Channel Brief: Sophos, Nerdio, DirectDefense, More

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. Sophos boss departs - Longtime CEO of cybersecurity as a service company Sophos, Kris Hagerman has stepped down as its CEO and will serve as an advisor to the company until April 1, 2024. Joe Levy, a 30 year cybersecurity veteran who has been working closely with the channel since the mid 1990s, is president and acting CEO of Sophos. 

2. Nerdio reseller program update - MSP and enterprise cloud optimization platform Nerdio experienced a 300% surge in deal registrations for its Enterprise Partnerd Program in the most recent quarter, and is updating the program to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to co-selling with Microsoft. The program incorporates a new registration and deal protection system, proposal-based marketing, funded-partner implementations, lead distribution, and quarterly business planning. The company made the announcement at its Nerdiocon event in Punta Cana this week. 

3. Nerdio partner awards - Nerdio also announced its partner award winners, naming Microage Manitoba North American Partner of the Year - MSP. EMEA Partner of the Year  - MSP, is CSI Limited and APAC Partner of the Year - MSP is ASI Solutions. Global Growth Partner of the Year - MSP is Covenant Technology Solutions. Nerdio’s All-Around MVP - MSP is Dave Stephenson, CTO of Greene Information System.

4. Security partner program - DirectDefense, an information security services company is launching a new partner program to enables partners to provide managed security services, OT/connected systems security services and professional services from DirectDefense. The DirectDefense partner program is open to IT service providers, managed service providers, cloud service providers, value-added resellers, independent software vendors, systems integrators and engineering firms.

5. Cisco layoffs - Cisco will cut 5% of its workforce eliminating about 4,250 jobs. Shares of Cisco were down as much as 9% in extended trading. Cisco also reported a 6% decline in revenue for its most recent quarter, year over year. Net income also dropped. The company has not yet completed its $28 billion acquistiion of monitoring and security company Splunk. 

B. In-Person MSP and Channel Partner Events