Services

Distribution

NetApp rebounds strongly in Canada as smaller partners come back

September 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on NetApp rebounds strongly in Canada as smaller partners come back
The growing flash businesses, strong partner services opportunities, and better leveraging of Arrow and Avnet have helped drive NetApp’s Canadian business in 2016.

Channel Programs

NetApp reworks channel strategy to get its mojo back

September 28, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on NetApp reworks channel strategy to get its mojo back
Over the last year, NetApp has reshaped its channel strategy extensively, and will soon cap it with a new Hard Deck policy. Unlike a similar named policy of an old competitor, NetApp thinks this one will be highly popular with partners.

Channel Programs

Hidden gems in ADTRAN channel messaging – as well as lump of coal for Canada

August 10, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Hidden gems in ADTRAN channel messaging – as well as lump of coal for Canada
ADTRAN’s messaging for its VAR and MSP partners at its Connect Press and Analyst event has been clear, and focused on the need to take advantage of developing OPEX opportunities. A couple critically important themes were not emphasized, however.

Cloud

Hosted workspace vendor CloudJumper spins off from nGenx with unique licensing

May 3, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Hosted workspace vendor CloudJumper spins off from nGenx with unique licensing
CloudJumper thinks its option of a concurrent user licensing model will be particularly popular in larger enterprise accounts, because rather than a license for each named user, it requires only licenses for the maximum number using the offering at the same time.

Managed Services

AVG simplifies platform in Managed Workplace 10.0 to emphasize MSP business goals

April 11, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on AVG simplifies platform in Managed Workplace 10.0 to emphasize MSP business goals
The new version of AVG’s RMM platform reworks the platform around the MSPs business processes, greatly reducing installation time and building customizable customer service plans right into the RMM solution.

Security

New Dell SonicWALL Threat Protection Service to be major channel play

March 1, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on New Dell SonicWALL Threat Protection Service to be major channel play
The new service combines one sandbox Dell has used internally, and being productized for the first time, with two licensed third party sandboxes, on the principle that modern threats that try and evade sandboxes won’t be able to evade three different ones at the same time.

Managed Services

VAR Dynamics announcing new name (CloudPlus), pricing, website, programs

February 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on VAR Dynamics announcing new name (CloudPlus), pricing, website, programs
VAR Dynamics completes a major restructuring with a name change to highlight the company’s focus on its platform rather than the services on top, and to illustrate that the company’s base has also moved beyond VARs to include other types of partners.

Michael Murphy, country manager for Citrix Canada
Channel Programs

Citrix messages of focus, steadiness resonate in Canada

January 13, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Citrix messages of focus, steadiness resonate in Canada
While some of the channel changes announced at Citrix Summit have less relevance to Canada than in other geos, the core themes Citrix emphasized of increased focus and channel co-operation found a welcome reception.

Channel Programs

Dell delivers first partner services competency, around ProDeploy

October 22, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Dell delivers first partner services competency, around ProDeploy
Dell’s overhaul of its segmented deployment services into a united ProDeploy offering takes the same step they did in support with ProSupport, and has some attractive new elements for channel partners.

Networking

Dell extends proactive automated support to consumer PCs and tablets

June 2, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Dell extends proactive automated support to consumer PCs and tablets
Dell’s proactive support services have been a big hit in the channel, but this particular product is designed as a retail play, rather than for solution providers.