Good morning, channel partners. Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter, and plenty more to sip on for Monday, August 1, 2016.
Actually, there are 15 entries for VARs, managed services providers (MSPs), cloud services providers (CSPs) and independent software vendors (ISVs) to sip on. Take a look…
15. ChannelC0n 2016: ChannelE2E lands at ChanneLCon 2016 in Hollywood, Fla., on Monday. Track all of our coverage of CompTIA's big event here.
14. Continuum Closes Security Hole: Continuum late last week reported cyber-intrusions into systems managed by a small percentage of its partners, the company confirmed to ChannelE2E. According to s statement from Continuum:
"The company has notified those partners it believes were effected and has mobilized its network operations center to proactively disable any further access. It is not aware of any intrusions into its platform and believe that the vast majority of its partners have been unaffected by these intrusions. Continuum has also notified law enforcement and retained independent forensic computer experts to assist the investigation into this cyber-intrusion."
Michael George, Continuum’s CEO, stated that “protecting the systems of our partners – and maintaining trust – is of critical importance to Continuum. Our team is working around-the-clock to fully assess and remediate the situation.”
13. Facebook Taxes: Facebook Inc. said it could be on the hook for $3 billion to $5 billion in additional taxes as a result of an Internal Revenue Service investigation into how the social network transferred assets overseas, The Wall Street Journal reported. Facebook is fighting the IRS's position... but shareholders should watch this one closely.
12. Big Data IPO: Talend, the big data startup, saw its shares skyrocket 54 percent in their U.S. debut last week. The company is now valued at more than $750 million. Talend also has a growing channel partner program that extends across technology partners, cloud providers, VARs, and systems integrators.
11. Cloud Revenues: In case you missed the latest figures, Google's 'Other Revenues' (which include Cloud, Apps and Play) generated $2.2 billion in Alphabet's most recent quarterly, up 33 percent of the corresponding quarter last year. In stark contrast, Amazon Web Services (AWS) revenues reached $2.89 billion in the company's latest quarter, up 58 percent from the corresponding quarterly last year.
10. AWS Dominates Cloud Storage: Amazon's cloud storage is 1.6X bigger than all other competitors combined -- at least in terms of rivals in the Gartner Public Cloud Storage Magic Quadrant, NetworkWorld notes.
9. Cloud Solution Provider Acquisition: Unitas Global, an enterprise cloud solution provider, has acquired AOS Cloud. In addition to enhancing the engineering and optimization teams, the acquisition expands the Unitas Global client base and creates a go-to-market partnership that strengthens its channel presence and market reach throughout the Midwest U.S., including Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and Missouri, the company claims.
8. Chicago Triggers Cloud Tax Concerns: The tech community was caught off guard last summer when Chicago ruled an existing 9 percent lease tax applies to both buyers and sellers of cloud-computing services in the city, Crain's Chicago Business says. The situation sounds pretty confusing but here's the update.
7. Succession Planning Redefined: Actually, it might be smarter to think of it as business continuity planning -- at least in terms of the talent that runs your company today and tomorrow, according to FinancialPlanning.com.
6. Docker for Mac, Windows: If you're a channel partner that's still trying to get a feel for Docker -- the container software -- you've got two new options: Docker for Mac and Windows have completed beta testing and are now generally available for production, the company says.
5. Partner Programs:
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Following the recent Concur Solution Provider program launch, the SAP-owned the company has recruited Insight to join the program. The partner program focuses on travel, expense and invoice solutions for SMBs.
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Masergy Communications Inc. has promoted Bill Madison to VP, strategic partner program and Kristy Thomas to VP, cloud communications. Madison is responsible for global alignment, strategy, and growth plans for Masergy’s strategic partners. Thomas will focus on expanding Masergy’s cloud communications solution globally, helping partners address both enterprise and mid-market clients with simplified, bundled offerings, the company says.
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Ulistic, which offers marketing services to MSPs, is launching Weekly Accountability Groups for clients who want to have a group of peers to bounce ideas off of and to hold each other accountable. The group is led by Tim Richter of RCOR Technologies Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. There is no cost for Ulistic members to join and membership is restricted based on geography.
4. Huawei Leader: Chinese networking and smartphone giant Huawei Technologies has named David He the president of Huawei Enterprise U.S., which is headquartered in Plano. The company has 1,200 companies in the US, with about 45 percent in Plano.
3. Google Maps Partners Are Thriving: Woolpert has attained Google for Work Premier Partner Status, an elite designation achieved by reaching sales benchmarks set by Google. Woolpert, a Google for Work Partner since March 2015, assists customers in navigating the Google Maps for Work licensing process and advises customers on the proper implementation of the Google Maps API within their solutions, the company says. Separately, longtime Google Partner SADA Systems tells ChannelE2E that the company's Google Maps business is growing rapidly. We'll share more details soon.
2. Free IT Security Assessment?: Spectrumwise, an IT services provider in Charlotte, North Carolina, has introduced free IT security assessments to local business owners. On the one hand, the move could generate plenty of buzz. But on the other hand, I wonder if rival MSPs and VARs will view the move as a revenue- and margin-harming strategy?
1. Meet Us At ChannelCon?: Yes, the ChannelE2E team is at ChannelCon 2016 most of this week. Although our schedule is fully booked, we'll still have time to say hello in the halls and during vendor fairs. Don't be shy.
More: Read all of our daily 5 Channel Partner Updates. Plus: Subscribe to our daily enewsletter. Thanks to those who already have.
