Firewall

Cloud

Channel needs to make its decisions on cloud in 2018: Palo Alto Networks

December 22, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Channel needs to make its decisions on cloud in 2018: Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks Canadian country manager Rob Lunney emphasizes that both the opportunities and dangers of the cloud for the channel are greater than ever, and partners need to be proactive in adjusting their business models to the future.

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Cloud

EXCLUSIVE: Barracuda partners with browser-based unified workspace vendor Awingu

December 19, 2017 Mark Cox 1
The solution will be easy for partners to put together, and is available broadly through distribution, without requiring certification. It is available now for the Azure cloud, with further cloud support on the horizon.

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Cloud

Riverbed announces automated integration between ZScaler and SteelConnect SD-WAN

November 2, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Riverbed announces automated integration between ZScaler and SteelConnect SD-WAN
Riverbed and ZScaler partner again, this time on an integration around SteelConnect SD-WAN cloud networking that increases customer agility by automating ZScaler’s security capabilities within.

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Data Centre

Workload specialization makes partners key in Dell digital transformation strategy

October 27, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Workload specialization makes partners key in Dell digital transformation strategy
Chad Sakac, president of Dell EMC’s converged platforms division laid out the company’s digital transformation strategy, why it’s often still hard for customers to grasp, and the role the channel can play in assisting with that.

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Channel Programs

Palo Alto Networks looking to transform channel to next-gen model in Canada

October 2, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Palo Alto Networks looking to transform channel to next-gen model in Canada
Palo Alto’s increased emphasis on the cloud is changing the skillsets required of partners. While they are adding some new ones, they are also encouraging partners to evolve their own business models.

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Security

Tom Flink joins Forcepoint as vice president of global channel sales

September 29, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Tom Flink joins Forcepoint as vice president of global channel sales
Flink, best-known in the channel for his long tenure running the Citrix partner ecosystem, talks with ChannelBuzz about his priorities with Forcepoint and what needs to be done to make their channel even stronger.

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Backup

Study shows startlingly slim penetration rates in security and backup managed services

August 4, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Study shows startlingly slim penetration rates in security and backup managed services
A new study that looks at managed services business by the channel generally – not just self identified MSPs – finds quite low rates of adoption. A significant number to plan to move into security however.

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Networking

Palo Alto unveils GlobalProtect cloud service for remote offices and mobile users

June 13, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Palo Alto unveils GlobalProtect cloud service for remote offices and mobile users
The new cloud service is delivered through an infrastructure Palo Alto will manage and maintain, but it’s an offering partners can resell, not one that will compete with them.

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Backup

Barracuda expands MSP Professional Services offerings

June 6, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Barracuda expands MSP Professional Services offerings
The new services for MSPs are around the Barracuda NextGen Firewall and Barracuda Backup Appliance, with the firewall service thought likely to generate the most demand.

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