Cloud

Cloud

Microsoft Teams chat-based workspace now globally available

March 14, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Microsoft Teams chat-based workspace now globally available
Microsoft Teams is significant for the channel because it deepens Office 365’s functionality further, and gives partners another arrow in their quiver to pitch this already hot product.

Big Data

Salesforce kicks off the Year of Einstein

March 7, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce kicks off the Year of Einstein
Salesforce highlighted that Einstein, featured at last fall’s Dreamforce, is part of the new spring release, and is in the hands of customers. They also announced a new partnership with IBM that unites IBM’s Watson with Einstein.

Cloud

eSentire integrates cloud sources into its Managed Detection and Response service

February 28, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on eSentire integrates cloud sources into its Managed Detection and Response service
The addition of cloud visibility into the Managed Detection and Response service responds to the user vulnerability to issues like phishing and data exfiltration, and presents a strong new opportunity for partners.

Channel Programs

Panzura unveils new cloud NAS-centric partner program

February 23, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Panzura unveils new cloud NAS-centric partner program
Panzura is looking to its new partner program to both recruit and support a select partner base that can sell its new Freedom solutions, which are focused on the cloud NAS-space.

Carl Watene, director of sales for Jive Canada
Cloud

New Year’s Podcast Series: Carl Watene of Jive Canada

February 21, 2017 Robert Dutt Comments Off on New Year’s Podcast Series: Carl Watene of Jive Canada
Carl Watene of Jive Canada on the company’s partnering strategy, and why MSPs should be giving UCaaS a second look.

Channel Programs

Salesforce tweaks channel programs in tiering, training, specializations

February 21, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce tweaks channel programs in tiering, training, specializations
Salesforce looks to improve its support of partners, as it looks to grow its consultant base tenfold over the next several years to meet projected demand.

Cloud

Dell EMC brings turnkey hybrid cloud in a box onto VxRail appliances

February 16, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Dell EMC brings turnkey hybrid cloud in a box onto VxRail appliances
The Dell EMC Enterprise Hybrid Cloud has previously been available on VxBlock, but it will soon be available on VxRail appliances, broadening its presence down market and greatly increasing the channel opportunity.

Cloud

Avaya’s Zang introduces new cloud phone service, and new collaboration tool

February 13, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya’s Zang introduces new cloud phone service, and new collaboration tool
Zang moves into the cloud PBX market with Zang Office, although at this stage, the channel opportunities, other than referral fees, are limited. Partner opportunities for Zang Space, the collaboration tool, appear stronger.

Cloud

Cloud distributor Pax8 unveils free Marketing on Demand resources for partners

February 10, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Cloud distributor Pax8 unveils free Marketing on Demand resources for partners
Pax8 has offered marketing resources to its partner channel before, but has given them the ability to conduct campaigns on their own with this offering.

Backup

Barracuda refreshes its entire lineup of backup appliances

February 2, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Barracuda refreshes its entire lineup of backup appliances
Memory, performance and capacity have been increased, with capacity on the physical models going up from 100 per cent in the entry level appliances, to between 15-30 per cent in the high end ones.