MSPs

Backup

Backup provider Storage Guardian deepens ConnectWise integration

March 8, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Backup provider Storage Guardian deepens ConnectWise integration
The enhanced integration introduces self healing tickets, and also makes Storage Guardian the first ConnectWise ecosystem partner that can be accessed directly from ConnectWise software, which in turn makes things easier for MSPs.

Managed Services

SupportBots looks to save MSPs money with AI-driven support bots

March 1, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on SupportBots looks to save MSPs money with AI-driven support bots
SupportBots launched a free trial period in February so MSPs can test them and provide feedback. For now, their main functionality is booking customers with available technicians, but the plan is to eventually do much more than that.

Security

Five ways to educate your customers about ransomware

February 28, 2017 Guest Poster Comments Off on Five ways to educate your customers about ransomware
Chris Crellin of Intronis MSP Solutions by Baracuda offers up five ways for MSPs to provide much-needed education to their clients on the topic of ransomware.

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.

IBM CEO Gini Rometty at PartnerWorld
Big Data

IBM chief sees architectural battle looming

February 14, 2017 Robert Dutt Comments Off on IBM chief sees architectural battle looming
At the company’s PartnerWorld event, IBM CEO Gini Rometty outlines the three platforms of the company’s architecture for supporting business decisions.

Managed Services

Webroot targets different partner segments with three new product announcements

February 2, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Webroot targets different partner segments with three new product announcements
Webroot SecureAnywhere DNS Protection is aimed at the SMB MSP market, while Webroot FlowScape Analytics is more for MSSPs and Webroot BrightCloud Streaming Malware Detection is primarily an OEM play.

Managed Services

Open Mesh acquisition gives Datto networking services purpose-built for MSPs, SMBs

January 31, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Open Mesh acquisition gives Datto networking services purpose-built for MSPs, SMBs
Datto makes a play for the cloud networking managed services market, which it says is full of enterprise-focused offerings that have ill-served MSPs and aren’t well suited to the SMB market.

Channel Programs

Kitchener-based Intranet provider Igloo looking to build out channel in North America

January 27, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Kitchener-based Intranet provider Igloo looking to build out channel in North America
Igloo, which makes a cloud-based SaaS solution that includes Intranets within a broad array of collaboration and other business apps, presently has no partners in North America. Now, however, having piloted a partner program in other geos last year, they are looking to change that.

Software

Plantronics upgrades analytics in Plantronics Manager Pro 3.9 monitoring service

January 25, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Plantronics upgrades analytics in Plantronics Manager Pro 3.9 monitoring service
While Plantronics Manager Pro originally had only an Asset Analysis analytics capability, the new version adds Usage Analysis, Conversation Analysis and Acoustic Analysis.

Mobility

Xirrus enhances MSP platform for WaaS with improved interface and API integrations

January 25, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Xirrus enhances MSP platform for WaaS with improved interface and API integrations
Xirrus added CommandCenter to the Xirrus Management System for MSPs last March to make the provisioning process quicker, and now has augmented it further.