Channel Brief: Kyndryl, JFrog, Nvidia Partnerships

Grab a cup of your favorite morning beverage and check out the return of our regular market briefing for managed services providers (MSPs), IT service providers (ITSPs), technology service providers (TSPs), cloud service providers (CSPs) cybersecurity consultants, systems integrators, VARs, independent software vendors (ISVs), and distributors.

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 editorial director [email protected].

Sip up.

A. Today’s Tech, Channel and MSP News

1. Money for the cyber skills gap - The philanthropic arm of Kyndryl, Kyndryl Foundation, announced that 11 nonprofits from seven countries have been chosen to receive its first year's grants to address the shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals. The grants are to provide skills and placement programs for underrepresented learners and job seekers. This year's grants also support nonprofits' cyber resiliency through education and consulting.

2. Security tool sprawl continues -  JFrog Ltd. has released the findings of its annual Software Supply Chain State of the Union report 2024, which identifies emerging development trends, risks and best practices for securing enterprise software supply chains. Among the findings is something we’ve heard from plenty of MSPs and MSSPs, Security tool sprawl continues. Nearly half of IT pros say they use between four and nine application security solutions. A third of survey respondents and security pros 33% say they’re using 10 or more application security solutions. 

3. Nvidia event and partnerships - Lots of news and partnerships are coming out of Nvidia’s annual developer conference in San Jose, California this week, as the company unveiled a new flagship AI chip, the Blackwell B200. Partnerships include Crowdstrike, Amazon Web Services, Snowflake, Google Cloud, Dell, Microsoft, SAP, and Oracle, among others. 

4. New funding round - FlexPoint, a payments automation platform for MSPs and the businesses they serve has raised $35 million of capital through a combination of debt and equity to fund the growth of the company and its vision to provide MSPs with a financial platform to grow and run their businesses. The round is highlighted by a $5 million equity investment led by Haymaker Ventures.

5. Free course for MSPs on disaster recovery - N-able, an MSP platform for RMM, PSA, and cybersecurity protection, is rolling out a new, free educational course around its disaster recovery as a service offering. The Cove’s ‘Master of Disaster Recovery’ Class is offered free to MSPs. The classes will be conducted via GoToWebinar every two weeks on an ongoing basis.

B. In-Person MSP and Channel Partner Events