Michael Sharun, the President of Dell EMC Canada’s Enterprise Division, discusses recent trends in the company’s Canadian business.
Cloud, Data Centre, SalesBuzz
Unified Dell Technologies brand strength for Dell EMC in Canada
by Mark Cox •
Channel Programs, Marketing, Servers, Storage
New flexible consumption models, incumbency protection highlight Dell EMC channel changes
by Mark Cox •
Partner presence at this year’s event increased massively over anything at either the Dell or EMC events, or the initial joint event in Austin last fall.
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Storage
New software features highlight new high-end Dell EMC VMAX 950F model
by Mark Cox •
The new high-end VMAX model has the expected new oomph in performance, but most of the channel will be more interested in the new software features, which will also apply to VMAX 250F, a stronger channel play.
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Servers
New 14th gen PowerEdge servers highlight first day of Dell EMC World
by Mark Cox •
The dominant theme of this year’s Dell EMC World is the automation of the data centre, and a key part of that is the announcement of its latest servers, with availability set for summer.
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Storage
NetApp sees mainstream channel play in 10.4 release of StorageGRID Webscale object storage
by Mark Cox •
While the channel’s role in NetApp object storage has largely been limited to specific verticals, the company believes object storage’s market has finally grown to the point where broader market opportunities are a reality.
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Unified Communications
Avaya Canada channel chief sees real momentum in march from PBX to software and services
by Mark Cox •
Avaya Canada channel chief Corey Mindel discusses partner momentum selling Avaya’s software-based next-gen products, including Zang, which can be a tricky issue for some partners.
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Channel Programs, Managed Services, Security
Two-factor authentication SaaS provider Duo Security launches MSP program
by Mark Cox •
Following last year’s creation of a partner program, Duo has created another program specifically for MSPs.
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Digital Signage
ViewSonic Canada drives strong results after return of Canadian autonomy
by Mark Cox •
While monitors still make up 70 per cent of their business, falling prices has also led ViewSonic Canada to scale back its retail business and put more emphasis on the B2B market.
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Cloud, Storage
Dell EMC sees big partner play in new Dell EMC Cloud for Microsoft Azure stack
by Mark Cox •
Dell EMC Cloud for Microsoft Azure Stack will be available in the second half of the year, although smaller developer versions are available now.
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Data Centre, Servers, Storage, Virtualization
Nutanix announces new software validations for HPE, Cisco servers
by Mark Cox •
Nutanix also announced Nutanix Go, a program that allows acquisition of their appliances on a cloud-like purchase model, but for now, it’s only available in the U.S.
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Managed Services
Atera fills void with addition of Apple support to joint RMM/PSA platform
by Mark Cox •
Lack of support for Apple had been hurting Atera among MSPs who did business in those verticals where Mac use is significant.
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Channel Programs, Security
Sales Samurai program highlights new announcements at Sophos partner event
by Mark Cox •
Sophos also launched a new Hot Line to provide competitive intelligence, made changes to their post-sales technical skills certification and should have a new Cloud Security Provider program by the fall.
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Security
Kaspersky unveils second generation of KATA (Kaspersky Anti Targeted Attack) platform
by Mark Cox •
Kaspersky makes significant changes to the GUI and reporting, as well as other enhancements to its advanced threat protection platform.
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Cloud, Data Centre
Equinix seeking to expand partner sales with interconnect story
by Mark Cox •
Equinix’s business has moved far beyond providing data centre power and space, and as their channel grows, they want it to be able to blend Equinix interconnect capabilities with their own solutions offerings.
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Channel Programs, Networking
Riverbed outlines channel strategy, channel roadmap
by Mark Cox •
Riverbed provided an update to partners on where they are in enhancing their services and partner competencies, and also promised a new partner portal is on the way.
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Managed Services, Networking
Riverbed looking for more partners to get into managed services
by Mark Cox •
At their Partner Event. Riverbed highlighted the success of Kentucky-based Tier 3 Technologies, which transitioned from an on-prem VAR to a SteelFusion and SteelCentral-focused MSP in less than three years.
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Networking
Riverbed lays out channel, integration plans for “Meraki-killer” Xirrus
by Mark Cox •
The integration of two companies with fundamentally different partner bases poses specific challenges, but also creates new opportunities.
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Managed Services, Networking
New Service Delivery Platform will have broad partner applicability: Riverbed
by Mark Cox •
Riverbed says that the new platform will make it easy, for the first time, for traditional networking partners to deliver services around Riverbed technology.
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Cloud, Software
The consumerization of IT
by Mark Cox •
Sage’s X3 product manager issues a call to action to channel partners not yet in the cloud to rethink their strategy.
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Networking
Riverbed touts its cloud-first commitment at channel event
by Mark Cox •
Riverbed delineated the progress it has made in its cloud strategy over the past year – while also giving Cisco a backhanded compliment for providing leads for Riverbed SD-WAN solutions.
