted in a first-quarter loss of $21 million.
  • Cisco Credits Partners as Q2 Profts Swell (0)February 14, 2013Cisco claims its channel partners have helped it almost double its UCS (unified computing system) customer base annually in its second quarter as it announces a profit swell of 44 percent and an eighth consecutive quarter of record sales.
  • FlexPod Fuels Stellar Q3 for NetApp (0)February 14, 2013NetApp claims it has seen the biggest-ever customer uptake in its FlexPod technology in its Q3 as it announces a profit spike of nearly a third.
  • Cisco’s Soaring Profits a Sign of Better Times (0)February 14, 2013Cisco quarterly profits jumped 44 percent, bolstered by increasing demand for networking gear and a one-time tax incentive. All said, the financial report beat analysts’ expectations and potentially foretell better times ahead for the IT market.
  • Why Apple’s iWatch Makes Mobile Security Easy (0)February 14, 2013Apple's iWatch has the potential to be the only mobile device that needs management, linking up with connected iOS devices and sharing authentication configurations. With iOS a regularly used platform in the enterprise, Apple's latest consumer device could have a profound affect on mobile security.
  • Dell’s Technology Program Has Future Focus (0)February 13, 2013Dell talks up growth within the Technology Partner Program, potentially part of a larger strategy to advertise the service and solution provider community as Dell sets course for a new focus on enterprise and infrastructure in a post-privatized world.
  • Xerox ConnectKey Is More Than Managed Print (0)February 13, 2013Xerox brings streamlined managed print services to a wide audience with ConnectKey, a specialized software suite targeted at service providers looking to manage multi-function printers, documents in the cloud, mobile print privileges and much more.
  • Sophos UTM, RED Appliances Boost Throughput (0)February 12, 2013Sophos launches the UTM 525 and 625 alongside an updated RED 50 appliance, offering improved throughput capabilities for branches managing wide-scale LAN operations and remote branch offices. Services providers looking for a two-step process on branch management may find a UTM/RED pairing appealing.
  • Cisco Calls on Midmarket Collaboration Partners (0)February 12, 2013Cisco Systems rolls out a new set of perks and incentives to help bring partners of all sizes into the midmarket space, delivering right-sized solutions that promote workspace collaboration in a BYOD world. Cisco attests midmarket collaboration represents a a potential $7.1 billion opportunity.
  • ADTRAN Nixes Partner Hurdles, Adds Rewards (0)February 11, 2013ADTRAN channel chief Ted Cole offers a deep dive on ADTRAN's partner program amid the company's program changes, which seek to bring more partners into the fold, especially as managed services take off.
  • Dell Boomi Talks Middleware, Wipro Partnership (0)February 8, 2013Dell Boomi's Rick Nucci talks about the growing success of AtomSphere integrations, a new global alliance with Wipro Technologies and the future of middleware.
  • Dell Parries Cisco With SDN, Cloud Networking (0)February 7, 2013Dell launches a new top-of-rack switch, networking blades with gigabit connectivity and the official availability of OpenFlow SDN capabilities baked into the Force10 OS (FTOS). Dell's networking focus targets both the enterprise and Cisco's own recent offerings.
  • Losses Mount, CEO Out at Alcatel-Lucent (0)February 7, 2013Alcatel-Lucent chief executive Ben Verwaayen has stepped down from his post just as the vendor posted a fourth-quarter net loss of almost $1.9 billion.
  • Mobile Growth Portends Channel Opportunity (0)February 7, 2013Cisco's predictions about the incoming wave of mobile traffic and mobility demands paints a picture of what the channel will look like in the next coming years. If partner's aren't gearing up for the cloud services market, the infrastructure technology space will be the next big space to demand trusted advisors.
  • Webroot Targets Network Security Partners (0)February 6, 2013Webroot is edging into the network security space with the launch of its Intelligence for Networks Suite, a release that gives partners the ability to service a broader markets and compete with the growing number of industry rivals incorporating both networking and endpoint security into their portfolios.
  • Judge Sides With Wi-Fi Patent Troll Over Cisco (2)February 6, 2013The federal case that was supposed to bring a halt to patent troll Innovatio’s ongoing shakedown of hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops took a strange turn when a federal judge threw out racketeering allegations brought by Cisco, Motorola and Netgear.
  • WatchGuard Ramps Up XTM Line (0)February 5, 2013WatchGuard ramped up its XTM line with seven new models and a slew of performance enhancements, a move that indicates that it intends to make a bigger entrance in enterprise markets in 2013.
  • Cisco Overhaul Includes SDN, Cloud Connectivity (0)February 5, 2013Cisco continues its infrastucture overhaul with new switches designed for high-throughput environments and virtual appliances that link together disparate cloud services, private clouds and service provider environments. Cisco also expands its SDN efforts with a workshop for the Cisco Open Network Environment.
  • SilverSky Expands Services With Channel Uptick (0)February 4, 2013SilverSky, a rebrand that combined Perimeter E-Security and USA.NET, is on the cloud services warpath underscored by a series of recent product launches, and is now embarking on an active channel recruitment capping to bring its ambitions to fruition.
  • Oracle Snaps Up Acme Packets for $2B (0)February 4, 2013The acquisition of the Bedford, Mass. based next-gen voice, data and unified communications solutions firm is expected to bolster Oracle’s ability to deploy all-IP networks, particularly across mobile devices, in a variety of vertical applications.
  • Juniper Buys DDoS Tools From UK VAR (0)February 4, 2013Juniper forked over $10 million for a set of DDoS mitigation tools from UK security specialist VAR Accumuli’s Webscreen Systems subsidiary.
  • Cisco Delivers the Big Game to Your Phone (0)February 1, 2013Cisco launchesStadiumVision Mobile, a live wireless video delivery platform that links into the Cisco Connected Stadium platform, providing live interactive content to sports fans in large-scale stadium environments. Cisco's efforts reveal a larger story about the growing need for advanced wireless infrastructure.
  • Cisco to Partner, Buy Its Way to Cloud Success (0)February 1, 2013In a keynote speech, Cisco CTO Padmasree Warrior singled out the five biggest technology trends she believes will shape the industry in the coming years: mobile, cloud, a new breed of apps, the Internet of things, and data and analytics.
  • Polycom Picks Sentri for Advanced Collaboration (0)January 31, 2013Polycom picks up Microsoft Gold partner Sentri Inc. in an effort to expand its partner community readiness in deploying complex unified communication and advanced collaborative solutions, which Gartner attests will become a $2 billion industry by 2016.
  • EMC’s Greenplum Appliance Is Pivotal Move (0)January 30, 2013EMC launches the Greenplum Data Computing Appliance (DCA) Unified Analytics Platform (UAP), an appliance designed to conquer the most difficult Big Data tasks faster than the competition. With Big Data needs set to dominate the IT landscape in the next 3 years, this launch is highly strategic.
  • IBM Hosting Strategy is SmartCoud Enterprise+ (0)January 29, 2013IBM launches SmartCloud Enterprise+, a complete enterprise-ready public cloud hosting solution with a heavy focus on security. IBM also deepens its alliance with SAP by hosting SAP Business Suite and BusinessObjects on IBM's SmartCloud platform.
  • Dell SonicWall Swells Security Channel Ranks (0)January 28, 2013Dell SonicWall is making a concerted push to bolster its channel ranks by onboarding traditional resellers who have yet to dip their toes in security. The effort comes as yet another testament to Dell's enterprise security ambitions that have manifested as part of a massive enterprise software overhaul.
  • Lyatiss: Application Defined Networking Hits AWS (0)January 28, 2013Lyatiss introduces CloudWeaver, a specialized application-defined networking platform that centralizes resource management and provisioning around application requirements and application-specific virtualized environments. ADN has the potential to compliment SDN, especially in the cloud service brokerage space.
  • Symantec 4.0 No Easy Road to Recovery (3)January 28, 2013Symantec's massive overhaul, detailed in last week’s product and channel strategy unveiling, will be instrumental in turning around the vendor suffering from stagnation, increased competition, product deficits, questionable mergers and acquisitions, and an unclear go-to-market strategy. Is the plan bold enough to succeed?
  • Wireless Google Signals Secure Cloud Services (0)January 25, 2013Hints that Google may be experimenting with its own wireless network should have cloud service providers thinking about how to more securely deliver software and services to users across the public cloud, especially as the reliance on public cloud infrastructure ramps up in a few short years.
  • Cisco Selling Off Linksys Unit to Belkin (1)January 24, 2013Cisco is selling off the consumer and networking gear unit it acquired a decade ago with the purchase of Linksys to Belkin for an undisclosed sum and will work with the buyer on distribution and merketing, according to company officials.
  • Cisco and NetApp Seek Cloud Unity in FlexPod (0)January 24, 2013Cisco and NetApp continue to improve the FlexPod system as each company recognizing the rising need for FlexPod to become a unifying tool in the management of private infrastructure and public cloud environments.
  • VMware Puppet Labs Partnership Is Software Play (0)January 23, 2013VMware invests $30 million in a strategic partnership with Puppet Labs, an automation specialist in the software-defined data center space. Amid the promise of software-defined IT, this alliance is a smart move to help VMware gain a strong foothold in this evolving space.
  • Cisco’s Intucell Buy Mobilizes Future Plans (0)January 23, 2013Cisco Systems acquires network optimization company Intucell as Cisco captures new capabilities to help it capitalize on the next wave of networking technology that prioritized which is focused around software-centric solutions.
  • SMB 500: EMRs Open Doors for Health Care VAR (0)January 23, 2013Under the HITECH Act, doctor offices and medical facilities are required to migrate patient data to EMRs, or face stiff financial penalties. This directive means opportunity for Auxano Solutions, which has found a niche in easing EMR and compliance woes for health care industry customers.
  • Fortinet Targets MSPs With NGFW Debut (0)January 22, 2013Fortinet is taking on larger rivals with the debut of a next generation firewall that takes aim at larger rivals Check Point Technologies and Palo Alto Networks. It's a move that likely sets the tone for a larger enterprise and managed service push throughout 2013.
  • Cisco Could Look to Dell for Security Strategy (0)January 21, 2013Cisco has lost its way when in the security space and is reportedly pulling out the list of acquisition candidates to reestablish itself as a credible player. But instead of pulling out the check book quite yet, Cisco might do well to learn from others who are reinventing themselves with a security makeover.
  • A10 Seeks New Trial in Patent Infringement Case (0)January 18, 2013A defiant A10 Networks continues to appeal convictions that it infringed upon Brocade’s application load-balancing technologies. Despite a multi-million-dollar judgment and permanent injunction, A10 says the latest legal setback will not affect existing customers and reseller partners.
  • Microsoft Deepens Cloud OS Pitch (0)January 18, 2013Microsoft launches System Center 2012 Service Pack 1, complete with new tools for its Cloud OS platform -- and linkage between Microsoft Windows 2012 and Windows Azure.
  • Cisco’s Nick Adamo Now VP of Americas (0)January 17, 2013Cisco Systems appoints Nick Adamo as senior vice president of worldwide field operations for the Americas region. With nearly 30 years in the industry, Adamo will could increase Cisco sales across the board – but is the company cooking up plans for a post-Chambers future?
  • Cisco Extends Jabber With VDI (0)January 17, 2013Cisco is extending its Jabber enterprise unified communications suite with virtual desktop infrastructure, a move that makes good on some of its video and UC ambitions, while giving partners greater reach into financial, government and other privacy-wary enterprise verticals.
  • Juniper Making Big Bet on SDN (0)January 16, 2013Juniper Networks has used its Global Partner Conference in Las Vegas to outline its strategy to lead the software-defined networks market and unveil services and cloud accreditations for partners.
  • Fortinet Revamps Architecture, Targets Retail (0)January 15, 2013UTM vendor Fortinet is aiming for the retail sector with six new appliances that target distributed enterprises. The move gives partners a market advantage with the ability to deepen compliance niches while catering to the networking needs of retail customers.
  • Brocade Taps Former Xsigo Chief Carney as CEO (0)January 15, 2013Brocade has unveiled former Xsigo and Micromuse leader Lloyd Carney as its new chief executive, five months after predecessor Michael Klayko's resignation
  • ProfitBricks Stacks Its IaaS Channel Program (0)January 14, 2013The infrastructure-as-a-service startup, with a with a strong German pedigree in the global Web hosting space, is readying an aggressive, three-pronged channel program as it brings its hosted data center technology into the U.S. market and prepares to take on IaaS heavyweights such as Amazon and Rackspace.
  • Dell Wyse Cloud-Enables Displays for VDI (0)January 8, 2013Dell Wyse unleashes "Project Ophelia," a specialized display dongle that can turn any desktop monitor into a virtualization thin client. Mobile connectivity options like these are driving the move to a modernized workplace and data center.
  • Marvell mPrint Mobilizes Wireless Printing (0)January 8, 2013Marvell releases a new USB dongle that can turn most printers into wireless printers, bringing the benefits of wireless and mobile printing capabilities to the workplace with minimal effort. Designed for use by OEMs and solution providers, any partner specializing in mobility or managed print may find this useful.
  • Fortinet Boosts MSPs With Security Blade Debut (0)January 7, 2013Fortinet is hoping to expand its managed security services presence with the launch of a high-performance security blade for its FortiGate-5001C. The launch paves the way for MSPs to boost margins and stay on par with UTM security rivals.
  • AirTight Networks Offers MSP-Friendly WLAN (0)January 7, 2013AirTight Networks offers wireless access points that include embedded security, analytics and controller-less cloud manageability targeted for the enterprise or retail space. AirTight is on track to ride the wave of mobility-driven business while giving solution providers areas for value-added management.
  • N-able Help Desk Alliance Offers NOC Upgrade (0)January 4, 2013N-able teams up with Live Virtual Help Desk to provide help desk NOC integration to MSPs and solution providers that don't have the resources or time to implement their own advanced help desk capabilities.
  • Extreme Networks Slips, Plans Cuts, Restructuring (0)January 4, 2013Extreme Networks in cost-cutting mode again after announcing its quarterly results will come in behind expectations due to customer spending delays.
  • RiverMeadow Migration Pack Gets VMware Love (0)January 3, 2013RiverMeadow delivers its cloud migration SaaS package to the VMware Service Provider Program, enabling VMware service partners to quickly migrate any server or existing cloud environment to a brand new VMware-based cloud environment.
  • IT Forecast Revised Up; PCs, Tablets Still Soft (0)January 3, 2013Gartner handed the channel a New Year's boost by upwardly revising its global IT spending forecast for 2013.
  • Channel Video of the Year: The Smell of Success (0)December 31, 2012London’s centuries-old sewer system is now home to networking cables from Geo Networks that provide enhanced security and quick provisioning for UK channel businesses.
  • Report: Huawei in Deal for HP Gear to Iran (2)December 31, 2012For a company trying to rehabilitate its reputation as a responsible member of the global technology industry, Huawei isn’t doing itself any favors by caught up once again in a proposed sale of embargoed tech gear to Iran.
  • Xtera Offers Edge Optimization for SMEs (0)December 27, 2012Xtera launches the XteraLink 300 edge server appliance, designed to aggregate internal networks and optimize their ability to connect to the Internet. With cloud services constricted by bandwidth and connectivity limitations, tools like these will be critical for solution providers serving burgeoning businesses in the SME space.
  • Brocade Plans Aggressive Channel in 2013 (0)December 27, 2012Brocade’s channel chief, Regan McGrath, sees ample opportunity for the networking vendor and its partners in channel enablement initiatives, complementing legacy infrastructure and smart new products.
  • Partners, Not Potatoes, Assess Infrastructure (0)December 26, 2012Boeing's latest in-aircraft WiFi testing included people-like potato sacks to measure signal penetration and quality. Partners have the very same opportunity to deliver penetration services to the marketplace, reshaping the way in which solution providers can differentiate in delivering wireless infrastructure.
  • SMBs Push Consolidation To New Levels (0)December 26, 2012The IT environment is more heterogeneous, which doesn't bode well for cash-strapped SMBs struggling to stay on top of complexity. Fortunately in 2013, there will be a groundswell of industrial strength solutions that house numerous multi-platform features under one roof.
  • WatchGuard, Artisan Partner in Virtual Services (0)December 21, 2012UTM firm WatchGuard Technologies has partnered with IaaS provider Artisan Infrastructure to enable solution providers and MSPs to spin off services from the security firm's virtual firewall appliances.
  • IDC Highlights Top 5 SDN Shakers (0)December 21, 2012IDC highlights 5 major software-defined newtorking vendors shaking up the IT landscape. With 2013 set to be a year of converged infrastructure, SDN's ability to be virtualized makes it a smart, flexible and interoperable solution for burgeoning cloud providers and resellers alike.
  • WatchGuard Targets SMB With Content Security (1)December 20, 2012WatchGuard is aiming for the SMB with a content security appliance launch that touts basic security features at an affordable price point, giving partners yet another way to hit up their smallest, cash-strapped customers before the New Year.
  • F5 Rolls Out Security Accreditation Program (0)December 19, 2012F5 Networks rolls out a security accreditation program that promises to deepen knowledge and strengthen partner competency. But the accreditation signals the networking firm is also looking to stay relevant -- and competitive -- in the growing IT security market.
  • Is Firewall Management Set for Growth Spike? (1)December 19, 2012Thus far, the firewall management space has remained a relatively small and nascent division of the overarching firewall market. However, increasing complexity from multi-platform environments and rapidly evolving security threats could likely change all that, putting market growth on a whole new trajectory.
  • Cisco to Buy Policy Control Specialist BroadHop (0)December 18, 2012The purchase of BroadHop, a long-time Cisco partner as a Wi-Fi service provider, aims to improve the way Cisco customers deliver premium, on-demand network services across mobile, fixed and wireless broadband networks.
  • Omnichannel: Dell’s Vision for Partner Unity (0)December 18, 2012“Omnichannel is where we are able to merge all of our capabilities to deliver complete solutions,” CEO Michael Dell told partners at Dell World, adding that getting resellers up to speed on increasingly complex solution sets through advanced training is equally important to the success of PartnerDirect members.
  • Blue Coat to Acquire Crossbeam Systems (0)December 18, 2012Blue Coat is joining forces with one of its closely allied siblings to deliver a complete portfolio of optimized and scalable Web and network security for customers with complex and media-rich data access needs.
  • Aerohive’s Kurt Mills Pilots Accelerated Channel (0)December 17, 2012Aerohive's new vice president of channels, Kurt Mills, discusses Aerohive's planned channel growth. With Aerohive earning the number 5 spot on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 list, its success is well timed for a company seeking continued channel traction amid a world of growing wireless challenges and mobility.
  • Condusiv Technologies Provides VM Boost (0)December 17, 2012Condusiv Technologies launches V-locity 4, a specialized storage and virtualization technology, speeding VM performance up to 50 perent by removing redundant data I/O, in turn, reducing the need for new storage equipment. Solution providers focusing on private cloud infrastructure may want to bundle V-locity into a larger optimization solutions.
  • Cisco Setting Up Linksys Unit for Sale (1)December 17, 2012Cisco Systems is reportedly exploring the sale of Linksys, the SMB and consumer networking company it acquired nearly 10 years ago. The potential sale is part of a larger realignment in which Cisco is looking to make a major acquisition to bolster its enterprise fortunes.
  • Dell Delivers Enterprise Portfolio Overhaul (0)December 14, 2012Dell unleashes a massive overhaul to its data center solutions as it seeks to position itself for the coming wave of cloud, virtualization and Big Data opportunities that 2013 will bring.
  • Semiconductor Estimates Revised Downward (0)December 13, 2012Gartner has revised down its forecast for worldwide semiconductor sales next year, saying the market will expand only 4.5 percent to $311 billion.
  • SMB Apple Love Is Fruitful Provider Pursuit (0)December 13, 2012A new survey from Intermedia shows there's a rising preference for Apple's iOS in the SMB space, particularly with the iPad. Service providers and VARs that tweak their solutions to be Apple-friendly may find they have much to gain in terms of value-added attach and customer stickiness.
  • EMC Smarts 9.1 Gets Management Overhaul (0)December 12, 2012EMC launches EMC Smarts 9.1, an update to its data center management platform, bringing deeper visibility into network and storage operations. As cloud operations ramp up, from SaaS to PaaS, vendors are gearing up their management offerings so providers can expand their own revenue opportunities.
  • Dell Unveils MDM Appliance for BYOD Efforts (0)December 11, 2012Dell announced a new mobile management appliance that aims to simplify support and security for a broad range of corporate and personal mobile devices in the enterprise.
  • PAN Earnings Miss Likely Channel Blip (0)December 11, 2012Palo Alto Networks missed analysts first quarter financial estimates last week. But the application firewall vendor met revenue growth targets, added customers, and still appears to be taking share -- all of which bode well for continued channel investment.
  • ADTRAN Cloud APs Focus on Manageability (0)December 11, 2012ADTRAN unveils the Bluesocket 1900 virtual wireless LAN access point (AP) designed for system integrators and service providers. With built-in cloud management capabilities and advanced security options, these units are ideal for any partner or MSP attacking large enterprise campuses and vertical environments.
  • Chambers: Cisco Transition Is Growth Mode (0)December 10, 2012Cisco leverages its history of innovation and successful market transitions to make the case that Cisco is equally poised for the world of cloud, software and services. Cisco CEO John Chambers outlines's the strategies that are making these transitions a reality.
  • Despite Regs, Finance Firms to Boost IT Spend (0)December 10, 2012Financial services firms expect to spend more on IT in 2013, and the opening wallets have more to do with improving their businesses and gaining competitive advantage and less to do with merely complying with a growing list of regulations.
  • Pica8: SDN Maturing, Fixing OPEX Woes (0)December 10, 2012Steve Garrison, vice president of marketing at Pica8, discusses the open SDN architecture framework Pica8 is sharing while outlining the hurdles to bringing open SDN capabilities into the channel. SDN carries the promise of alleviating operational expenses for cloud solution providers through automation, which places all SDN technology on an accelerated path to maturation.
  • Unfazed by Critics, UK Firm Inks Huawei Deal (0)December 10, 2012Even as U.S. firms are being cautioned about doing business with Huawei, European solution providers are strengthening their ties to the Chinese telecommunications and networking vendor and expanding profitable partnerships with the firm.
  • Avaya Nixes 400 VARs, Seeks Better Resellers (0)December 7, 2012Avaya is planning to add a handful of top enterprise integrators alongside 90 SMB resellers after culling 400 partners from its UK channel roster.
  • Rapid7 Metasploit Exploits Network Assessment (0)December 7, 2012Rapid7's Metasploit Pro 4.5 can create an "unscrupulous social engineering campaign" within a controlled environment, allowing network assessment and security VARs to simultaneously educate users about phishing attacks while uncovering the most common threat vectors within an organization.
  • Enterasys, Meraki Wield WiFi Agendas (1)December 4, 2012Enterasys doubles-down on its wireless strategy with a channel program boost built around its IdentiFi WAN technology. Meraki prepares its access points for wide scalability and more sophisticated BYOD demands. Both vendors are on track to capture the rising demand mobility brings upon company infrastructure.
  • Sandy, Weak EU Sales Pressure Westcon (0)December 3, 2012Weak market conditions in Europe and continued IT upheaval in the wake of Hurricane Sandy have blown Westcon’s parent Datatec's full-year results off course.
  • Videoconferencing Continues Precipitous Decline (3)December 3, 2012The videoconferencing market felt the pain in 2012's third quarter, as the unyielding economic climate saw businesses shun high-end telepresence systems from Cisco, Polycom and others.
  • SMB 500: Lessons Learned by Education VARs (0)December 1, 2012Navigating the education vertical, however, requires special attention to timing and an understanding of budget constraints, the most successful VARs on the Ingram Micro SMB 500 report.
  • Ingram Micro Buys Promark in Public-Sector Play (0)November 29, 2012Ingram Micro beefed up its high-end storage and document management chops in the public sector with the acquisition of Promark Technology, a value-added distributor focused on data storage, electronic document imaging, networking, security, ruggedized computers and associated professional services.
  • Routing, Switching, Voice Markets Falter in Q3 (0)November 28, 2012The core voice and data markets of routers, switches and PBXs endured a tough third quarter, with shipment levels and average selling prices taking a hit, research has found.
  • Meru Schools VARs With Edu-Focused Program (0)November 27, 2012Wireless LAN firm welcomes Cisco-Meraki deal as it looks to increase integrator recruitment with new range of perks.
  • AstuteNET Partner Program Adds Flash Value (0)November 21, 2012Astute Networks launches a three-tier partner program for resellers, solution providers and distribution partners to expand its market reach with the ViSX Flash VM virtualization storage acceleration appliance. Partners specializing in speed, productivity and optimization may find a tight fit.
  • ForeScout, IBM Partnership Signals NAC Uptick (0)November 20, 2012A partnership that combines ForeScout's NAC capabilities with IBM's security intelligence will let partners offer deep-dive monitoring and risk assessment services bolstered by real-time visibility and security intelligence capabilities. However, the partnership also heralds an uptick in NAC solutions to extend network visibility, which in turn strengthens security intelligence, reduces BYOD complexity and better detects…
  • HP Writes Off $8.8 Billion Against Autonomy (2)November 20, 2012Hewlett-Packard posted dismal quarterly earnings, with revenue declining in nearly every major operating unit. The results were not as bad as some analyst anticipated and were slightly better than the worse-case scenario. Surprising, though, is HP’s massive write down related to its acquisition of Big Data software firm Autonomy.
  • Red Hat Promotes Linux in Open Cloud Push (0)November 20, 2012Red Hat promotes Linux as the original cloud OS, espousing its portability, consistency and extensibility as key factors that make it more cloud-friendly than other major operating systems. But does Red Hat's evangelizing of Linux have less to do with what it can provide today and more to do with the cloud platforms of the future?
  • Panda Goes Upmarket With UTM Launch (0)November 19, 2012Panda Security is leveraging its cloud prowess to go upmarket with the launch of a perimeter security appliance line geared for larger midmarket and enterprise companies. For partners, ths leaves a wider berth to make the leap from cloud services into the UTM space.
  • Riverbed Stingray Stocked at AWS Marketplace (0)November 19, 2012Riverbed expands its optimization footprint by placing the Stingray Traffic Manager into the Amazon Web Services cloud, boosting the reach of its optimization capabilities and providing a more flexible way to deliver its platform.
  • Cisco Bets $1.2B on Cloud With Meraki Buy (0)November 19, 2012Cisco made another bold move into cloud-based networking on Sunday with the $1.2 billion purchase of San Francisco-based start-up Meraki, maker of Wi-Fi, switching, security and mobile device management centrally managed from the cloud.
  • Sundaram: Cisco Cloud Plans Are on Track (0)November 16, 2012Cisco's Raja Sundaram discusses the direction Cisco has taken to deliver cloud capabilities to its partners as it reshapes its business model around more software-based partner services.
  • Dell Revenues Plummet With PC Decline (1)November 15, 2012For its third fiscal quarter, PC manufacturer Dell reported sinking earnings that included a 47 percent decline in net income compounded by an 11 percent drop in sales revenues. While grim, the numbers reflect a company in the process of reinventing itself and placing key investments where it hopes will be crucial in its transformation.
  • Netgear Beefs Up UTM Release For SMBs (0)November 14, 2012Netgear is carving out its niche in the fiercely competitive UTM space with the launch of a new appliance that ups the ante for its target SMB market with a several new and advanced features. At the end of the day, that gives partners a greater ability to hit up their smallest SMB customers with…
  • Blue Coat Names New Channel Chief (0)November 14, 2012After a six-month gap in channel leadership, Web security and WAN optimization firm Blue Coat Systems named Barry Davis to helm the company's America's channels. The move fills a crucial gap, but also could serve to help turn around an era of instability at the company defined by executive turnover, acquisition and dramatic channel program…
  • CA Data Center Study: Roadblocks & Opportunity (0)November 14, 2012A new study from CA Technologies has shown that organizations are struggling with new data center technology because roadblocks and existing data center problems are causing setbacks. But these barriers to innovation are perfect channel opportunities.
  • Cisco Pleases Wall Street Amid Internal Transition (0)November 14, 2012Cisco's earnings beat Wall Street amid lowered expectations, but the company still has a long way to go to maintain a profitable leadership position in the industry. Cisco's earnings show a company still undergoing internal changes.
  • Big Switch Networks Gives SDN Big Push (0)November 13, 2012Big Switch Networks launches a trio of virtualized networking solutions that bring a robust software-defined networking platform to the market. With SDN opening the doors to more sophisticated networking capabilities, solution providers may find it's a great source of value-add in an increasingly cloud-centric world.
  • Palo Alto Networks Launches Virtual Firewall (0)November 13, 2012Palo Alto Networks is staying a few paces ahead of industry trends with the launch of a virtualized next-gen firewall platform. The release provides a strong value-add for partners, but it also heralds an inevitable paradigm shift toward a more holistic and comprehensive approach to security.
  • Network Assessment is Business Enablement (0)November 13, 2012A Cisco Channels blog highlights why channel partners should use network assessments to ensure major technology upgrades are both customized and right-sized before implementation. But Cisco's recommendations can be easily applied to many of the leading spaces that dominate the IT industry. It's not just a smart move, it has the potential to increase a…
  • Beleaguered Huawei Launches $30M Promo Blitz (2)November 13, 2012Accused of spying and IP theft, Huawei is taking its case right to consumers with the universally appealing, two-pronged approach of flashy discounts and free prizes.
  • Lantronix xPrintServer Simplifies Mobile Printing (0)November 12, 2012Lantronix launches the business-ready xPrintServer, delivering mobile printing to the workplace without any major configuration required by the end-user or network administrator. Solution providers can use Lanronix's portfolio as an on-ramp to managed print or to enhance existing print services.
  • Sophos Expands UTM Play With SMB Launch (0)November 12, 2012Sophos is increasing its presence in the tight UTM space with the launch of an appliance, dedicated to the SMB. The release represents a new competitive angle for Sophos, which has been intent on gaining ground in the heated networking security space.
  • Sourcefire Launch Targets Advanced Malware (0)November 12, 2012Sourcefire, Inc. is going after APTs and other advanced malware with a comprehensive product refresh and updated security software. For now, that gives partners a way to remain relevant and competitive amid the sea of competitors jumping on Big Data analytics and security intelligence in order to gain ground in the tightening security services race.
  • Chinese Official Lashes Out at Huawei Critics (2)November 10, 2012The furor over allegations of Chinese industrial espionage and national security threats reached the highest levels of the Beijing government Saturday when China's commerce minister took time away from his nation’s 18th Communist Party Congress to deride U.S. criticism of technology firms like Huawei and ZTE.
  • Thoma Bravo Acquires Crossbeam Systems (1)November 9, 2012Private equity firm Thoma Bravo is acquiring network security solutions firm Crossbeam Systems for an undisclosed sum. The move indicates a growing network security solutions niche that address security threats and performance issues sourced to increasing complexity, and will likely bolster channel coffers that will pave the way for further market expansion.
  • Dell Wyse Cloud Client Manager Wrangles BYOD (0)November 9, 2012Dell unleashes the Dell Wyse Cloud Client Manager, giving solution providers and IT admins an all-encompassing look into the network for virtualization and mobile management needs. With built-in compliance policies and easy-to-use remote software, Dell's solution delivers on its efforts to be an end-to-end vendor.
  • Winge Out in Cisco Collaboration Unit Shakeup (0)November 8, 2012O.J. Winge, senior vice president of Cisco’s collaboration technology group is leaving the company, replaced by former Symantec exec Rowan Trollope.
  • CA Enhances Service Management Portfolio (0)November 7, 2012CA Technologies enhances the CA Services Management portfolio with updates to the CA IT Asset Manager and CA Service Desk Manager, improving upon automated and intelligent tasks that can streamline work for both MSPs and IT admins.
  • Crossbeam Adds Elite Tier in Channel Expansion (0)November 5, 2012Crossbeam Systems is expanding its channel program to incorporate an Elite tier, aimed at rewarding its top performers with added support, resources, training and marketing materials. But when all's said and done, the moves speaks to the fact that end user environments are becoming more complex, and customers have little choice but to turn to…
  • Enterasys IdentiFi Allows Wide-Scale BYOD (0)November 5, 2012Enterasys continues to bolster its wireless networking capabilities with IdentiFi, a new wireless solution set that is designed for "hyper-dense" wireless deployments that can accommodate any size enterprise environment. With mobility on the rise, wireless infrastructure is a smart place for partners to specialize.
  • Brocade Finds SDN Love in Vyatta Acquisition (0)November 5, 2012Brocade picks up Vyatta as it seeks to expand its software-defined networking capabilities. However, with outgoing CEO Mike Klayko unsuccessful attempts at selling the company, Brocade's latest acquisition could also be an effort to add value to Brocade's bottom line.
  • Barracuda Appoints EMC Vet As CEO (0)November 5, 2012Firewall firm Barracuda Networks named EMC vet William Jenkins as its new CEO, a move that likely heralds a new era of growth, market expansion and a possible IPO. For the channel, that likely means new opportunities to dust off ambitions to tackle yet untapped, larger market segments.
  • Sharp, Panasonic Lead Japan’s Troubled Techs (0)November 5, 2012A combination of stiff global competition, a difficult currency exchange rate and a perceived lack of innovation has some of the channel’s best-known Japan-based vendor partners on the ropes – and at least one of them may not make it to see 2013 through.
  • Cisco’s Services Attitude Shows Disconnect (0)November 2, 2012Cisco's own Edison Peres opines that as-a-service consumption models are just starting to evolve and seeks partner feedback on the state of customer discussions. But if Cisco has only recognized this "new consumption model" now, it may mean Cisco is out of touch with the real needs of its partner community, and the IT channel…
  • HP Targets SMB With New Storage, Networking (0)November 2, 2012HP unleashes a new lineup of storage and networking solutions to bring a more modern data center to the burgeoning SMB. With channelized networking solutions that focus on wireless and mobility, opportunity exists for solution providers to build mobile-centric SMB offerings.
  • Cisco Updates Cloud Automation Platform (0)November 1, 2012Cisco takes to the cloud with version 3.1 of the Intelligent Automation tool for Cloud. Amid disparate cloud and multi-user provisioning environments, Cisco hopes to streamline and automate the use of private infrastructure resources to truly deliver on the promise of a private cloud.
  • Sophos Offers Free UTM Manager (0)November 1, 2012Sophos is offering partners a free UTM manager in a bid to expand channel managed services and drum up business around its UTM offerings. Whether the free offering will allow partners to break new ground in well-established UTM markets, though, remains to be seen.
  • Nirvanix Taps Brocade for Cloud Infrastructure (0)November 1, 2012Cloud storage specialist Nirvanix has tapped networking company Brocade for its networking technology, providing an overhaul to Nirvanix's scalable cloud storage solutions. Enhancements are always a bonus to the channel, but this partnership signals something deeper about technology convergence.
  • EMC Expands Velocity Service Provider Program (0)November 1, 2012EMC wants to capture a greater share of the expanding cloud channel by providing more support to service providers delivering cloud, solution providers building clouds and channel partners developing new cloud capacities. The approach is similar to those taken by other vendors, which raises questions about changing channel dynamics.
  • Cell Carriers Struggling to Restore N.E. Service (0)November 1, 2012Hurricane Sandy knocked out as much as 20 percent of the wireless telephony and data service in New York and New Jersey. At least one major relay station was taken out by surging flood waters. Power outages and downed transmission lines hinder service to stricken areas. Experts say the service disruption reflects the vulnerability of…
  • Cisco Vet Fancher to Lead Comstor in U.S. (0)October 31, 2012Distributor Westcon Group scored a bit of a coup today naming a well known Cisco channel veteran to head up its Cisco-centric Comstor business unit efforts in the U.S.
  • FireMon Embeds Security in SDN (0)October 30, 2012FireMon has its sights set on the software-defined networking space with the vision of embedding security into the SDN controller. While still on the drawing board, the security and risk management firm's ambitions open management and services opportunities for partners, while setting the stage for a paradigm shift that could take the networking security market…
  • Fortinet, Bradford Team on Mobile Security (0)October 29, 2012Fortinet and Bradford Networks have partnered to offer a joint mobile security solution that will likely allow partners to delve into mobile security practices and compete in the rapidly heating market. That said, Fortinet might be playing catch-up with competitors.
  • Riverbed Optimizes Optimization With OPNET (0)October 29, 2012Riverbed expands its network optimization prowess by acquiring OPNET Technologies, bringing an additional layer of network and application performance management, reporting and visibility to Riverbed's solution set. Amid the boom of hosted solutions, Riverbed's acquisition is well timed, especially as MSPs are tasked with ensuring quality-of-service in multi-tenant and multi-cloud environments.
  • China Unicom Bumps Cisco Over Security (2)October 29, 2012In what’s already being described as a “tit-for-tat” move, China Unicom is booting Cisco Systems' switches from its massive Internet backbone network, citing security vulnerabilities and the potential for “backdoors.” It’s basically the same allegations made by the U.S against Chinese companies Huawei Technologies and ZTE.
  • Where Presidential Candidates Stand on Tech (0)October 29, 2012As the 2012 presidential election winds down into its final full week, the candidates are scrambling to make sure their message has been heard by a diverse group of voters particularly in closely contested states such as Ohio and Florida. Here is a compilation of statements and positions from the four candidates on technology and…
  • Doubts About the Future of EMC-Cisco Alliance (0)October 29, 2012EMC is cozying up to longtime collaborator Cisco Systems after ending speculation that it would buy networking challenger Juniper Networks. The EMC-Cisco alliance has been under pressure for more than a year as both companies plied into technologies that created competitive conflicts to their alliance. Stepping back from the brink won’t end the strain, though.
  • M2M Security Expected To Rise (0)October 26, 2012An ABI Research report indicated that M2M security is anticipated to grow -- not surprising considering that more infrastructure is increasingly placed online. And security solution providers need to be ready to expand services into new markets to protect ill-equipped utility and manufacturing industries from the threat of cyberattacks.
  • Whitman to Cisco: HP’s Hand Better Than Yours (3)October 24, 2012Cisco's John Chambers said HP lost its way and might not survive a coming industry shakeout. Now it's Meg Whitman's turn to fire back.
  • Obama, Romney May Ignore EU, but IT Can’t (0)October 24, 2012The presidential candidates may be ignoring the festering economic crisis in Europe, but IT professionals need to stay focused on a deteriorating EU, which is dragging down the entire industry.
  • Riverbed Gives MSPs Virtualized App Monitoring (0)October 23, 2012Riverbed launches Cascade 10, equipped with a full line of network performance tools to monitor virtual appliances. The company seeks to give service providers the ability to deliver application performance management-as-a-service with a layer of optimization.
  • Cisco: Cloud Data Set for Six-Fold Rise (0)October 23, 2012A Cisco Systems, Inc. study indicated that data center traffic is set to quadruple, driven primarily by cloud data that is projected grow by a factor of six by 2016. In light of the anticipated barrage of Big Data, partners will need to be standing by to ready and optimize networks to ensure customer performance.
  • Huawei in Mind as Candidates Spar Over China (1)October 22, 2012The U.S. presidential candidates may have avoided naming technology companies specifically, but the specter of Chinese industrial espionage and security threats at the hands of companies like Huawei and ZTE was top of mind during a vigorous foreign policy debate Monday night.
  • HP Services Anywhere Is Service Desk Cloud (0)October 22, 2012HP launches HP Services Anywhere SaaS suite, bringing a cloud-based service desk to enterprise corporations looking for a streamlined way to replace ailing help-desk resolution services. With flexible licensing options, solution providers could also use this solution for their own purposes.
  • Patent List Grows in Juniper, Palo Alto Suit (0)October 19, 2012The suit brought by Juniper against rival Palo Alto Networks continues its slow plod through the courts and through several unproductive attempts at settling the matter before trial.
  • Fortinet Launches OS, Product Revamp (0)October 18, 2012Fortinet has come out with another comprehensive product refresh, revamping its FortiOS and series of security appliances with tweaks that include support for virtual platforms, intelligence capabilities and advanced security mechanisms. That bodes well for partnersl, which can leverage the capabilities to diversity their portfolio and further hone practices in virtualization and mobile management.
  • Check Point Boosts Appliance With Power (0)October 18, 2012Check Point Software Technologies gave its new security appliance a bit of a power boost, giving partners a means to start upsell conversations with customers. Meanwhile, amid rapidly evolving technology trends, the security appliance market is also experiencing a bit of a metamorphosis, and the firm will likely have to find new ways to stay…
  • White House Finds No Evidence Huawei Spies (0)October 18, 2012A security review by the White House found no evidence China-based Huawei Technologies and ZTE intentionally spy on the U.S. government or engage in corporate espionage, contradicting an earlier report by a U.S. House committee. However, Huawei products are entirely free of security concerns.
  • HP Debuts Concierge Portal for SMB Partners (0)October 17, 2012Finding more and better ways to engage the potential partners in the small and midsize business strata is the driving force behind a new online resource portal dubbed the HP Partner Concierge
  • Cisco Shows New Cloud Collaboration Wares (0)October 16, 2012Cisco is looking to come at collaboration from all conceivable cloud angles -- and to take their partners along for the ride -- with new enhancements to its telepresence, Web conferencing, unified communications and contact center solutions portfolio.
  • Jail, Hard Lessons in Cisco Gear Resale Scam (0)October 15, 2012While Cisco and Verizon battle to get their court-ordered restitution after being bilked out of $2.8 million in equipment by a rogue employee, at least one channel reseller has been left holding the bag.
  • Amid Huawei Row, CTIA Wants More Info Sharing (0)October 11, 2012Despite allegations that two of its members pose a threat to U.S. national security, the world’s largest wireless networking advocacy group is urging vendors and carriers to share more information with each other and the government in pursuit of safer networks.
  • IBM, AT&T Partner on Secure Cloud Service (0)October 10, 2012IBM is attempting to raise its cloud profile, partnering with AT&T to offer a joint “network-enabled” cloud service that provides access to IBM’s backend infrastructure over AT&T’s secure network. The duo is playing the security angle, a move that might be crucial in differentiating against Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle and other major competitors.
  • SMB 500: New Normal in Networking Is Growth (0)October 9, 2012Findings from Ingram Micro and The 2112 Group’s SMB 500 study show that, despite the growth of cloud and connected services, there's still one section of hardware that continues to pay dividends in the cloud era -- networking technology.
  • U.S. Resellers Wary of Huawei’s Risk (1)October 8, 2012CBS news magazine 60 Minutes detailed U.S. government allegations that China-based Huawei is a security and economic threat. A Channelnomics spot survey finds the vast majority of solution providers are wary of companies labeled threats, and are unlikely to work with them and their distribution partners.
  • U.S. Reps Call Huawei a National Security Threat (0)October 7, 2012Members of the House Intelligence Committee urge U.S. companies to avoid doing business with Huawei, saying the Chinese telco vendor poses a threat of espionage and IP theft.
  • Will the Supreme Court Destroy the Channel? (1)October 5, 2012The little-known case of Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons could make it illegal for VARs to resell most used gear and subject resellers to complicated rules, tariffs and fees that could bring the channel as we know it to a grinding halt.
  • Cisco Ups CEO Drama With Exec Promotions (0)October 4, 2012The volume on speculation about a replacement for long-time Cisco CEO John Chambers inched up a bit late Thursday with the promotion of two key executives assumed to be on the short list of contenders for the corner office.
  • Polycom Eyes Future With Royalty-Free H.264 (0)October 4, 2012Polycom sets the stage for more ubiquitous video conferencing, thanks to their new open-standards royalty-free version of the H.264 scalable video codec. Polycom's latest partnerships and future ambitions frame an interesting picture for the future of video conferencing and Polycom's partners, alike.
  • ADTRAN ActivReach Supercharges Old Ethernet (0)October 4, 2012The ADTRAN ActivReach technology can deliver up to 1000 megabits on aging network infrastructure, allowing organizations to repurpose existing wire to meet 21st century cloud and collaboration connectivity needs. Networking solution providers may be able to use this technology to streamline the upgrade process of aging cabled networks.
  • Riverbed Steelhead EX Equips VMware vSphere (0)October 3, 2012Riverbed integrates VMware's vSphere platform into its Steelhead EX appliance, delivering a centrally manageable platform that can help deliver streamline virtualization and networking services, reliably connecting branch offices and consolidating edge data centers.
  • Cisco Unified Access: One Policy to Rule All (0)October 3, 2012Cisco's new Unified Access Solution technology consolidates policy, security and infrastructure management into a singular platform, allowing wired, wireless and virtualized networks to all be managed as one, under one management console. Consolidation is a budding IT trend, which should help service providers focus more on the service-side of infrastructure management.
  • Palo Alto, Citrix Team on App Delivery Solutions (1)October 3, 2012Next-generation firewall leader Palo Alto Networks is teaming up with Citrix Systems to bring security and application delivery solutions to market, capitalizing on a void left by the exit of Cisco Systems from the market. The partnership also solves another problem for Palo Alto Networks: the lack of product diversity.
  • Huawei Adds Services, Distribution Capacity (1)October 3, 2012China-based IT hardware vendor Huawei is continuing its march into the U.S. channel with the addition of two distribution agreements and services support partner that will enhance its market reach with solution providers and bolster its ability to compete with rivals, such as Cisco Systems.
  • AppNeta PathView Complements Cloud Portfolios (0)October 2, 2012AppNeta launches a new global MSP partner program, designed to be a management complement to existing managed services. MSPs looking for a boost in their portfolio or a more straightforward way to build support services might find AppNeta's solution ideal.
  • CompTIA’s Top Tests Get More Challenging (0)October 2, 2012Proving your tech mettle with the certification mavens at CompTIA just got a little harder thanks to the introduction of new performance-based questions into its top three certification exams.
  • Oracle Cloud: Hard Choices For The Channel (0)October 2, 2012Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and president Mark Hurd kick off Oracle OpenWorld 2012, giving an intensive overview of Oracle's vision of the cloud. But Oracle's direction may not be the best direction for cloud-savvy channel partners -- unless Oracle is exactly what the customer is looking for.
  • Netgear Dev Program Brings Appliance Apps (0)October 1, 2012Netgear introduces a developer program designed to help ISVs build Java-based applications for Netgear's consumer and small-business gateways, routers, switches and NAS appliances. Apps help deliver services on these devices, which means Netgear resellers can deliver considerable value-add inside a networking package.
  • New DishNET Broadband a Boon to the Cloud (0)October 1, 2012New satellite broadband Internet offering is good news for cloud service providers who continue to develop and innovate products and are counting on a growing number of users to be able to access them.
  • CA Inks Nastel Technologies AutoPilot Deal (0)September 28, 2012CA Technologies inks a distribution agreement with Nastel Technologies, making Nastel's AutoPilot middleware automation platform available to CA. This agreement could highlight a bigger trend: the growth of management technology.
  • F5 Networks: Virtual Networking Hits Server 2012 (0)September 27, 2012F5 Networks is launching the F5 Network Virtualization Solution for Microsoft Windows Server 2012 with Hyper-V. This network virtualization platform should make both cloud migration and intra-cloud connectivity more streamlined and automated. Inundated MSPs may want to take a look.
  • WatchGuard Loses Channel Exec, Two Others (0)September 26, 2012Beleaguered UTM firm WatchGuard has parted ways with three longstanding executives, including its channel chief. These moves will likely to spark a period of turmoil and instability that could further drive competitive market share losses and erode channel trust.
  • Cisco’s Chambers Making Retirement Plans (0)September 25, 2012John Chambers, one of the longest-serving contemporary chief executives in any industry, announced plans are underway for his retirement, perhaps as soon as 2014. On the list of potential successors: a former channel chief, a strong channel advocate and an executive counting on the channel for services.
  • Fortinet Ships One Millionth Security Unit (0)September 25, 2012Fortinet just shipped its one millionth unit, signaling the continued upward trajectory of its flagship UTM device, which have allowed it to make solid market share gains. This will pave the way for partners to go up against Cisco and other major competitors.
  • Aruba Instant Enterprise Streamlines WLAN (0)September 25, 2012The Aruba Instant Enterprise brings a range of automated features to wireless LAN infrastructure, streamlining the processes of management, control and optimization of an entire network infrastructure. MSPs and VARs that specialize in mobility may want to take a closer look.
  • Extreme Networks Leverages IP Video Growth (0)September 24, 2012Extreme Networks is leveraging the anticipated growth of IP video and the physical security market with the launch of new solutions that support surveillance and perimeter security, intelligent buildings, traffic cameras, equipment alarms and tracking. For the channel, that means new ways to combine networking and security practices that monitor systems and plug security holes…
  • Cisco Doubling Back on ACE Discontinuation (0)September 24, 2012Cisco Systems is “clarifying” its recently disclosed withdrawal from the application load-balancing market, saying it’s “enhancing” the technology into its market-leading routers. Competitors, however, are not impressed and are launching a full-court press to flip customers.
  • SMB 500: Examining the Top 20 VARs (0)September 23, 2012Distributor Ingram Micro and The 2112 Group’s effort to study SMB channel success reveals secrets of excellence among top-performing U.S. solution providers. Here’s a closer look at the top 20 VARs in Ingram’s customer network.
  • Cisco Shrinks Latency With Nexus Algo Boost (0)September 20, 2012Cisco launches the Nexus 3548 switch, purpose-built to decrease latencies into nanoseconds, delivering high performance for the most pressing cloud environments and data centers that connect with financial institutions for real-time trading.
  • Cisco, Pentaho Ease the Big Data Rough Stuff (0)September 19, 2012The pair combines Pentaho’s open-source Big Data Analytics software tools served up on Cisco’s upstart and increasingly popular Unified Computing Systems servers and bundled with associated networking and storage services.
  • Blue Coat Ups Ante With Channel Revamp (0)September 18, 2012Secure Web Gateway firm Blue Coat Systems Inc. is overhauling its channel program with a tough new set of standards designed to weed out the dead weight and inspire partner investment and loyalty. The problem is, the new policies could also serve to create a channel backlash that compel partners to jump ship and align…
  • Cisco, Ingram Team to Prebuild UCS Servers (0)September 18, 2012The pair rolled out new integration services for partners looking to save time and money delivering complex systems built around B- and C-Series servers.
  • Cisco Security Lineup Is Cloud-Ready (1)September 13, 2012Cisco continues its hardware-centric focus for the cloud world by providing a new security appliances, intrusion prevention systems and revamped security management software.
  • Cisco’s Big Moves to Secure Data Center (0)September 12, 2012Cisco has unveiled a new data-center grade intrusion prevention system along with several security enhancements to existing wares all aimed at strengthening the defenses of high-capacity consolidated and virtualized computing environments.
  • Trustwave Builds New Partner Program (0)September 12, 2012Cloud security company Trustwave melds its resources the acquisition of M86 Security to build a new partner program and offer a refreshed portfolio with robust cloud-ready security solutions. Trustwave has updated its managed services offering, gearing up for the service-oriented future of the channel.
  • Podcast: GTDC’s Curran on State of Distribution (0)September 11, 2012GTDC's Tim Curran sits down with Channelnomics to discuss IT distribution hot topics on the eve of the organization's annual vendor summit.
  • HP Taps Ex-Microsoft Exec to Head Autonomy (1)September 8, 2012The vendor took a major step toward calming partner and customer angst over the direction of its Autonomy software unit by naming a former Microsoft exec to head the information management software business.
  • Cisco Makes IP Video Surveillance Push (0)September 6, 2012Cisco is making a comprehensive launch in the video surveillance, a move that attempts to breathe some life into waning video revenues by incorporating a slew of related managed security services. And the channel will be key to its growth.
  • IDC Says Verticals Boosting WLAN Demand (0)September 6, 2012IDC research suggests the wireless LAN marketplace is growing exponentially, with major verticals buying wireless infrastructure for BYOD implementations. Channel partners have an opportunity to capitalize and carve out mobility infrastructure niches to support the education, government and health care verticals.
  • Tech Data Snaps Up Euro Distribution Group (0)September 5, 2012The distributor is beefing up its presence in Europe with the purchase of several affiliated technology distributors in the U.K., France and the Netherlands.
  • AlgoSec Delivers Firewall Channel Opportunity (0)September 5, 2012AlgoSec Security Management Suite 6.3 arrives with application and appliance controls for the data center. Amid a relatively young market, AlgoSec sees new channel opportunities for MSPs and VARS in the management, consultation, consolidation and centralization of security technology.
  • Sophos Appoints New CEO Hagerman (3)September 4, 2012Sophos has appointed Kris Hagerman as its new CEO, replacing Steve Munford, who has officially resigned. While potentially destabilizing for partners, the leadership change may lead to greater efforts around marketing and branding, which will be key to gaining market share as the company's marches forward in the mobility, cloud encryption and network security arenas.
  • Mobility Isn’t Mobile Without Infrastructure (1)August 31, 2012A recent survey suggests that -- although hardware sales are in decline -- wireless LAN technology is not. With enterprise demand for wireless infrastructure rising 26 percent year-over-year, can the channel continue to capitalize by specializing hardware sales with BYOD/MDM packages?
  • The HP Metltdown: One Year Later (1)August 31, 2012It’s been one year since the wheels appeared to be coming off one of the great American technology companies. Here is a look back at the events of one year ago, a vital timeline in understanding the HP of today.
  • Oracle Pushes PaaS Standard for Management (1)August 31, 2012Oracle is part of a growing list of vendors looking to support a new PaaS API standard that should allow for interoperable cloud and cloud app management. But if big-name vendors are looking to standardize the cloud, what can solution providers learn in adopting their own cloud strategy?
  • Softer Cisco Offers Software-Only UC Licensing (0)August 30, 2012Cisco is removing the hardware-attached restriction to its UC licenses, allowing any software endpoint to be attached to the license. This opens the doors for wider, less expensive UC deployments that complement the flexibility inherent in the cloud era.
  • ADTRAN Gives MSPs Wireless Cloud Advantage (0)August 30, 2012ADTRAN seeks to make MSPs's lives easier with Bluesocket virtual wireless LAN access points. Without the need for an on-premise gateway, Bluesocket technology links a NOC to a company network, giving MSPs the power of on-demand provisioning and a simple way to migrate customers into cloud services.
  • Polycom Unifies Public Sector Priorities (0)August 29, 2012Polycom reorganizes all its public sector divisions under a single "Public Sector" entity, which will focus squarely on improving the delivery of public sector communication needs. With Polycom recently consolidating its partner program, its efforts to improve vertical focus will likely make their way into the channel.
  • Riverbed Optimizes Virtual Experience (1)August 29, 2012Riverbed is emerging with a three-fold launch that aims to optimize performance of everything from software defined networks to cloud based applications for users. That bodes well for partners bulking up troubleshooting service practices to help organizations address unforeseen challenges with the adoption of virtual infrastructure.
  • Mountford Out, Changes Continue at Cisco (1)August 29, 2012Paul Mountford, Cisco's senior vice president for global enterprise, has left the company – marking yet another departure from Cisco's leadership team. With layoffs ahead and stalling sales, Cisco's execs may simply be jumping ship.
  • Juniper Adds IPv6 To Virtual Gateway Release (0)August 28, 2012Juniper is carving its niche with the launch of a virtual gateway that touts IPv6 security. The release serves to bolster the company's presence in the virtual security space, an area that might just help it reposition itself in the market in its continued war with Cisco.
  • Kaspersky Bolsters Virtual Security With IPS/IDS (0)August 27, 2012Kaspersky Lab is ramping up its offerings a bit with a few tweaks that protect virtual systems from network-based attacks. If anything, the launch inches the company forward in the virtual space, allowing it to maintain ground amid a barrage of virtual releases this week.
  • The Changing Face of Vendors and Frienemies (1)August 27, 2012Cisco, VMware and EMC are rapidly reshaping their technologies and value propositions to become more competitive, which is turning these three collaborators into rivals. They not the only set of allies turned frienemy. The technology industry is replete with examples of changing allegiances that ultimately affect reseller channels.
  • Channelnomics Weekend Top 5 +1 (0)August 25, 2012A look back at our top five stories for the week gone by, plus one thing we're gearing up for your Monday morning.
  • Cisco Loses Partner Marketing VP Jobbins (0)August 24, 2012Amanda Jobbins, Cisco's vice president of global partner marketing, is leaving the company next month to return to her native United Kingdom, according to Cisco officials.
  • Virtualization, Mobility Represent Opportunity (0)August 24, 2012A new Information Week survey reveals that, while businesses are eagerly adopting virtualization and mobility strategies, there's still uncertainty and complexity in the implementation. Could the channel find new opportunities in refining existing IT infrastructure?
  • VMworld 2012: Proving Ground For The VCE (0)August 23, 2012The VCE will focus on its converged infrastructure agenda at VMworld, but can the VCE convince everyone that hardware and software together still represent a relevant process in the cloud world?
  • Dell Goes Gigabit With PowerConnect 8100 (0)August 22, 2012Dell launches the PowerConnect 8100 gigabit Ethernet switches, delivering up to 40 GbE connections that can eliminate bandwidth bottlenecks and optimize VDI and UC or streamline SAN connectivity.
  • Reseller Ranks Swell, Profits Fizzle at Dell (3)August 21, 2012To live up to its transformation promises, Dell will need a cadre of evolved resellers well-versed in complex business solutions that combine enterprise-class hardware, software and services. Is the crown prince of channel conflict ready for that?
  • Dell Taps Ex-HP Exec to Lead Enterprise Unit (0)August 21, 2012Marius Haas is taking over as president of Dell’s Enterprise Solutions unit, replacing Brad Anderson, who ran the unit since joining the company in 2005.
  • Time to Make the Cloud Less Scary (2)August 21, 2012If cloud computing were a car, it would be a Toyota Celica with a rocket engine and handlebars with no seat belts and bicycle brakes. It's time for service providers to step up with better offerings and better messaging to improve end-user comfort with the technology.
  • Fortinet Sweeps SMB With Product Refresh (0)August 21, 2012Fortinet is attempting to stake a bigger claim in the SMB with a product overhaul upgrading three of its security and management appliances. The refresh cements the company's already strong position in the SMB as it revs up to nab market share from some its biggest challengers.
  • 10 Software Companies Cisco Should Fear (0)August 16, 2012Cisco Systems may be the big dog in the data center today, but sluggish sales are a source of concern as a new breed of software makers develop tools to handle network traffic more efficiently, reducing the need for old-school switches and routers. Here are some of the lesser known threats to Cisco’s hardware-centric data…
  • Cisco’s Big Challenge: The Software Switch (2)August 16, 2012Cisco Systems has done well for three decades as the provider of the pipes that make up the enterprise network and the broader Internet. In the modern era, it’s a pioneer in cloud infrastructure and virtualized data centers. And through it all, it’s been a hardware-based strategy – and that’s the challenge it must overcome.
  • Cisco Beats the Street, but Sales Stagnate (0)August 15, 2012Networking giant Cisco Systems beat out Wall Street's expectations with soaring profits but relatively flat revenues, indicating that the San Jose-based company might have to step up its game to go toe-to-toe with VMware, Oracle and others nipping at its heels in the emerging software-defined networking space.
  • Hot Middle East IT Market Woos Channel Players (0)August 13, 2012Ingram Micro's purchase of Dubai-based disty Aptec is just the latest in a raft of IT business moves in the oil-rich, technology hungry region.
  • Brocade Wins $112M Ruling Against A10 (0)August 7, 2012Brocade says it won a long-running patent infringement and unfair competition lawsuit against A10 Networks, with the jury issuing an “unambiguous” verdict and a large compensation award for unfair competitive practices.
  • WatchGuard Adds Performance to New UTMs (0)August 6, 2012WatchGuard is holding its ground in the unified threat management space with the addition of performance features to its new UTM line, a move that allows partners to stay on par with rivals in the heated race to capture UTM market share.
  • IBM IPS Launch Targets Advanced Threats (1)August 1, 2012IBM is going after advanced threats with the launch of an IPS appliance, the IBM Security Network Protection, which gives the company a bit more territory in the networking security arena, and paves the way for partners to go head to head with Cisco, Juniper and other next-generation appliance vendors.
  • Bahr Back to Lead Cisco’s Americas Partners (0)July 31, 2012The channel veteran will once again lead the networking giant's partner efforts in the U.S. and Canada, this time around adding Latin America to her responsibilities.
  • Unisys VCE Bump Provides Mutual Benefit (0)July 30, 2012Unisys's new Unisys Secure Private Cloud Solution earns the Vblock-ready seal of approval from the VCE. Can the VCE leverage Unisys' size to earn more industry clout?
  • Oracle Taps Xsigo for Virtualized Networking (0)July 30, 2012Oracle buys virtualization networking company Xsigo to help expand its cloud infrastructure capabilities. Is Xsigo the missing piece for the Oracle Cloud infrastructure?
  • Microsoft: Our OEMs Will Be Irked by Surface (0)July 27, 2012Microsoft admits its Surface is going to anger OEM partners – but reports of the device's $1,000 price tag are bogus.
  • Will Alcatel-Lucent Cuts End Cisco Challenge? (0)July 27, 2012In addition to creating more channel setbacks, Alcatel-Lucent's massive 5,000-job layoff throws a huge wrench in the networking and telecom equipment manufacturer's plans to compete with industry giant Cisco.
  • Google Fiber: What To Do With a Gigabit (0)July 27, 2012Now that Google Fiber is here, what can a gigabit do for the channel? Ultra-high speed connections mark the beginning of more sophisticated and advanced cloud services which can deliver massive amounts of information and still operate close to real time.
  • Google Fiber Disrupts Traditional ISPs (1)July 26, 2012Google unveils Google Fiber, offering a gigabit fiber connection in addition to a complete Internet television service. With no data caps or limitations, free cloud storage and near-instant download speeds, Google is simultaneously disrupting the cable provider market and the traditional model for ISPs.
  • Fortinet Beats Street, Boosts Market Share (2)July 26, 2012As if vaulting to fourth place in the market space wasn't enough, increased demand from U.S. enterprise customers have pushed Fortinet’s quarterly revenue up 25 percent.
  • ManageEngine Shines With Ruby on Rails (0)July 25, 2012ManageEngine introduces Ruby on Rails support, making it easier for IT admins and MSPs to peer inside Rails apps and uncover valuable metrics for improving application performance.
  • F5 Networks, Westcon Group Ink Global Deal (0)July 24, 2012F5 Networks inks a global distribution deal with the Westcon Group, allowing F5 Networks to tap into new partner opportunities and provide its technology for new and emerging areas of cloud development.
  • Nicira Acquisition Bolsters VMware Prowess (0)July 24, 2012VMware's acquisition of software-defined networking company Nicira expands its virtualization capabilities for evolving cloud technologies, raising the stakes for competitors like Cisco and Juniper.
  • Unified Communications is Mobility Glue (0)July 24, 2012As mobile device management and BYOD steal the spotlight, there's one important factor that will truly make a mobile workforce more productive: unified communications. Without the UC 'glue' to keep it all together, mobility will never reach its true potential.
  • Cisco Slashes 1,300 Jobs in Agility Attempt (0)July 23, 2012Cisco cuts 1,300 jobs in an ongoing attempt to streamline the company and redouble its engineering efforts on emerging cloud and hosted technologies.
  • D-Link Bolsters Network Storage Portfolio (0)July 23, 2012Unified network solutions firm D-Link is taking aim at the SME market and government verticals with a network storage launch that enables partners to entice customers with a spate of data protection perks at no extra cost.
  • HP CMS 10 Aims to Automate (0)July 23, 2012HP launches the HP Configuration Management System 10, a solution platform designed to give large enterprises, government organizations and managed service providers better asset management and discover for evolving complexity of IT environments.
  • Palo Alto Networks’ IPO Makes Strong Debut (0)July 20, 2012Palo Alto Networks' IPO has a strong start out of the gate, indicating the potential for enhanced channel opportunities and a bright future for the next-generation firewall market the company helped pioneer.
  • 5 Solution Providers Making Winning Moves (0)July 20, 2012Success doesn’t come easy. It requires strategic planning and focused execution. Here are five solution providers that exemplify the benefits of strategic decision-making, comprehensive strategies, business planning and focused execution.
  • What the ARM Race Means for the Channel (0)July 20, 2012ARM CPUs are finding their way into servers instead of smartphones. If the new use of ARM CPUs takes off, what will the channel’s responsibility be in supporting this new architecture?
  • Sophos Integrates Astaro in Partner Program (0)July 19, 2012Sophos is further sealing its place in the networking security space with the launch of a new partner program that integrates Astaro partners squarely into its fold. Among other things, the new program will help Sophos partners make dents in the UTM space as the company goes against Cisco and other well-established players.
  • Blue Coat Brings App Control For BYOD (1)July 19, 2012Blue Coat expands its security offerings with the Blue Coat mobile application control platform. Via an appliance or the cloud, Blue Coat can provide granular control over application network access, eliminating the risk of data leaks or inappropriate network behavior.
  • Tech Data Bolsters Cisco Reseller Environment (0)July 18, 2012Tech Data shows Cisco some love with a revamped Cisco Solutions Group that includes an overhauled demonstration center, a specialized "Momentum" tool for accelerating partner growth and a refreshed web portal for easier access to critical information.
  • Cisco Taps Virtuata for VM Security (0)July 17, 2012Cisco picks up cloud and virtualization security company Virtuata to expand its infrastructure, security and networking capabilities amid impending competition from rivals like HP and Dell.
  • Panda Security Launches UTM Device (1)July 17, 2012Cloud antivirus vendor Panda Security is taking a page out of Sophos' book with the launch of a UTM device that leverages the cloud – a feature that enables partners to differentiate themselves with an array of remote monitoring and management services for SMB customers.
  • Huawei Plans Storage-Offering Boost (1)July 16, 2012China's Huawei says it plans to bulk up its storage offerings to create an end-to-end data solution as it prepares to go toe-to-toe with bigger rivals following the Symantec buyout.
  • Sophos Adds Endpont Management to UTM (0)July 16, 2012Sophos is bulking up its network security play with the roll out of UTM 9, which carves its niche with the endpoint management component and gives partners a bit of a competitive edge when going against other established industry players.
  • McAfee Leads Intrusion Prevention Market (1)July 16, 2012Gartner hailed McAfee's IPS solution as a market leader, which could give channel partners a bit of a competitive edge in this space. However, standalone IPS will continue to face challenges in light of consolidation trends that drive organizations to adopt NGFW and other comprehensive solutions.
  • GFI Launches New Cloud Platform (0)July 12, 2012Security and IT management firm GFI launched a new console that enables the channel to offer a host of cloud services, allowing partners to carve out new niches and make greater dents in the SMB space.
  • Cisco Encourages Cloud Differentiation (1)July 6, 2012Selling or serving the cloud isn't just about delivering the same SaaS under a new name -- to truly capitalize partners must differentiate. A Cisco guest blog featuring Surinder Barar details four unique steps which mix common sense with partner dedication.
  • New Dell Printers Are Mobile-Ready (1)July 6, 2012Dell launches a fleet of new laser printers designed with the SMB and home office in mind. The new lineup is cost-conscious and feature rich, including expanded mobile printing capabilities which should give mobile-centric companies a boost.
  • Juniper on Verge of Partner Program Revamp (0)July 5, 2012Juniper is about to roll out new channel program overhauled with revamped training, marketing and incentive features – all aimed at giving partners a competitive boost against rival Cisco in mobility and other disruptive trends.
  • IDC: Fortinet Maintains Lead in UTM (2)July 3, 2012An IDC report reveals that Fortinet retains a solid lead in the UTM market, indicating a bright future for channel partners as UTM continues its steady upward growth.
  • Kaspersky Lab, D-Link Bolster UTM Offering (2)July 2, 2012A partnership between Kaspersky Lab and D-Link aims to boost UTM devices with endpoint security technologies – a union that could create new paths to SMB markets while expanding distribution and reach for both channels.
  • Enterasys Partnership Enables Public Channel (1)June 29, 2012Enterasys will likely get a bigger foot in the door in the public sector after forging a partnership with government liaison immixGroup. The move promises to ease the way for partners' expanding mobility niches with federal and other government customers.
  • XO’s ‘No Commits’ Is an Invite to Experiment (0)June 28, 2012XO Communications is launching a new channel program next week, in which partners in the entry-level tier will receive commissions for telephony and transport service referrals without committing to sales quotas. For IT solution providers, this is an invitation to experiment in transport services.
  • ConnectWise Cloud Gets Akamai Optimization (2)June 26, 2012ConnectWise teams up with Akamai to make ConnectWise Cloud a highly optimized IT automation platform for customers and partners alike. But the relationship with Akamai also represents ConnectWise's plan to drive sales through the roof.
  • Cisco and Citrix Cozy Up With Partner Accelerator (0)June 25, 2012Cisco and Citrix team up to deliver Partner Accelerator, a new joint partner program designed to deliver end-to-end infrastructure solutions with Cisco VXI and Citrix Xen Desktop.
  • Huawei has High Hopes in Managed Services (0)June 22, 2012Huawei Technologies is looking to replicate the Cisco strategy of providing managed infrastructure services to telecommunications companies, Internet service providers and other large institutions as a means for accelerating revenue and market share growth.
  • Check Point Releases DDoS Prevention Tools (0)June 22, 2012Check Point launched a line of appliances dedicated to blocking DDoS attacks, a networking security niche that could allow partners easy entry to enterprises seeking ways to avoid becoming the next victim.
  • LANDesk Scoops Wavelink for MDM (0)June 21, 2012LANDesk could be emerging as a key player in end-to-end enterprise management solutions as it picks up company Wavelink for it's wireless infrastructure and MDM capabilities.
  • Cisco Launches WebEx Social (1)June 19, 2012Cisco extended social collaboration with WebEx Social and a corresponding cloud client, a move that could fill in a valuable mobility piece for partners and create inroads in the SMB and lower markets.
  • Riverbed Zaps Web Apps with Stingray (0)June 18, 2012Riverbed launches the Stingray Traffic Manager 9.0 and the software-based Stingray Aptimizer, which together bring application delivery control and Web optimization to cloud providers by compressing bandwidth and speeding content delivery.
  • Hardware Services Will Become End-to-End (1)June 18, 2012Hardware sales are becoming more about the services, and services are becoming more intertwined with hardware – these are signs of bigger things to come, including the widespread proliferation of end-to-end solutions. Can pre-packaged end-to-end solutions reshape the channel and IT landscape?
  • ADTRAN Suits Up for BYOD (0)June 14, 2012The networking company unleashes its BYOD solution, bringing together Bluesocket and NetVanta technologies for an end-to-end MDM package.
  • Cisco Crafts Corporate Cloud Connections (0)June 13, 2012Cisco launches a host of new solutions to upgrade aging networking infrastructure for the cloud world. Cisco's Cloud Connectors and Services Router are just some of the ways to connect more customers with its hardware and emerging service solutions.
  • Cloupia Update Taps Converged Infrastructure (0)June 12, 2012Cloupia continues to expand and enhance its data center management software with the Cloupia Unified Infrastructure Controller, mobile-based remote management tools with a wide range of vendor support for heterogeneous environments.
  • Dell Debuts New EqualLogic Blade Array (0)June 12, 2012At the Dell Storage Forum, the company has unleashed a new blade-style unit for the EqualLogic platform, converging data, storage and networking into a singular blade chassis. Dell sees this as a the emergence of a true “end-to-end” data center solution and the shape of storage solutions to come.
  • Autotask Taps Users to Help Other Users (0)June 11, 2012Autotask is launching a new consulting services partner program enabling existing, certified PSA users to adapt and optimize their Autotask platforms. Autotask says this is about ensuring a superior customer experience – it’s also a reflection of PSA complexity.
  • Mitel Expands Developer Partner Program (0)June 8, 2012Unified communications firm Mitel is launching enhancements to its global developer partner program and expanding its SIP Center of Excellence – changes that continue a pattern of channel expansion and likely reflect a growing need for unified communications in the market.
  • Avaya Completes Radvision Acquisition (0)June 7, 2012Avaya completed the acquisition of video-conferencing solutions firm Radvision, which will allow partners to break down barriers in lower market segments that are reluctant to invest in dedicated video-conferencing and UC tools.
  • Cisco Leads Routers, Huawei Posts Huge Gains (0)June 5, 2012The router market is growing sluggishly, with sales up slightly despite seasonal dips. Cisco saw its market share climb to the best level in a year, while rising rival Huawei recorded monster gains in unit shipments and revenue. The Cisco-Huawei war is getting hot.
  • Ruckus Adds New Leadership, Training (1)June 4, 2012Ruckus is putting reinvigorated effort into its channel with the addition of new talent and training, signs the company could be setting the stage for accelerated growth with an impending IPO.
  • Alcatel-Lucent Launches Managed Services (0)June 4, 2012Alcatel-Lucent is offering telecom and wireless carriers a managed service that monitors the quality of network service and traces troubles down to the device level. The underlying idea is very much like Cisco’s Smart Net Total Care.
  • IPv6 Is Here, But Still Doesn’t Matter (0)June 1, 2012The migration from IPv4 to IPv6 has been simultaneously hyped up and ignored, but what's the real deal? According to Enterasys' Dan Dulac, a true migration to IPv6 may not happen until there's a sudden precipitous change that demands it.
  • Huawei Aims for Total Channel Sales (1)May 30, 2012The Chinese IT hardware vendor is a relative neophyte in the channel. That’s going to change quickly, as the company aims to go 100 percent channel sales within the next three to five years.
  • Cloud Acquisitions: Oracle, SAP, VMware (0)May 24, 2012Oracle, SAP and VMware are set to acquire Virtue, Ariba and Wanova, respectively. These acquisitions serve to strengthen each company's core portfolio while helping them expand into the cloud.
  • New Alcatel-Lucent Routers Target Cloud, Video (0)May 23, 2012Alcatel-Lucent is attempting to challenge competitors with Internet core routers aimed at better addressing increasing network complexity and traffic volumes created with the cloud and mobile devices. Questions remain as to whether the offering will be seen as a viable alternative for the channel.
  • Dell Earnings Reflect a Company in Transition (1)May 23, 2012Dell failed to meet its quarterly earnings expectations, as it reported year-over-year sales down 4 percent, with particular weakness in enterprise products. These disappointing numbers are more about a company transitioning to a new model than a vendor in decline.
  • Cisco, Bright House Team on Managed Services (0)May 21, 2012Cisco's latest partnership with cable operator Bright House Networks brings Cisco's white-labled "Smart Operate Services" security offering to over 200 schools. But is this managed security collaboration a sign of things to come from the networking vendor?
  • Reseller Baynetwork Exploits Facebook IPO Hype (1)May 21, 2012Hardware reseller Baynetwork took its marketing efforts to a whole new level by taking advantage of the media hype surrounding the gargantuan Facebook IPO.
  • BYOD’s Greatest Opportunity Lies in Verticals (1)May 21, 2012As the BYOD phenomenon becomes commonplace in the channel, it's imperative channel partners know where solutions are most needed and what solutions hold the most promise. Vertical markets like health care and education represent BYOD opportunities that could be bigger than the enterprise.
  • HP Reorg, Layoffs Will Benefit the Channel (5)May 21, 2012Indications are growing that Hewlett-Packard will trim its workforce by as many as 30,000 employees in coming weeks in an effort to save money and invest in sales channels. Though painful, a sweeping reorganization will likely benefit channel partners. It worked for Cisco – it can work for HP.
  • Brocade Sharpens Sales With Leadership Reorg (0)May 18, 2012Brocade's recent shakeup of its sales team shows an aggressive company that seeks to expand its channel and market presence quickly, especially against rivals like Cisco and Juniper.
  • LabTech Releases Agnostic RMM Dashboard (0)May 18, 2012LabTech launches an upgrade to its RMM platform, allowing the remote management and monitoring of mixed backup storage environments.
  • Enterasys SuperDrive: Partners And The Future (0)May 17, 2012At Enterasys SuperDrive 2012, partners are buzzing about the OneFabric networking portfolio while Enterasys celebrates its growth in the marketplace. Is Enterasys a rising star on the networking scene?
  • CA Process Automation 4 Arrives (0)May 16, 2012CA Technologies launches CA Process Automation 4, bringing a unified network automation platform for physical, virtual and cloud environments.
  • Insider: Cloud, Not Recession, Haunts Cisco (0)May 16, 2012Cisco 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.
  • Cisco & Intel: Two Differing Economic Forecasts (0)May 14, 2012Cisco CEO John Chambers raised a red flag during the company’s latest earnings report, saying the summer quarter would be softer than previously expected. Intel CEO Paul Otellini countered, saying economic conditions are good but not great. The truth is somewhere between.
  • Inside the Great Huawei Threat (3)May 10, 2012China’s Huawei Technologies is a repeat target of criticism by competitors and governments as a competitive and security threat. The reality is Huawei is just getting started in the U.S. market and channel, and it’s taking a deliberate approach to building its presence.
  • Cisco Study: Companies Fear Cloud Migration (0)May 9, 2012A 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.
  • HP Plays Offense With Avnet, F5 Networks (0)May 9, 2012HP teams up with Avnet to provide reseller access to Avnet's Data Center Lifecycle services. HP strengthens its existing networking portfolio with F5 Networks, bringing automated application optimization to HP's enterprise partners.
  • WatchGuard Offers Virtual Product Lines (0)May 8, 2012WatchGuard Technologies is tackling the virtualization space head on with an all out virtual revamp of its product lines--a move that could potentially attract new channel blood and give it a bit of a leg up over competing UTM vendors.
  • F5 Networks Offers SPDY Application Delivery (0)May 8, 2012F5 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.
  • Huawei, Synnex Strike U.S. Distribution Deal (0)May 7, 2012Synnex will begin selling Huawei Technologies data center, switching and unified communications products to the U.S. channel. The deal is part of a concerted effort by Huawei to increase channel sales around the world.
  • Riverbed Offers Cost-Effective WAN Optimization (1)May 4, 2012Riverbed 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.
  • Juniper Unveils Mobile Security, Access Tools (0)May 3, 2012Juniper Networks launched a slew of mobile security and management enhancements to its Simply Connected portfolio, which aim to give channel partners a few more tools to address security and access challenges stemming from the rising tide of BYOD.
  • Skype Bug Exposes User Location (0)May 1, 2012This latest P2P vulnerability provides opportunities for channel partners to bolster their customers’ security posture – and gives hackers a way to track user accounts.
  • WAN Optimization has a ‘Virtual Future’ (3)April 25, 2012Hardware solutions dominate the WAN optimization market. But challenger Silver Peak believes the tide is changing toward virtual solutions. The company expects virtualized WAN optimization solutions to reach parity with hardware within the next two years.
  • Huawei Profits Plummet Amid Market Pressure (0)April 24, 2012China's IT equipment manufacturer saw annual profits fall 53 percent under pressure by competitors, government regulators and a soft communications market. Huawei executives insist the fall was anticipated and the company has turned the corner to become a portfolio vendor like Cisco and Dell.
  • Earnings Quick Look: IBM, Intel and Microsoft (0)April 20, 2012IBM, Intel and Microsoft post their quarterly earnings. What can we glean from the facts and figures and where are these companies headed?
  • Lumenate-Troubadour: A Deal that Makes Sense (0)April 20, 2012If you want a textbook example of an acquisition that makes sense and will drive accelerated sales growth, look no further than Dallas-based storage specialist Lumenate’s purchased of Houston-based networking and security specialist Troubadour.
  • Sprint Takes On SMB Cloud Space (0)April 18, 2012Sprint looks to enter the fast-paced world of the cloud by offering an SMB-focused SaaS platform with communication and connectivity options. Do telcos have an advantage since they carry the keys to connectivity ?
  • Cisco Applies Incentives to Drive Two Initiatives (0)April 18, 2012At its annual global partner conference, Cisco announced two initiatives: Partner Plus to address midmarket opportunities, and Global Services Partner Programs to expand services sales. Both are driven by new rebates and sales incentives to support partner profitability.
  • Best Buy Reorganizes As CEO Resigns (2)April 10, 2012Best Buy's CEO Brian Dunn resigns as internal company reorganizations adapt to the digital world. Will Best Buy find new profitability through systems integration services in the channel?
  • McAfee’s Agentless MOVE AV Protects VMs (0)April 10, 2012McAfee launches a new agentless version of MOVE AV designed to provide complete VM protection while offloading scanning and monitoring processes to a virtual appliance. Does this hint at future plans with Intel?
  • Huawei and the Matter of Trust (0)April 10, 2012Cisco CEO John Chambers said Huawei Technologies doesn’t play fair, raising again the issue of trust that dogs the company and locks it out of big deals. How will this Chinese giant overcome the mistrust and misgivings that will inhibit sales and market development?
  • Microsoft Streamlines Virtualization Management (0)April 6, 2012Microsoft launches UE-V, a user-account management platform for Hyper-V Windows virtualization environments, along with App-V 5.0 for virtualizing more complex applications.
  • Dell Buying Thin-Client Vendor Wyse Technology (0)April 2, 2012Dell 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.
  • Is ‘McAfee Inside’ Intel’s New Secret Weapon? (1)March 30, 2012Security vendor McAfee had a big presence at the Intel Solutions Summit this week in New Orleans. Intel executives repeatedly cited McAfee’s security technology as instrumental to its future roadmap, and called security challenges a $23 billion opportunity. Is the integration of McAfee one of Intel’s secret weapons for enabling the platform of the future?
  • Cisco To Acquire ClearAccess (0)March 28, 2012Cisco said it planned to acquire ClearAccess, which aims to give its service provider partners a leg up in managing and integrating mobile, cloud and other residential devices for their customers.
  • Report: Security Woes Undid Huawei Symantec (1)March 27, 2012Symantec is on the eve of ending its four-year joint venture with China’s Huawei Technologies in what’s being called a strategic business decision. A new report, however, pegs the reason as Symantec being concerned about the U.S. government not sharing security data because of its relationship with a China company.
  • Riverbed Floats More Resources to Partners (0)March 20, 2012Riverbed 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.
  • Blue Coat Staying in WAN Optimization Market (1)March 15, 2012In response to rumors and buzz, Blue Coat says it will remain in the WAN optimization market and is amending its channel program to make it easier for solution providers to specialize in its security and network acceleration products.
  • Huawei Launches New Global Channel (0)March 8, 2012The Chinese manufacturer is creating a new enterprise channel program designed to accelerate sales and market-share growth among service providers and systems integrators. The intent is to dramatically increase presence and sales in key markets, making Huawei a more competitive force to market leaders such as Cisco and Hewlett-Packard.
  • Brocade Unveils ‘Effortless Network’ Switches (0)March 6, 2012The new switches designed for campus and large LAN deployments are the cornerstone of Brocade’s continuing effort to expand its partner ranks. Through innovative new products, Brocade is looking to make a dent in the Cisco and Juniper channels.
  • Autotask Ties Up with Cisco OnPlus Service (2)March 1, 2012Autotask is integrating its professional services automation software platform with with Cisco’s hosted network management service, OnPlus. The alliance will make it easier for managed service providers to resell and support OnPlus accounts, and make it easier for Cisco to penetrate the managed services market.
  • Mobile Device, Data Traffic Poised to Soar (0)February 21, 2012Solution providers need to get ready for opportunities in the explosive growth of smartphone and tablet sales, along with an accompanying boom in mobile data traffic — with mobile cloud use accounting nearly three-quarters of that traffic — by 2016.
  • Huawei Spends $6B with U.S. Suppliers (0)February 21, 2012Huawei Technologies is spending big with U.S. chip and component suppliers in what is probably a prelude to greater North America expansion and an effort to improve its corporate image.
  • Brocade Sale Appears Off the Table (0)February 20, 2012Private-equity firm Blackstone Group has reportedly dropped interest in Brocade Communications because the networking company’s value has risen too high to make a leverage buyout feasible. Channel sales may be part of what’s buoying Brocade to self-sufficiency.
  • ‘New to You’ Networking Gear Gaining Popularity (2)February 17, 2012Used and refurbished networking equipment represents a fraction of the switches and routers sold each year. Increasingly, though, the secondary market is getting a second look as businesses seek savings and consistency in their IT spending. Just ask Network Hardware Resale, which had a record year.
  • D-Link Affirms Channel Commitment in Revamp (0)February 1, 2012A month after the departure of its North American president and channel veteran Nick Tidd, D-Link is promoting enhancements to its channel resources and reaffirming its commitment to working with partners.
  • Cisco Server Milestone a Significant Turning Point (0)January 19, 2012In a little less than three years, Cisco has gone from a cold-start entry to a major player with 10,000 customers in the server market. Better yet, Cisco and its partners are generating more than $1 billion in revenue through virtualized servers, proving that the legacy networking giant can learn new tricks.
  • Juniper Turns to Partners to Combat Cisco (0)January 18, 2012At its first global partner conference in Las Vegas, Juniper executives appealed to channel partners to help compete with and take business from rival Cisco in what’s been positioned as an innovator against a legacy company. It’s a growing sign that networking market competition is heating up since Cisco refocused. But it’s not just Cisco…
  • Oracle: A Networking Company? (0)January 11, 2012Brocade Communications has reportedly received bids in the latest chapter of trying to sell itself. Speculation is Brocade will go private through a private equity sale. However, some say a vendor like Oracle or IBM could snap up the networking and storage switch company to compete against the likes of Hewlett-Packard and Cisco.
  • Channelnomics 2011 Influencers Awards: Part 2 (9)January 4, 2012Channelnomics continues conferring its inaugural 2011 Influencers of the Year awards by unveiling winners in four categories: Distribution, Europe, Voice/Data Networking and Channel Business.
  • Dell Aims Low to Battle Cisco in Data Centers (0)December 21, 2011A new report suggests Dell’s key weapon in its battle plan for war with Cisco in the data center is low pricing and attached sales. The idea: Attack with servers and drag low-cost networking gear to undercut Cisco’s premium advantage. This battle will have significant cost implications for solution providers, too.
  • D-Link Shakes Up North America Management (0)December 19, 2011The networking vendor is saying goodbye to three senior managers, including North America president Nick Tidd. According to published reports, D-Link says it remains committed to building partnerships and fostering channel relationships.
  • Cisco Redefines Professional Services Rules (0)December 16, 2011In an effort to open billions of dollars in services opportunities, Cisco has released its new rules of engagement that promise partners clarity and consistency in how they go to market in support of Cisco products. Interesting are the companies Cisco is differentiating against.
  • Cisco Enters Managed Services with OnPlus (0)December 13, 2011Cisco 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.
  • HP Targets Cisco, Rivals in Networking Push (0)December 9, 2011A bright spot in the Hewlett-Packard portfolio is networking, which saw a 5 percent sales increase and 3 percent market share gain in the last year. Now, HP is adding new incentives and enablement programs to its PartnerOne channel program to keep the momentum going. It’s a short- and long-term strategy.
  • Ruckus ChannelFly Quiets WiFi Noise (0)December 8, 2011Ruckus Wireless has introduced ChannelFly RF channel selection technology that promises to maximize network capacity via smarter access points. If it delivers, the development should be welcome news to its growing list of channel partners — and mobile users everywhere — looking for a quieter, more reliable WiFi experience.
  • Mushroom Networks Growing a Wireless World (0)November 23, 2011Mushroom Networks, the vendor with products like Truffle and PortaBella, is growing its channel program to deliver its bandwidth management and video streaming solutions to any wired and wireless location. Mushroom is leaning toward a future where wireless and portability are king.
  • HP Enters the Year of Rebuilding Cautiously (0)November 22, 2011Hewlett-Packard released its year-end earnings. While much focus is on its struggling PC business, the financial statement reveals HP is feeling pressure across the portfolio. Management is resetting expectations as it enters a year of “rebuiliding.”
  • RIM’s Demise, Apple’s Rise: A Sales Potential (0)November 21, 2011Research In Motion commanded the government market because of its security. Now, the government and enterprises are embracing Apple’s iPhone and iPad, and augmenting them with add-on management and security. This is giving rise to new channel opportunities for collateral technology sales.
  • Symantec Will Continue to Partner with Huawei (0)November 17, 2011Earlier this week, Symantec sold its minority stake in its security and networking appliance joint-venture with Huawei Technologies, ending its experiment as a hardware manufacturer. However, Symantec’s channel team says Big Yellow will continue to work with Huawei and develop new appliances.
  • Cisco Turnabout Validates Secondary Market (3)November 17, 2011Cisco's openly talking about the value of refurbished equipment demonstrates how used networking gear has a second-life value. But one critic says Cisco pricing and expectations show it still doesn’t understand the used sales model.
  • Brocade Investing in Partner Development (0)November 16, 2011An interesting part of the changes to the Brocade Alliance Partner Network is an “enablement fund” program that provides partners with pre-sales funding for development and marketing. It’s one of the weapons Brocade is using recruit Cisco and HP partners.
  • Huawei Buys Out Symantec in Joint Venture (1)November 15, 2011China telecom equipment giant Huawei Technologies is giving Symantec more than a 100 percent return to buy full interest in their hardware joint venture, Huawei Symantec. Expectations are the company will be absorbed into Huawei.
  • Avaya Moves to Performance-Based Channel (0)November 11, 2011Avaya unveiled changes to its channel program designed to reward partners who achieve superior customer satisfaction and business performance. At the same time, Avaya is looking to recruit more partners as it looks to expand its value-based sales model. In short, Avaya is getting aggressive.
  • Juniper, GE Developing Military-Grade Hardware (0)November 9, 2011Juniper Networks is teaming up with GE Intelligence Platforms to develop and market military-grade, secure and rugged network devices for use in combat zones around the world to enhance battlefield communications and uninterrupted command and control.
  • Bradford Networks Introduces Cloud-Based NAC (0)November 7, 2011Bradford 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.
  • Cisco Offers Up ‘New to You’ Gear (1)November 4, 2011Cisco Systems is taking the wraps off its refurbished equipment division, promoting preowned and reclaimed equipment to partners for resale. Through the program, Cisco is trying to fill gaps in a $3 billion “new to you” networking equipment market.
  • Avaya Refocuses on Collaboration Value (3)October 31, 2011Avaya is shifting its attention to more than just talking about communications and collaboration; it’s staking its value proposition on the quality of service that enables connectivity for advanced collaboration applications. In fact, Avaya wants to be known as a “collaboration” company.
  • HP Revamps, Enhances PartnerOne Program (0)October 13, 2011Hewlett-Packard is enhancing its channel program to provide partners with more specializations, resources and simplified processes. The stated goal is to give partners more opportunity and predictable profits. The unstated goal is keeping PartnerOne energized and viable amid turmoil engulfing the company.
  • Cisco, Citrix Enhance VDI Experience (1)October 12, 2011Cisco 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.
  • Huawei Challenges Cisco Channel Dominance (1)October 5, 2011The Chinese networking and switching equipment company that keeps Cisco awake at night has formally launched a channel program as the foundation of its expansion in the North American market.
  • Switch Competition May Squeeze Resellers (0)September 26, 2011Sales of Ethernet switches are increasing, as is competition between major vendors – most notably Cisco and Hewlett-Packard. The result is a decline in average sale prices, which could ultimately hurt solution providers caught between the buyer’s market and market-share hungry vendors.
  • D-Link Offers Channel IP Video Surveillance Tech (0)September 16, 2011The consumer and commercial networking vendor its making its IP video products available to channel partners. These products have the potential of opening new channels and greater levels of collaboration between IT and video channel partners.
  • Cisco Attacks Juniper’s Product Record (0)September 13, 2011Refocused by restructuring, Cisco is taking the gloves off and going after competitors. The first target: Juniper. The weapon: A Web site that berates Juniper’s product release and innovation track record. It’s a sign that Cisco is coming out swinging.
  • Dell Channel Momentum, Confidence Increasing (0)September 9, 2011Once the channel pariah, Dell has not only established a channel presence, but is fast becoming a channel leader. And channel chief Greg Davis is looking to displace Hewlett-Packard as the channel’s biggest PC vendor.
  • Brocade Pioneers Hardware Subscriptions (1)September 2, 2011Brocade is attempting to change the networking game by offering its switching gear on a monthly subscription basis. This isn’t just another lease, but rather a new model in which partners and end users can more easily acquire, deploy and change equipment.
  • Blue Coat Shakes Up Leadership (1)August 19, 2011Amid sagging sales and poor financial performance, Blue Coat’s CEO and head of sales resigned. The security and WAN optimization vendor is moving quickly to fill the leadership vacuum, announcing Greg Clark will take over management in September.
  • Consensus: Cisco Reorg Will Make It Stronger (1)August 10, 2011Thousands of Cisco employees started getting pink slips last week as the networking giant moves to slim down costs and increase focus on core products. Employees, partners, customers and competitors believe the reorganization will make Cisco stronger.
  • Networking Vendors Brace for Government Cuts (0)August 9, 2011Debt reduction measures by the U.S. and other world governments are expected to slash spending on IT infrastructure projects, which will hit the networking vendor and its channel partners hard.
  • A10 Networks Fires Back at Brocade (0)August 1, 2011The network application delivery appliance vendor files a patent infringement counterclaim against Brocade. The legal manunever is in response to Brocade seeking a court order to prevent the sale of A10's core products.
  • Brocade Sues to Block A10 Networks Sales (0)July 28, 2011Brocade wants U.S. courts to bar A10 Networks from selling network application control devices that include allegedly stolen code. If granted, the injunction would affect A10 and its partners.
  • Cisco Reorganizes Worldwide Channel (0)July 21, 2011As part of its sweeping $1 billion cost-cutting reorganization, Cisco is consolidating its Worldwide Channel Organization and shuffling leadership to get more aggressive in targeting new opportunities to increase sales and revenue.
  • Dell in Networking: Winners and Losers (1)July 21, 2011Dell’s unsurprising entry in the data networking market through the acquisition of Force10 Networks will shake up the overall IT market and channel. Here are a few thoughts on the winners, losers and potential game changers in the dynamic competitive landscape.
  • Dell Buys Force10, Enters Networking (0)July 20, 2011Dell is looking to complement its Compellent and EqualLogic storage properties by entering the data networking market through the acquisition of Force10 Networks.
  • Huawei Symantec Seeks ‘Wingmen’ (1)July 19, 2011The joint-venture between China’s Huawei Technologies and the U.S.’s Symantec held its first partner summit this week, where it unveiled its new “Wingman Partner Program.” Evidence continues to mount for why Huawei Symantec is the vendor to watch.
  • Updated Special Report: Deconstructing Cisco (0)July 19, 2011Seemingly overnight, Cisco has gone from being the gem of Silicon Valley and the tech channel to a pariah searching to recapture its mojo and regain its vaunted position in the tech world. Channelnomics is following Cisco’s travails closely. Check out our ongoing series of reports.
  • Cisco Announces 15% Workforce Reduction (0)July 18, 2011It’s official. After months of speculation, Cisco announces its long-awaited restructuring that will result in a total of 11,500 jobs being eliminated around the world.
  • Channel Convergence is Real (0)July 18, 2011Audio/visual and telephony channel conferences are attracting thousands of solution providers and IT vendors who see the potential of converged IT departments that handle everything from data networking to digital display. The IT channel needs to recognize that convergence of all things IP-based is real.
  • Aerohive Discovers Value of VAR Promoters (0)July 6, 2011The WiFi networking specialist is displacing Cisco at Folio Investing, thanks in large part to the recommendation of one of its partners, Alliance Technology. The deal shows the power partners have in influence purchasing decisions.
  • HP Targets SMBs with Raft of Products, Services (0)June 22, 2011Hewlett-Packard sees a $234 billion opportunity in the SMB marketplace, and intends to capitalize on it through a series of new hardware, software and service programs designed to make technology easier for solution providers to sell and small businesses adopt.
  • A Cisco Foe also May Be a Savior (0)June 6, 2011Rivals Juniper Networks and Hewlett-Packard are steadily eroding Cisco’s core routing and switching market with better, lower prices. Perhaps part of the answer for Cisco to keep customers from defecting is embracing one of its long-time foes: the secondary refurbishing market.
  • Linksys, WebEx for Sale, but Who’s Buying? (0)May 19, 2011Speculation 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.
  • Is Cisco Giving Up Linksys? (0)May 18, 2011Conflicting reports indicate Cisco is looking to give its Linksys consumer and SMB networking business the ‘Flip’ treatment, selling off the unit focus on enterprise products.
  • Riverbed, Akamai Partner on WAN Optimization (0)May 11, 2011WAN 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.
  • Cisco VAR Gets Prison Time for Warranty Fraud (0)May 6, 2011Iheanyi Frank Chinasa, the owner of a Md. hardware reseller, will spend the next seven years behind bars for defrauding Cisco of $27 million in networking equipment. Here’s how he did it, and why it will hurt law-abiding solution providers.
  • 7 Machine-to-Machine Channel Opportunities (0)May 2, 2011The 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.
  • Cisco’s Goes into ‘Mythbuster’ Mode (1)April 27, 2011Cisco 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.
  • Smart Grid Managed Services Growing Fast (0)April 7, 2011Smart gird technologies, systems that provide energy management and sustainability, are creating new opportunities for managed service providers. A new report forecasts smart grid managed services will grow into a multi-billion market as electric utilities require outside support for their complex systems.
  • Cisco Admits Problems, Partners Welcome Change (2)April 6, 2011Cisco 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.
  • Standardized IT Services: As IBM Goes, So Goes the World (0)March 24, 2011Technologies 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?
  • Channel Pushes Hardware, Software Sales to Pre-recession Levels (0)March 15, 2011SMBs went on an IT hardware and software buying spree with resellers in 2010, pushing sales up 2 percent to nearly $59 billion.
  • Cisco Strikes Defensive Posture at Summit (0)March 2, 2011Cisco 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.
  • Going to Cisco, Looking for Answers (2)February 28, 2011The 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?
  • Huawei Symantec: A Potentially Disruptive Force (0)February 28, 2011The joint venture between Chinese manufacturing giant Hauwei Technologies and security giant Symantec is firmly planted in North America and looking to take on established market leaders Cisco, Juniper and EMC. The company has a lot of firepower and high ambitions, and a new partnership with Force10 Networks is adding more. Huawei Symantec is a…
  • 5 Things We Learned Today – February 11 (0)February 11, 2011Here’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.
  • 5 Things We Learned Today – February 9 (0)February 9, 2011Here’s a look at some of the stories and trends that hit our radar screen that are relevant to the channel. My favorite: Fishnet Security’s 15th anniversary milestone.
  • New Riverbed Tools Details ROI, Performance (0)February 7, 2011Riverbed is adding executive-level reporting tools to its WAN optimization portfolio, giving partners the ability to demonstrate ROI and plan for future needs.
  • HP Gains from Rebuff of Cisco’s ‘One Network’ (0)February 1, 2011Cisco Systems is under pressure again as customers spurred by a recent report repudiating the networking giant’s one-network philosophy are seeking out alternative suppliers for their switches and routers. The most notable beneficiary: Hewlett-Packard and its partners.
  • Enterasys Enhances Partner Program to Reclaim Former Glory (0)January 28, 2011Once upon a time, Enterasys was a networking and security company spoken of in the same breath as Cisco. It was around long before Juniper and Brocade became networking rivals, and it was seen as a chief alternative in security to companies like NetScreen and Watchguard. But that was a long time ago, and the…
  • F5’s New Program Reflects Self-Sufficiency Trend (0)January 25, 2011F5 Networks’ channel chief Dean Darwin is proud of his company’s increasing role as not only the glue that holds the data center together, but also the catalyst that makes its partners more profitable by enhancing the value of other products in their portfolio. The new training and accreditation program rolled out yesterday is as…
  • Cisco Faces a Tough 2011 in Switching, Routing (1)December 22, 2010It seems no company is safe from disruption, including the mighty Cisco. While the networking giant is dismissing the newly minted Hewlett-Packard channel marketing program designed to entice partners and customers to switch vendors, the program is just the latest sign that all good things must come to an end – including market leadership.
  • Cisco, NetApp ‘De-Risk’ Virtualized Data Centers (2)December 16, 2010In a new video with NetApp global channel chief Julie Parrish, Cisco’s Wendy Bahr describes the two company’s jointly developed “FlexPod for VMware” as a means for “de-risking” the process of product developing for partners. By having tested and certified virtualized data center architecture, the two companies say solution providers are free to sell products…
  • Self-Made Storage: You Can Do This. Should you? (0)November 5, 2010When I was a kid, I took apart the little transistor radio my uncle used to keep up with our small-town news while he was shaving. Though I never managed to successfully reassemble it, earning me months of glares and stern warnings about my fitness for any sort of respectable craft, I was certain I’d…
  • Spiceworks Keeps Business Computing Personal (0)October 29, 2010In social networks, blogs and news reports of late, there’s been much talk about the death of the personal computer. Analysts and pundits say smartphones, tablets and other portable devices will soon displace the stalwart PC as the primary means for access applications and processing data. While there’s truth to this trend, the fact is…
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