Channel Brief: Microsoft Copilot, SolarWinds, Accenture Q2

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. Copilot for Security to go GA - Microsoft will make its Microsoft Copilot for Security generally available worldwide on April 1, 2024. The release builds on Microsoft’s recent general availability of Copilot for Microsoft 365, Copilot for Finance, Copilot for Sales, Copilot for Service, and Copilot for the education market. Copilot for Security capacity is anticipated to be billed monthly via a new Security Compute Unit (SCU) at the rate of $4/hr.

2. SolarWinds Partner Summit - IT management and observability software provider SolarWinds will host its annual Americas Partner Summit 2024 in Miami April 8–10, 2024. The event is part of the SolarWinds Transform Partner Summit series hosted by the company across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

3. Accenture Q2 managed services revenues higher - Accenture reported (PDF) flat revenues for its Q2 2024. Consulting revenues experenced a 3% decrease year over year and managed services revenues experienced a 3% increase for the quarter year over year. New bookings experienced a 2% decrease year over year.

4. Cognizant expands Google Cloud AI collaboration - Cognizant and Google Cloud are expanding their partnership to enhance the software delivery lifecycle and accelerate developer productivity. Cognizant will adopt the genAI capability, Gemini for Google Cloud, in two ways: first, by training Cognizant associates to use Gemini for software development assistance; and second, Cognizant is integrating Gemini’s advanced capabilities within its internal operations and platforms. 

5. Personnel appointments - SmartCIC, a global managed service provider has appointed Johnatan Santana as its head of carrier wholesale and Reina Borjas as senior sales manager. SmartCIC is making strategic investments in talent by building out its international wholesale connectivity team to support growing demand for end-to-end ‘through the line’ solutions and its approach to connectivity, the company said in a statement.

B. In-Person MSP and Channel Partner Events