Distribution
New Year’s Podcast Series: Brian Aebig of Avnet Canada
Avnet Canada GM Brian Aebig joins the podcast for a look back at 2014 in the channel, and a look at what to expect from 2015.
Year: 2015
Solution Provider News
Quartet expands Office 365 reach with En Vogue purchase
Quartet Services is looking to advance its own growing Office 365 practice by purchasing fellow Toronto-based MSP and O365 specialist En Vogue Computers.
Channel Programs
Startup Infinio looks to channel to take on flash vendors with new I/O optimization solution
Infinio is announcing a partner program, looking to sign up and support a significant number of partners to sell an innovative software-based I/O optimization solution.
Distribution
Westcon expands FireMon distribution to North America
FireMon’s Security Intelligence Platform is a much expanded version of a solution that was used by security integrator FishNet, so it integrates well with many other solutions.
Managed Services
MSP Unified Office adds analytics to managed hybrid cloud
A year out of the gate, Unified Office is going after the 10-100 space with a high-quality VoIP offering sold through channel partners, and has now added an optional analytics suite.
Cloud
Embrace cloud or perish: Avaya sales chief
Avaya sales boss Pierre-Paul Allard tells the company’s partners they have to ramp up their cloud game or they risk losing relevancy with their customers.
Channel Programs
Avaya boosts rebates for top-tier partners
Avaya will double rebate opportunities around strategic technologies for Gold partners, but will halve those same opportunities for base-level partners.
Networking
New Year’s Series: Video with Dave De Abreu, Cisco Canada
We sit down for a video interview with Cisco Canada’s channel chief to discuss the year that was 2014, and preview what to expect from Cisco Canada in 2015.
Channel Programs
Lenovo unveils first managed service provider program
Lenovo’s first program for MSPs was designed by ex-IBMers, but is very different from the program IBM had.
Software
Dell KACE K1000 targets K-12 with new Chromebook support
In addition to Chromebook support, server monitoring has been introduced, and the K1000’s agentless capacity enhanced.
Cloud
Quantum expands cloud portfolio with three new offerings
Quantum’s new cloud offerings are integrated within their workflow strategy, and are based on the public cloud as a backup tier within that strategy.
Data Centre
New Year’s Podcast Series: Anton Granic of Nutanix Canada
Nutanix Canada director Anton Granic joins the podcast to discuss the year that was 2014 and offer his predictions and thoughts for 2015.
Distribution
PFU Systems comes to Canada through Foreseeson IT Distribution
PFU’s hybrid network visibility and intrusion prevention solution will come to Canada for the first time, starting in western Canada and moving east.
Security
Cisco’s Security Manifesto for the real world
Cisco believes security teams need to rethink strategy, to ensure that their principles assist users in resisting attacks – since the reverse is all too common now.
Distribution
Podcast: HP Mobility, Avnet and Cisco at 5 years, and Cisco’s IOT vision
Michael Park and Chris Moyer discuss HP’s mobile push, Pete Rzonca talks Avnet and Cisco’s fifth anniversary, Rick Huijbregts of Cisco on IOE plans.
Distribution
Software-defined storage vendor Nexenta looks to SYNNEX for first distribution deal
The deal covers both the U.S. and Canada, with Canada being a key aspect of the deal as Nexenta looks to broaden its penetration in this market.
Big Data
Cisco Canada showing strong momentum in security
Cisco has followed up momentum from the acquisition of Sourcefire, adding new capabilities and services and greatly strengthening Cisco Canada’s security team.
Mobility
HP debuts made-for-business mobile lineup
HP debuts a series of tablets designed for the commercial segment, part of a push to make mobility a first-class citizen on businesses networks.
Mobility
Danish authenticator vendor SMS PASSCODE expands in North America
The Danish multi-factor authentication vendor, which sells only through the channel, expanded into the U.S. last year, and is eyeing Canada for this year.
Software
New Maxta reference architectures let partners offer custom turnkey solutions
Maxta has also enhanced its partner program to recognize the new offerings’ ability to better build a practice around Maxta