Microsoft

Cloud

Microsoft CSP Atmosera brings managed Azure services portfolio to general availability

June 27, 2017 Mark Cox 1
Atmosera believes the combination of Azure’s maturity and problems many customers have had using the cloud themselves will sustain incredible growth rates for Azure-focused MSPs.

Managed Services

ConnectWise beefs up CloudConsole with standalone capability outside Manage

June 21, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on ConnectWise beefs up CloudConsole with standalone capability outside Manage
Originally an Office 365 management tool, ConnectWise added Azure management last year, will have Cisco management capabilities by the fall, AWS soon after that, and more coming down the road.

Distribution

Ingram Micro Canada launches IOT business

June 14, 2017 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Ingram Micro Canada launches IOT business
Ingram Micro Canada takes the veil off its IOT business, offering solution providers a number of pre-integrated IOT solutions across a number of industries.

Cloud

Do your customers love Office 365, but avoid the cloud?

June 13, 2017 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Do your customers love Office 365, but avoid the cloud?
A Softchoice survey finds that while customers accept Office 365 as a way of licensing software, many aren’t moving their infrastructure into the cloud.

Cloud

Flexxible IT launches new SMB-focused hybrid cloud virtual workspace appliance

May 23, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Flexxible IT launches new SMB-focused hybrid cloud virtual workspace appliance
UK-based Flexxible IT has been focused on Europe, but has opened a US office with ex-Appsense channel chief Jim Airdo running the North American business.

Cloud

Vena announces Office 365 integration, best practices library at first user event

May 19, 2017 Mark Cox 1
Toronto-based SaaS CPM vendor Vena used its first ever user event to extend its support to Office 365, and establish their Vena Exchange, a vetted library for customers to share Excel best practices templates.

Channel Programs

Workspot adds second partner program for Cloud Consultant partners

May 16, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Workspot adds second partner program for Cloud Consultant partners
SaaS-based Workspot is creating the new channel program specifically for cloud-focused partners, following the strong growth of their business this year around Microsoft Azure.

Cloud

Dell EMC sees big partner play in new Dell EMC Cloud for Microsoft Azure stack

May 4, 2017 Mark Cox 1
Dell EMC Cloud for Microsoft Azure Stack will be available in the second half of the year, although smaller developer versions are available now.

Networking

Riverbed lays out channel, integration plans for “Meraki-killer” Xirrus

April 28, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Riverbed lays out channel, integration plans for “Meraki-killer” Xirrus
The integration of two companies with fundamentally different partner bases poses specific challenges, but also creates new opportunities.

Backup

Hyper-V specialist backup vendor Altaro officially launches in North America

April 10, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Hyper-V specialist backup vendor Altaro officially launches in North America
Malta-based Altaro simultaneously announced the version 7 of their VM Backup, which was originally a Hyper-V backup solution, but has also supported VMware environments since Version 6.