Public Cloud

VMware Canada channel chief Tara Fine
Channel Programs

Dell vet Tara Fine sees more impact in new role as VMware Canada channel chief

November 10, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Dell vet Tara Fine sees more impact in new role as VMware Canada channel chief
Fine also acknowledged some VMware partner concern over the company’s new relationship with Dell, which does much more of its business direct than VMware has historically, and indicated her commitment to standing behind the partner community.

Cloud

NetApp adds new threads to their data fabric

November 1, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on NetApp adds new threads to their data fabric
NetApp announces a series of new and enhanced data services, as well as a refresh of several solutions aimed at the hybrid cloud.

Cloud

Intermedia adds Private Cloud deployment to white label partner model

October 13, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Intermedia adds Private Cloud deployment to white label partner model
Intermedia expects the Private Cloud solution to have particular appeal to partners who will be able to add their own offerings and services.

Channel Programs

Oracle looks to cast broad net with Oracle Cloud Managed Service Provider Program

September 19, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Oracle looks to cast broad net with Oracle Cloud Managed Service Provider Program
The new program lets strictly vetted MSPs package the Oracle platform with both Oracle and non-Oracle apps into a single price, and offers additional sales and marketing support.

Storage

Tegile Systems announces massively scalable IntelliFlash Cloud Platform

August 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Tegile Systems announces massively scalable IntelliFlash Cloud Platform
Tegile says its new scale-out platform, with flash prices starting at about 50 cents/GB, will make on-prem flash cheaper than the public cloud and thus give channel partners a powerful weapon.

Storage

Hyper-converged secondary storage vendor Cohesity enhances platform, software

June 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Hyper-converged secondary storage vendor Cohesity enhances platform, software
The enhancements include a major improvement to the platform’s performance as well as the ability to now handle physical protection as well as virtual.

Channel Programs

Aerohive looks to drive partner wireless-as-a-service business with new MSP program

June 17, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Aerohive looks to drive partner wireless-as-a-service business with new MSP program
The program, which has two tiers, provides infrastructure enhancements related to managed services as well as business process changes desired by MSPs, like the separation of hardware purchases from software and pay-as-you-go billing.

Cloud

Citrix, Microsoft announce major expansion of long-term partnership

May 25, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Citrix, Microsoft announce major expansion of long-term partnership
Key elements include Azure becoming Citrix’s preferred cloud platform, and Microsoft Skype for Business now being optimized for the Citrix VDI environment, the only one to receive this preferred treatment.

Channel Programs

SAP announces new Cloud Business Partner Program

May 16, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on SAP announces new Cloud Business Partner Program
At its partner event preceding the broader SAPPHIRE conference, SAP previewed a major new cloud program, which will be implemented in three stages, the first of which will be in Q3 and the next two, next year. Details at this point were exceedingly scarce.

Cloud

IndependenceIT unveils Cloud Workspace Suite 5.0 in its biggest update ever

March 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on IndependenceIT unveils Cloud Workspace Suite 5.0 in its biggest update ever
The move up from Version 4.2 includes the adoption of Azure Active Directory as the authentication of record, a new interface, Cloud Workspace Suite’s first app services, resource scheduling, server scaling and automatic server cloning.