Channel Brief: PANW Buys IBM QRadar, Kyndryl Modernizes Mainframes and More

Friday's finally here, and we hope you're gearing up for the weekend!

Today, we're looking into the Bitdefender and NinjaOne partnership that will integrate Bitdefender GravityZone, a unified security and risk analytics platform, with NinjaOne resulting in advanced threat protection and faster remediation across endpoints.

In what IBM is calling a 'partnership' but Forrester and the Wall Street Journal say is an acquisition, Palo Alto Networks will migrate QRadar SaaS customers onto Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex extended security intelligence and automation management (XSIAM) platform, the vendors said. This is further evidence of the massive consolidation going on in the cybersecurity tool vendor space, CRN said.

And congratulations to Ramin Sayar, former CEO of Sumo Logic, who this week was named to Acceldata's board of directors.

Are you an MSP that partners with public cloud service providers? It's time for you to step up and get recognized. ChannelE2E opened its annual Top 250 Public Cloud MSPs survey. This is the survey that we use to create our annual Top 250 Public Cloud MSPs ranked list. Here's the link to participate.

And don't forget to submit your idea for a session at the upcoming MSSP Alert Live event! MSSP Alert Live is the premiere cybersecurity event for MSPs and MSSPs. (You can submit your proposal here.) We’re looking for speakers like you who want to share insights and experience and wisdom with peers.

Please check out our industry Mergers and Acquisitions list, updated daily, with an archive that goes all the way back to 2020. Check out the whole thing here. Scroll down for a quick view of upcoming in-person channel and MSP events at the bottom of this post (while we spiff up our industry calendar behind the scenes. It will return!)

And please send your news tips, information, and industry chatter to senior managing editor [email protected].

Today’s Tech, Channel and MSP News

1. NinjaOne, Bitdefender Partnership: Cybersecurity firm Bitdefender and endpoint management and monitoring company NinjaOne are teaming up to integrate their solutions. Bitdefender GravityZone, a unified security and risk analytics platform, will integrate with NinjaOne resulting in advanced threat protection and faster remediation across endpoints in all environments (cloud, hybrid, supply chain) controlled from a single console, the companies said in a statement.

2. Liongard Launches Managed Attack Surface Solution: Liongard launched its Managed Attack Surface Solution for SMBs, mid-market companies, and enterprises, MSP Today reported last week. The ASM solution gives customers access to Liongard's network of MSPs and MSSPs who can deliver the managed service and help them protect their customers' attack surfaces. Key benefits include continuous monitoring to detect and address misconfigurations and unauthorized changes within their IT environments in real-time, actionable insights into attack surfaces, and Liongard's AI companion, Leo, which leverages advanced AI technologies to augment threat detection and response capabilities.

3. Palo Alto Grabs IBM's QRadar: CRN reported that Palo Alto Networks will acquire IBM’s QRadar software-as-a-service assets. Though IBM is calling the move a partnership, Forrester and the Wall Street Journal are using terms like "surrender" and "selling" and tie the acquisition to the broader trend of consolidation in the cybersecurity space. The move will lead to QRadar SaaS customers being migrated onto Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex extended security intelligence and automation management (XSIAM) platform, the vendors said.

4. Kyndryl Trains for the Mainframe: There are still many industries -- travel, finance, government systems -- that still rely on mainframes, and despite what you might think, even the venerable mainframe can benefit from modernization, including AI. IT services firm Kyndryl has unveiled new AI and generative AI-based services for the mainframe to help customers manage, modernize and optimize their mainframe assets, Kyndryl said. As part of this initiative, over 5,000 Kyndryl mainframe professionals are training to enable the deployment of AI-enabled workloads in hybrid cloud environments.

5. Acceldata's Board of Directors: Data observability company Acceldata appointed Ramin Sayar, former CEO of Sumo Logic, to its board of directors this week. Sayar has more than 25 years of experience in the technology industry, including as CEO of Sumo Logic. Sayar held various leadership roles at VMware, HP, and Tibco. He currently serves as a trusted advisor and investor for various venture-backed startups and lends his expertise as a board member to both private and public companies, Acceldata said. With Sayar's appointment, Acceldata's board of directors now includes Dev Khare, partner at Lightspeed, Ken Elefant, partner at Sorenson Ventures, George Mathew, partner at Insight Partners and Rajan Mehra, partner at March Capital.

MSSP Alert Live Call for Papers and Top 250 Public Cloud MSPs

MSSP Alert Live CFP: Are you a thought leader in managed services or managed security services, or do you have a unique approach to an important topic that could help other MSPs or MSSPs? We’re looking for speakers like you to be part of our MSSP Alert Live program for 2024. MSSP Alert Live, the premiere cybersecurity event for MSPs and MSSPs, has opened its call for papers. (You can submit yours here.) We’re looking for speakers like you who want to share insights and experience and wisdom with peers.

Time for Cloud MSPs to get recognized: Are you an MSP that works with public cloud providers? It’s time to get recognized for your work. ChannelE2E opened its annual survey for the Top 250 Public Cloud MSPs. If your MSP practice includes working with a public cloud provider, this survey is for you. Participation is free. The survey closes in June. Submit your MSP today here for recognition! Our list will be released this summer.

In-Person MSP and Channel Partner Events