Channel Brief: RSA Kicks Off, VMware Cloud on AWS and more

A. Today’s Tech, Channel and MSP News

Good morning, folks! Hope you had a great weekend. RSAC kicks off in San Francisco this week, and considering that many MSPs are now adding cybersecurity to their offerings, we'll be following the conference closely. You can check out our initial roundup of news and announcements here and on our sister site, MSSP Alert.

Also on our radar: Amazon Web Services has an interesting suggestion -- AWS is promoting itself as a migration target for users of its own VMware Cloud on AWS service. This could be due to rumors that Broadcom will make changes to the service, according to The Register.

In a move to promote greater inclusivity in cybersecurity (always a plus), AttackIQ is partnering with the Cyber Poverty Line Institute to provide AttackIQ Academy courses to the Institute’s students in underserved communities. This initiative aims to empower individuals with the necessary tools to achieve cyber inclusion. Sounds like an amazing initiative with the power to drive much-needed change!

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.

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. AWS as a VMware Alternative ... to AWS?: The Register has an interesting tidbit -- Amazon Web Services (AWS) is promoting itself as a migration target for users of its own VMware Cloud on AWS service. As The Register reported, "The promo appeared in recent days with the title 'Save when you migrate VMware Cloud on AWS workloads to AWS.' Make it make sense! Well, it turns out, rumors circulated about changes to the service, and The Register noted a recent Broadcom announcement that the company is "moving VMware workloads to Google Cloud – including customer-facing products and services as well as internal services." Hmmmm. Interesting.

2. AttackIQ Partners With Cyber Poverty Line Institute: Breach and attack simulation solutions provider AttackIQ® (also a founding research partner of the MITRE Engenuity Center for Threat-Informed Defense (CTID)), is partnering with the Cyber Poverty Line Institute. To help address unequal access to cyber knowledge and cyber capabilities, the company will provide AttackIQ Academy courses to the Institute’s students in underserved communities. This initiative aims to empower individuals with the necessary tools to achieve cyber inclusion, the organizations said in a statement. The Cyber Poverty Line Institute is a global cyber enablement platform that provides solutions and services to bridge the digital divide and eradicate cyber poverty, according to the institute. As a part of the partnership, AttackIQ has signed the Cyber Poverty Line Institute’s Cyber Inclusion Pledge to underscore the company’s commitment to bridging the significant gap in cyber inclusion, ensuring that marginalized communities and underserved populations have access to vital cybersecurity training.

3. SAP Extends CEO Klein's Contract: Reuters reported that Christian Klein's CEO contract with tech giant SAP has been extended for a further three years to the end of 2028, the German software company said today. In addition, Klein was named chairman of the executive board after previously serving as its speaker, said SAP, one of Europe's biggest tech firms. Klein, who started his career at SAP in 1999 as a student, "has consistently driven SAP's transformation to a cloud company", said Hasso Plattner, chairman of the supervisory board and one of the company's founders, according to Reuters.

4. 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.

5. 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