tools

Managed Services

Twin themes of empowerment and security guide ConnectWise messaging to MSPs

November 12, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Twin themes of empowerment and security guide ConnectWise messaging to MSPs
ConnectWise stressed two main themes at their IT Nation Event in Orlando – the need to further empower MSPs, and the need for MSPs to develop their security capabilities. Those two themes were closely intertwined, as ConnectWise is rolling out multiple tools and programs to enhance both, with more to come.

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Channel Programs

Lenovo unveils channel transformation in response to partner feedback from Accelerate

July 9, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Lenovo unveils channel transformation in response to partner feedback from Accelerate
The changes involve restructuring the deployment of Lenovo resources to better support partners, new rewards for alignment and new logos, and changes to improve slow pricing policies – although a big one won’t roll out until next year.

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Marketing

HPE adds more resources to partner digital marketing strategy

June 19, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on HPE adds more resources to partner digital marketing strategy
HPE has built on the Digital Marketing program they announced last year with a new digital marketing maturity assessment tool, and increased resources through Marketing Pro Academy,

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Cloud

New Pax8 BI tool Stax extends simplicity, visibility and cross-sell capability to MSPs

May 7, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on New Pax8 BI tool Stax extends simplicity, visibility and cross-sell capability to MSPs
Stax automates the process of identifying gaps in MSP customer solution stacks, recommends offerings which can fill these voids, and provides the MSP with assistance and collateral to sell them.

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Marketing

ESET steps up partner marketing capabilities with new automated marketing centre

April 30, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on ESET steps up partner marketing capabilities with new automated marketing centre
While past ESET marketing materials have been static downloadable assets, this tool, designed by marketing automation company MindMatrix, fully automates campaigns, to make them easy to design, use and track.

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Cloud

Salesforce unveils Service Cloud Essentials for small business, enhances Sales Cloud Essentials

March 14, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Salesforce unveils Service Cloud Essentials for small business, enhances Sales Cloud Essentials
Salesforce adds a second Essentials cloud, and improves the original introduced last fall, although at this point in time, Essentials is still a marginal channel play, since the focus has been on improving the offering rather than broadening the go-to-market.

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Channel Programs

New Nutanix channel chief says big changes coming to sales motions

January 25, 2018 Mark Cox 1
Incents for new logos are on the way, but an even bigger change will be Nutanix moving from partners teaming with sales to making partners more autonomous.

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Networking

Gigamon unveils first 100Gb decryption through a visibility platform

December 5, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Gigamon unveils first 100Gb decryption through a visibility platform
Gigamon introduced inline 1Gb and 10Gb encryption on their security platform earlier this year. Now they have upgraded this to support faster 40Gb and 100 Gb networks, which they also think will encourage 100 Gb adoption.

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Managed Services

Microsoft-focused MSP Atmosera broadens range of security, compliance solutions

August 28, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Microsoft-focused MSP Atmosera broadens range of security, compliance solutions
The enhancements both offer lower price points to appeal to the lower end of the Atmosera TAM, and improve visibility to appeal to larger customers.

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Channel Programs

Komprise improves partner margins with launch of first channel program

August 25, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Komprise improves partner margins with launch of first channel program
Veteran channels leader Zach Edwards was brought in by Komprise to design the new program, and improve Komprise’s support to its channel, which is their entire route to market.

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Managed Services

RapidFire Tools strengthens PCI Compliance module with partnering to provide ASV scans

August 4, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on RapidFire Tools strengthens PCI Compliance module with partnering to provide ASV scans
While a low price will create a minor margin opportunity for the MSP, the main MSP benefit will be the better use of their time that will come from having the ASV scan capability integrated directly in the compliance module.

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Managed Services

Avast adds site security assessment tool to AVG Managed Workplace 11.0

July 31, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avast adds site security assessment tool to AVG Managed Workplace 11.0
Avast is providing the new tool free to its partners, in the belief that going forward they all need to focus much more on security than many have in the past.

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Software

Vancouver’s Tasktop making push deeper into data integration market

June 19, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Vancouver’s Tasktop making push deeper into data integration market
The Tasktop Integration Hub, focused on software development, provides integration services between large numbers of lifecycle and dev/ops tools – but the company is planning to expand its capabilities.

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