Articles by Mark Cox

Big Data

Gigamon enhances security focus with new Metadata Engine

February 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Gigamon enhances security focus with new Metadata Engine
Gigamon enhances the security platform at the core of their growing security business, while continuing to increase and develop the security-focused part of their channel. They will also be implementing a Gigamon Professional Services program in Q2.

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Mobility

Lantronix launches first 5G Wi-Fi module for IoT

February 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Lantronix launches first 5G Wi-Fi module for IoT
Lantronix says the cost to enterprise management of their wireless stacks, together with the greater difficulty of updating obsolete embedded technology, makes customers ready for a cutting edge 5G (802.11ac) Wi-Fi connectivity solution for the Internet of Things.

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Security

Agiliance takes new name, RiskVision, and makes major push into channel

February 26, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Agiliance takes new name, RiskVision, and makes major push into channel
Risk intelligence solution Agiliance pulls an Oracle, rebranding itself after its RiskVision product. RiskVision has done most of its business direct in the past, but is aggressively looking to change that, looking to add VAR, solution provider and MSSP partners.

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Networking

Nutanix, Mellanox partnership adds Mellanox Ethernet switch to Nutanix platform

February 25, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Nutanix, Mellanox partnership adds Mellanox Ethernet switch to Nutanix platform
Mellanox thinks the Nutanix partnership can let Mellanox do for networking what Nutanix has already done for storage and compute – make it invisible. They also think it can grow their Ethernet switch business from the single digits to the neighborhood of their market leadership in Ethernet adapters.

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Cloud

BES12 EMM platform first BlackBerry solution certified on Azure, more to follow

February 25, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on BES12 EMM platform first BlackBerry solution certified on Azure, more to follow
The companies anticipate that the BlackBerry BES12 enterprise mobility management platform being tested and certified for Azure and available in Azure Marketplace will significantly increase its exposure and sales.

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Security

LookingGlass sees new CS-4000E enterprise network security platform as strong channel play

February 24, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on LookingGlass sees new CS-4000E enterprise network security platform as strong channel play
This platform, the CS-4000E, is a version of the CS-4000 the company has been selling to government customers, priced lower for the enterprise. Looking Glass has begun to recruit a channel, and sees the platform’s ability to cover the whole threat intelligence spectrum as a strong incent for partners.

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Cloud

SwiftStack sees great IoT opportunities in joining Cisco Solution Partner Program

February 24, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on SwiftStack sees great IoT opportunities in joining Cisco Solution Partner Program
The approved compatibility with Cisco allows any Cisco UCS server to be turned into the equivalent of a private Amazon S3 storage cloud, which is well suited for IoT requirements. More specific partner-focused announcements relating to this partnership are also coming.

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Cloud

ShoreTel Connect HYBRID Sites offer single user experience for cloud and on-prem

February 24, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on ShoreTel Connect HYBRID Sites offer single user experience for cloud and on-prem
The new HYBRID Sites complete the integration of ShoreTel’s cloud and on-prem solutions which began with the new ShoreTel Connect branding last year. They improve partners’ selling ability with the single solution, and its suitability for larger deployments.

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Networking

Scale Computing partners with Mellanox to add networking to hyper-converged solution

February 23, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Scale Computing partners with Mellanox to add networking to hyper-converged solution
Adding networking to the server, storage and virtualization capabilities of their HC3 solution gives Scale a complete bundle that responds to customer requests for such an addition.

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Storage

Nimble Storage looks to new predictive analytics for enterprise push

February 23, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Nimble Storage looks to new predictive analytics for enterprise push
Flash-focused Nimble Storage has announced its new Nimble AF-Series of All Flash arrays, a family of four models which adds predictive analytics. Nimble thinks it will position them better in the enterprise market.

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Big Data

HDS announces new predictive analytics UCP model that forecasts customer churn

February 22, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on HDS announces new predictive analytics UCP model that forecasts customer churn
The new Hitachi Unified Compute Platform 6000 for Predictive Analytics integrates SAP Predictive Analytics software, and while aimed mainly at telcos and media service providers, may have a broader audience than that.

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Mobility

Citrix reworks NetScaler T1000 by integrating ByteMobile technology

February 22, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Citrix reworks NetScaler T1000 by integrating ByteMobile technology
The new NetScaler T1000 incorporates the ByteMobile optimization software within the NetScaler appliance for improved mobile traffic handling.

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Cloud

VMware aims for thought leadership with new releases

February 19, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on VMware aims for thought leadership with new releases
The new VMware Workspace ONE suite, and enhanced VMware Horizon VDI and Horizon Air solutions and VMware vRealize Suite 7 cloud management suite offer channel partners enhanced opportunities and the ability to gain deeper relationships with customers.

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Distribution

Ingram Micro sold to Chinese company for $6 billion: should partners be concerned?

February 18, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Ingram Micro sold to Chinese company for $6 billion: should partners be concerned?
It’s a great deal for Ingram’s stockholders — which include many of their channel partners. But for their businesses, will it be business as usual.

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Software

EMC-VMware VxRail appliance upgrades VSPEX Blue in VCE hyper-converged lineup

February 18, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on EMC-VMware VxRail appliance upgrades VSPEX Blue in VCE hyper-converged lineup
VxRail has the same concept as last year’s unsuccessful EMC first foray into hyperconverged, but is designed to be much more flexible and modular, and benefits greatly from an improved software stack. It will also be available through all EMC partners, not just ones certified on VCE.

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Channel Programs

Cohesity looks to Revolutionize secondary storage with first channel program

February 18, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Cohesity looks to Revolutionize secondary storage with first channel program
The aim of Cohesity, led by Nutanix’s original co-founder, is to disrupt the secondary storage market the same way Nutanix disrupted primary storage, and through a similar 100 per cent channel model.

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Storage

HDS upgrades data protection, security capabilities of HCP Anywhere platform

February 17, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on HDS upgrades data protection, security capabilities of HCP Anywhere platform
Hitachi Data Systems continues to expand the functionality of its platform introduced in 2013 as a sync ‘n’ share variant of its Hitachi Content Platform with new and enhanced features.

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Managed Services

IAM startup IDdriven launches Identity-as-a-Service solution

February 17, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on IAM startup IDdriven launches Identity-as-a-Service solution
IDDriven has designed a SaaS offering that is full featured while also simple to use, and which they will be selling through a channel that they are looking to grow.

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Channel Programs

Unitrends revamps partner program on unique engagement philosophy

February 16, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Unitrends revamps partner program on unique engagement philosophy
Unitrends is implementing a program based on five stars, with partners earning credit for ranking based on sales, marketing, customer satisfaction, training and social media achievements, in a system that can let smaller partners and even influencers rise in the program.

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Data Centre

Nutanix looks to move beyond hyperconverged with new software release

February 16, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Nutanix looks to move beyond hyperconverged with new software release
Nutanix’s 4.6 software release enables key features to its platform announced last summer, as part of their longer-run strategy to be an Amazon-like infrastructure for the enterprise cloud.

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