AVG

Security

Barracuda acquires Managed Workplace from Avast and will resell Avast Antivirus

February 4, 2019 Mark Cox Comments Off on Barracuda acquires Managed Workplace from Avast and will resell Avast Antivirus
Barracuda and Avast announce a new partnership which adds the ability to resell Avast’s anti-virus solution to Barracuda’s own portfolio. Barracuda will actually acquire the Managed Workplace RMM business, which should be a better fit with their MSP business than it was at Avast. Barracuda also stated its commitment to retain the Managed Workplace presence in Ottawa, where it originally began as Level Platforms.

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Channel Programs

Avast kicks off rebranded Avast Business with unified antivirus, new channel programs

September 6, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avast kicks off rebranded Avast Business with unified antivirus, new channel programs
The new Avast Business Antivirus integrates elements from both the legacy Avast and AVG anti-virus solutions, and is integrated into their Managed Workplace and CloudCare offerings.

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Managed Services

Avast partners with KYOCERA Document Solutions in Canada

March 28, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avast partners with KYOCERA Document Solutions in Canada
The three year deal makes KYOCERA Document Solutions Canada an Avast Elite Channel Partner, and the managed IT services portfolio from AVG Business by Avast will be offered both to KYOCERA Document Solutions Canada’s customers and to their own channel.

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Managed Services

Avast names new SVP & GM of SMB

November 22, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avast names new SVP & GM of SMB
Long-time Symantec exec Kevin Chapman moves into the SMB chair at Avast, freeing up interim SMB leader Glenn Taylor to return to his strategy role.

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Managed Services

Avast to embrace AVG for Business non-freemium model as acquisition closes

September 30, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avast to embrace AVG for Business non-freemium model as acquisition closes
Avast also stresses its commitment to AVG’s RMM business, and indicates that while the goal is to expand the number of resellers, they will also be rationalizing the product line.

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Software

Security vet Luke Walling launches Temprano Techvestors to bring Euro firms to America

September 6, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Security vet Luke Walling launches Temprano Techvestors to bring Euro firms to America
Part manufacturers’ rep, and part angel investor, Temprano will work with a limited number of European software companies to bring them to North America and successfully build up their businesses here.

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Distribution

AVG completes North American disti strategy with D&H agreement

August 3, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on AVG completes North American disti strategy with D&H agreement
While its acquisition by fellow Czech-based security vendor Avast approaches, AVG continues business as usual, completing the final phase of its North American distribution strategy that was first announced months before the acquisition. The deal will also apply in Canada, but has not yet been implemented here.

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Managed Services

Avast sees AVG acquisition as bolstering SMB, channel presence

July 7, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avast sees AVG acquisition as bolstering SMB, channel presence
For the channel, the key issue is what the acquisition will mean to the SMB businesses of both companies, particularly the MSP-focused RMM business AVG originally acquired from Level Platforms. Avast CEO Vince Steckler addresses the issue.

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Distribution

AVG adds EarthBend to North American distribution in new specialty distribution emphasis

May 24, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on AVG adds EarthBend to North American distribution in new specialty distribution emphasis
AVG continues its strategy of adding more focused, value-added distributors with EarthBend, which brings an MSP background and experience with AVG’s Managed Workplace solution, as well as a strong regional presence in both the American mid-west and Canadian prairies.

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Managed Services

AVG simplifies platform in Managed Workplace 10.0 to emphasize MSP business goals

April 11, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on AVG simplifies platform in Managed Workplace 10.0 to emphasize MSP business goals
The new version of AVG’s RMM platform reworks the platform around the MSPs business processes, greatly reducing installation time and building customizable customer service plans right into the RMM solution.

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Distribution

New certification program, expanded distribution key AVG SMB strategy

March 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on New certification program, expanded distribution key AVG SMB strategy
New AVG SMB chief Fred Gerritse recently talked with ChannelBuzz about the impact of recent management changes on the company’s strategy and Canadian presence, and about how AVG is now looking to enhance the markets for its SMB solutions and the skills of the partners who sell them.

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Managed Services

AVG rolls out 2016 Business Edition software suite

September 30, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on AVG rolls out 2016 Business Edition software suite
The suite, which contains new versions of its AVG AntiVirus Business Edition and AVG Internet Security Business Edition products, also contains a free remote management console.

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Managed Services

AVG launches ‘game changing’ new Managed Workplace

September 15, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on AVG launches ‘game changing’ new Managed Workplace
The big change is the addition of an integrated remote control solution, which will be free to MSP partners, but the new version also improves the integrated backup and disaster recovery, adds a device manager to Mac support, and upgrades its integrated antivirus technology.

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Managed Services

AVG continues aggressive partner drive in both RMM, security sectors

August 5, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on AVG continues aggressive partner drive in both RMM, security sectors
AVG emphasizes that having a foot in two separate sectors helps partners drive their business, and notes that AVG’s requirement their channel account people be certified in Channel Management through CompTIA is one aspect of their commitment to being easy to work with.

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Managed Services

Tigerpaw, AVG further strengthen relationship with Service Desk Connector integration

July 15, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Tigerpaw, AVG further strengthen relationship with Service Desk Connector integration
AVG, which through Level Platforms has a long and strong relationship with Tigerpaw, has completed the first RMM integration to Tigerpaw’s new Web-based API. More Tigerpaw integrations, many of them net-new, are on the way.

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Podcasts

Podcast: Epson’s BrightLink Pro, and the MSP journey with AVG Business

June 24, 2015 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Podcast: Epson’s BrightLink Pro, and the MSP journey with AVG Business
Epson’s Judy Burns discusses the company’s interactive projectors, and Marco LaVecchia of AVG Business talks managed services on this podcast.

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Managed Services

AVG Business opens Ottawa Global Center of Excellence for Managed Workplace

June 5, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on AVG Business opens Ottawa Global Center of Excellence for Managed Workplace
AVG’s SMB-focused business unit has added so many new sales and support staff they outgrew their old offices, and they are still in aggressive growth mode, recruiting new partners to sell their managed services.

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Cloud

Internet of Things has strong potential for Canadian MSPs: AVG

October 24, 2014 Mark Cox Comments Off on Internet of Things has strong potential for Canadian MSPs: AVG
AVG’s commercial market strategy is now based around MSPs, who the company thinks are well positioned to handle the additional management tasks that the Internet of Things is bringing.

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Autotask CEO Mark Cattini
Managed Services

After long-simmering rumors, Autotask acquired

June 10, 2014 Larry Walsh (Channelnomics) Comments Off on After long-simmering rumors, Autotask acquired
Autotask acquired by private equity firm Vista Equity Partners for an undisclosed price, making it the latest shakeup in the managed services segment.

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McAfee worldwide channel chief Gavin Struthers
Channel Programs

McAfee launches referral program for SMB services

June 2, 2014 Larry Walsh (Channelnomics) Comments Off on McAfee launches referral program for SMB services
McAfee, better known for its enterprise products, is going after the broad SMB market with security services, rewarding partners for referral.

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