Channel Brief: Ingram Micro Named EPSP, ServiceNow Allies With SustainableIT.org

Morning, folks! Today, D&H is hosting its THREAD technology conference and Rewst's FLOW conference is also ongoing. The stars didn't align for us to attend this year, but we'll be keeping an eye on news and updates from both of these events. Are you there? Are you going? Know anyone who is? Drop me a line and give me the scoop at [email protected].

In other disty news, Ingram Micro becomes the first technology distributor in the United States to be named an Engaged Preferred Services Partner (EPSP) within Fortinet’s Engage Partner Program. The exclusive certification was announced this week at Ingram Micro’s annual SMB Alliance Unplugged event in Buffalo, New York, and signals to channel partners that the distributor is committed to augmenting and scaling their cybersecurity services expertise and support services.

In strategic partnership news, ServiceNow is teaming up with SustainableIT.org to implement sustainable practices and standards within enterprise operations, and Sevco Security has announced a strategic reseller partnership with GuidePoint Security that will allow GuidePoint customers access to Sevco’s asset intelligence platform.

Finally, Cognizant has implemented 16 generative AI assistants across the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) framework to support each of the CMMI model practice areas and data integration platform Rivery is introducing (in private preview) Rivery Blueprint, a new way to quickly and easily build data pipelines for generative AI-powered and data applications.

Grab your coffee. Here’s what you need to know today.

Today’s Tech, Channel and MSP News

1. Cognizant Implements Generative AI Across CMMI: The Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) framework benchmark helps organizations develop and enhance capabilities and improve performance across software, product, and service development. Now, IT services provider and consultancy Cognizant has integrated 16 generative AI assistants (in various stages of production) to the CMMI model, Cognizant announced. Cognizant has developed these unique generative AI-powered solutions to support each of the CMMI model practice areas.

2. ServiceNow, SustainableIT.org Ally on Sustainability Partnership: ServiceNow has become one of the first major tech companies to license a sustainability framework from SustainableIT.org, a non-profit committed to integrating sustainability into technology practices. The partnership is aimed at implementing sustainable practices and standards within enterprise operations. With the rise of generative AI and the increased focus on IT sustainability, there's increased urgency to establish metrics, controls and governance to support responsible growth and innovation in tech, the companies said. SustainableIT.org and ServiceNow are making these tools available now in a ServiceNow app that works with the ServiceNow Environmental, Social, Governance Management (ESGM) and ServiceNow Hardware Asset Management applications.

3. Sevco Security, GuidePoint Security Enter Strategic Reseller Partnership: Sevco Security has announced a strategic reseller partnership with GuidePoint Security. The strategic alliance will allow GuidePoint customers access to Sevco’s asset intelligence platform to enhance visibility across IT ecosystems, improve CISOs' and security teams' understanding of the growing attack surface and automate exposure management capabilities, the companies said in a statement. The partnership will help IT and security teams make more informed business decisions around security risk prioritization and mitigation, according to the companies. 

4. Rivery Introduces Blueprint to Speed Data Pipeline Construction: Data integration platform Rivery is introducing Rivery Blueprint, a new way to quickly and easily build data pipelines for generative AI-powered and data applications, the company said. Blueprint helps ensure large language models (LLMs) maintain their integrity and avoid the issues of missing connectors and data hallucinations that sometimes plague app development. Using a simple AI prompt, data engineers can automatically generate the required configuration to connect to any REST API without sifting through API docs and detailing formats. This means they can build and see all data pipelines in one place without having to use a combination of tools to make custom pipeline connections. Non-technical data professionals can also use Rivery Blueprint to quickly input data for analytics and AI applications, easing the burden of work on data engineers, the company said. Rivery Blueprint is currently available in private preview with select customers and will be generally available later in 2024.

5. Ingram Micro Named an EPSP in Fortinet Partner Program: Ingram Micro is the first technology distributor in the United States to be named an Engaged Preferred Services Partner (EPSP) within Fortinet’s Engage Partner Program. The exclusive certification was announced this week at Ingram Micro’s annual SMB Alliance Unplugged event in Buffalo, NY,  and signals to channel partners Ingram Micro’s continued commitment to augmenting and scaling their cybersecurity services expertise and support services with greater ease and efficiency. It also confirms Ingram Micro’s ability to deliver specialized and advanced Fortinet security support and services with and for channel partners.

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