Canada

Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft Canada highlights Canadian AI initiatives at Future Now 2019 event

March 22, 2019 Mark Cox Comments Off on Microsoft Canada highlights Canadian AI initiatives at Future Now 2019 event
Microsoft holds this annual event both to demonstrate Microsoft’s position on the cutting edge of new technology, and to inspire customers and prospects in attendance with examples of how Canadians have had strong results putting these concepts into practice.

Security

vArmour to hire Canadian-based resource as part of major sales and marketing expansion from new funding round

February 6, 2019 Mark Cox Comments Off on vArmour to hire Canadian-based resource as part of major sales and marketing expansion from new funding round
vArmour raises another $44 million in a Series E funding round to address what they see as a massive opportunity, and are investing most of it in sales and marketing resources as a result, including hiring a resident person in Canada for the first time.

Channel Programs

Simplification top priority in Avaya channel program changes

January 9, 2019 Mark Cox Comments Off on Simplification top priority in Avaya channel program changes
Avaya has announced alterations to the Edge partner program it first rolled out two years ago, to remove some pain points, and which provides partners with more compensation than before, but which is distributed differently.

Cloud

Mitel looks to expand Master Agent channel as part of global UCaaS drive

December 17, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Mitel looks to expand Master Agent channel as part of global UCaaS drive
A new Master Agent agreement with TradeWinds Brokerage establishes Mitel’s first Master Agent in ANZ, where their UCaaS business is already strong. It leverages a U.S. relationship which is part of a growing Master Agent channel in that market.

Security

Software security vendor Checkmarx continues building out channel with addition of Fishtech Group

November 19, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Software security vendor Checkmarx continues building out channel with addition of Fishtech Group
Checkmarx makes application security testing software that covers the entire software development lifecycle, and over the last several years has evolved from a direct model from one that aims to get as close as possible to all of their new business coming through the channel.

Artificial Intelligence

Changing AI market impacts SAS strategy and channel

November 15, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Changing AI market impacts SAS strategy and channel
SAS has reacted to the huge changes in the market around artificial intelligence, by rethinking how they approach the market, and how they sell into it.

Artificial Intelligence

Canada still not tapping into full potential of artificial intelligence

November 15, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Canada still not tapping into full potential of artificial intelligence
SAS Canada’s AI Executive event on Wednesday focused on how Canadian companies can best use AI to drive business outcomes. However, SAS also emphasized data that indicate that to date, that hasn’t been happening in Canada, which lags globally when it comes to adoption in production environments.

Virtualization

Resurgent VMware Canada discusses strategy at Dell Technologies Toronto Forum

October 31, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Resurgent VMware Canada discusses strategy at Dell Technologies Toronto Forum
VMware Canada Country Manager Sean Forkan discusses changes made since he took the job to restore the company’s momentum in Canada, and talked about where they are going in the months ahead.

Networking

Aryaka looks to new Canadian Point of Presence and first country manager to scale up SD-WAN-as-a-Service here

July 18, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Aryaka looks to new Canadian Point of Presence and first country manager to scale up SD-WAN-as-a-Service here
The new Toronto POP will let Aryaka serve more Canadian customers more efficiently, while the presence of Craig Workman running their Canadian sales lets Aryaka expand their activity around business development, marketing, education and thought leadership.

Data Centre

EXCLUSIVE: Maxta to offer pre-configured HCI appliances through Arrow

June 7, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on EXCLUSIVE: Maxta to offer pre-configured HCI appliances through Arrow
In a related announcement, Maxta announces a new relationship with large account reseller Connection, which will be able to leverage these new pre-configured appliances.