Channel Brief: NTT DATA Results, NetApp Storage and Cribl Integrations

A. Today’s Tech, Channel and MSP News

It's Tuesday, folks!

Lots of AI and data management buzz going on out there this week as organizations try and figure out how to store, manage and effectively use the massive amounts of data they're ingesting for AI, LLMs and, of course, cybersecurity.

To that end, NetApp introduced some new storage tech today, Cribl's Abby Strong discussed the need for vendor-agnostic integrations and VC firm Accel raised $650 million to fund startups in AI and cybersecurity.

Hope you are having a great week so far!

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].

1. NTT DATA Results: Japanese solutions provider NTT DATA claimed net sales and operating profits are on the rise due to strong performance in Japan and Europe. As ChannelWeb reported, NTT DATA's net sales soared by 25.1%, reaching ¥4.4 trillion (£22.4 billion), a significant increase from the previous year's ¥3.4 trillion (£17.4 billion). New orders, excluding orders from NTT Ltd, rose a whopping 75.8%, totalling ¥4.8 trillion (£24.5 billion) in new orders received, the company said. This translates to a 50.4% increase in operating profits, which reached ¥309.6 billion (£1.5 billion) for the fiscal year. Shareholders are optimistic about future growth, and the company set aggressive growth targets for fiscal year 2024/25; NTT DATA's strategic plan emphasizes generative AI technologies and pursuing M&A opportunities in both the domestic Japanese market and overseas markets.

2. VC Firm Accel Raises $650M to Fund AI, Cybersecurity: Reuters reported that venture capital firm Accel, which backed companies such as Meta, Dropbox, Deliveroo and Spotify, raised a $650 million fund to invest in early-stage companies in Europe and Israel with a focus on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The new fund will be Accel's eighth since opening its London office in 2000. Accel has so far backed more than 200 companies across 20 countries in the region and still has investments in more than 100 companies, according to the report.

3. Cribl Aims to Ease Data Management for AI, Cybersecurity: One of the biggest challenges companies face in trying to integrate AI and maintain cybersecurity is managing data, and that's the burden Cribl Inc. hopes to alleviate. In a broadcast from RSA, Cribl's Abby Strong spoke with Silicon Angle about the company, which is a vendor-agnostic data engine for IT and cybersecurity. Strong said Cribl’s goal is to help customers both access their data and store it cheaply. Part of that is maintaining a network of partnerships with cloud and security companies and making sure everything works together seamlessly.

4. Boomi Helps Australian Red Cross Digital Transformation: At Boomi World last week, Australian Red Cross CIO Brett Wilson and Thomas Lai, VP of global accounts at Boomi, talked through the Australian Red Cross's digital transformation and how digital transformation, through AI and cloud computing, is revolutionizing disaster relief and business operations, with insights from the Australian Red Cross and the Asia-Pacific and Japan markets. It's a really great conversation on Silicon Angle, and highlights the need to take locality and vertical market perspectives into account when looking for solutions.

5. NetApp Unveils New Data Storage for Intensive Workloads: NetApp today released new AFF A-Series systems that the company says can handle intensive IT workloads, including generative AI, VMware, and enterprise databases. NetApp also released expanded capabilities across its portfolio to help customers operate more efficiently, the company said in a statement. These new systems are the NetApp AFF A1K, AFF A90, and AFF A70, which NetApp said deliver up to 2x better performance with 40 million IOPs and 1 TB/s throughput; 99.9999% data availability and real-time ransomware detection and a ransomware recovery guarantee.

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.

B. In-Person MSP and Channel Partner Events