Features

Features

• Microsoft: Intelligent cloud, digital business remaking firm

  Microsoft appears set to pursue a greater focus on vertical markets and technology partners as it takes on digital transformation and cloud computing at the enterprise edge.  Continue Reading

• Citrix: Cloud platform, analytics among key vendor trends

  Citrix is pursing cloud, analytics and hyper-converged infrastructure as the virtualization and networking company continues its transition under new leadership.  Continue Reading

• Artificial intelligence market: Weighing the IT channel's role

  Is artificial intelligence the next big channel opportunity? The hype around AI is definitely increasing, but experts aren't yet sure where partners will fit into the market.  Continue Reading

• Big data application development: An introduction to Hadoop

  Getting into the big data market? Hadoop offers a platform for dealing with very large data sets and the technology's vendors offer training and support for channel partners.  Continue Reading

• Find your niche in big data: Consulting, software, platforms

  Channel partners looking for a niche in big data may find opportunities in consulting, predictive analytics system deployment and software implementation.  Continue Reading

• Cisco: Channel partners can take five paths to profits

  Cisco has outlined a profitability roadmap for its channel partners that must navigate Cisco's growing role in software and customers' digital transformation efforts.  Continue Reading

• Financial services platform efforts drive new partner ecosystem

  Vendors such as IBM are launching financial application development platforms in hopes of attracting fintech companies and independent software vendors.  Continue Reading

• CASB market poised for channel growth

  Fueled by cloud security concerns, the CASB market is expected to boom into a $713 million opportunity by 2020. However, not all customers yet understand the technology.  Continue Reading

• Datapipe-Adapt deal expands cloud computing on two continents

  Datapipe's 2016 acquisition of Adapt, a cloud consultant in the United Kingdom, has led to new business such as a hosted Skype for Business project at a food manufacturer.  Continue Reading

• Selling UCaaS in the highly regulated healthcare vertical

  Before selling unified communications-as-a-service solutions to healthcare organizations, channel firms should understand the industry's strict regulatory framework.  Continue Reading

• Social media tools and applications: Channel execs sharpen strategies

  Channel company executives are finding some success with social media platforms, but report it takes time and effort to develop effective social media marketing plans.  Continue Reading

• Will MSPs answer the call for cybersecurity services?

  Despite high demand, channel businesses have largely avoided developing a focus around security services. Learn how companies can do more.  Continue Reading

• DRaaS market: Ransomware, compliance open channel opportunities

  Organizations battling ransomware attacks or responding to regulatory obligations may be prime candidates for channel partners' cloud-based DR services.  Continue Reading

• How to start a cloud business: A channel partner guide

  Channel companies entering the cloud computing business must prepare for a subscription-based revenue model, cultivate partnerships and differentiate their services.  Continue Reading

• A leap into the cloud security market: The story of Fishtech

  Gary Fish is no stranger to business reinvention. In 2016, he decided to transition from background in traditional cybersecurity and spin up a cloud security firm.  Continue Reading

• Channel companies lose customer scope to incumbency challengers

  Channel companies fail to retain many of their enterprise customer accounts when contracts are up for renegotiation, according to an ISG report.  Continue Reading

• School infrastructure project: ConvergeOne upgrades aging data center

  ConvergeOne, a communications service provider, is working on a project in the education vertical that could help a school district recover $30 million in state aid.  Continue Reading

• Cloud hosting firm turns to Agiloft for customer support automation

  ENKI, a managed cloud services provider, has developed a series of applications using Agiloft's customizable business software applications platform.  Continue Reading

• SADA Systems helps startup with cloud, Kubernetes container management

  Cloud consultant SADA Systems is supporting Smyte, a SaaS startup, in a variety of ways, including Google cloud optimization, Kubernetes support and business development.  Continue Reading

• Fortinet Security Fabric: Channel partners find a role

  Fortinet's pursuit of a unified security architecture to protect against cybersecurity threats may open opportunities for channel partners in consulting and integration services.  Continue Reading

• Cybersecurity products: Channel, clients look for better integration

  Channel partners, dealing with an industry rife with IT security product sets, are looking into integrated security architectures and doing some of their own integration work.  Continue Reading

• Channel weighs integrated security solution vs. point-product approach

  Channel partners can make arguments for the integrated security suite and the best-in-class point product method, but the decision ultimately rests on a customer's specific needs.  Continue Reading

• New tech, old virtues keep server virtualization platforms going

  Server virtualization is well past the peak of the technology adoption curve, but SMB customers, open source technology and hybrid clouds keep demand going.  Continue Reading

• Cloud-based HR software: How channel partners play a strategic role

  Human resources departments initially might have lagged in moving management functions to the cloud, but adoption of the technology is gathering momentum.  Continue Reading

• Technology ROI: Partners say the numbers don't tell the whole IT story

  Organizations have traditionally focused on ROI to justify IT investment, but channel partners suggest a more convincing argument can be made beyond the financial numbers.  Continue Reading

• Recruitment techniques for IT channel companies

  Channel firms must rethink their recruitment techniques to win in today's competitive job market. Get tips for updating your channel recruitment strategy and retaining talent.  Continue Reading

• SMB customer IT spend: Barriers and how to overcome them

  Channel companies may need to overcome technical and financial obstacles among their SMB customers to encourage them to acquire and adopt new technology.  Continue Reading

• Software-defined storage solutions: A channel primer

  Channel companies have an opportunity to help their customers deploy emerging software-defined storage technology, a pursuit that may also boost a partner's consulting revenue.  Continue Reading

• IoT managed services: How channel partners can get started in 2017

  Channel partners can capture a slice of the growing IoT managed services market if they can overcome the steep learning curve.  Continue Reading

• RPA software: Blue Prism builds partner network, certification program

  Blue Prism, an RPA vendor, is building up its partner network, cultivating relationships with consulting firms and integrators such as Accenture, EY and IBM.  Continue Reading

• Cloud vendor management services see demand from SMBs

  Cloud vendor management poses a difficult set of challenges for SMB customers, opening up opportunities for channel partners to act as liaisons.  Continue Reading

• IBM cognitive computing: Tips for starting a channel practice

  At IBM's latest partner conference, platinum-level IBM Business Partners Perficient and Mark III shared the routes they took to build cognitive computing practices.  Continue Reading

• Amazon Chime: Channel execs see potential, room for improvement

  Channel partners said Amazon's new Chime unified communications offering has the potential to disrupt the market, but may need additional features to boost its competitive stance.  Continue Reading

• Marketing strategy development: Partners ply social, traditional ways

  Channel partners say they will use social media platforms and traditional marketing methods, such as trade shows and speaking engagements, as they roll out strategies in 2017.  Continue Reading

• Oracle cloud partner program aims to boost vendor's cloud sales

  Oracle's year-old cloud partner program has certified some 2,000 resellers as the company looks to bolster its cloud business and catch up with rivals.  Continue Reading

• Video game industry: A hyper-converged infrastructure market

  InData, a virtual and physical IT infrastructure partner, has discovered a hyper-converged infrastructure market in the video game industry.  Continue Reading

• HIPAA business associates can expect more penalties ahead

  HIPAA business associates can expect more compliance penalties in 2017. MSPs should take steps to ensure they are meeting the requirements.  Continue Reading

• Partners: Citrix hyper-converged tech opens VDI to midrange clients

  The Citrix Ready HCI Workspace Appliance Program, coupled with the company's Citrix Cloud, will open VDI opportunities among midmarket customers, Citrix channel partners said.  Continue Reading

• Channel: Cost, speed among benefits of hyper-converged infrastructure

  Channel partners active in hyper-converged infrastructure see an expanding set of use cases, although mission-critical applications may lag behind other HCI candidates.  Continue Reading

• Unclouding projects: Service providers weigh in on reverse migrations

  The rise of cloud computing adoption has given way to a countertrend: reverse cloud migrations. Service providers discuss the factors driving their customers' unclouding projects.  Continue Reading

• NLP technology inspires customer interaction projects in key verticals

  Natural language processing is opening opportunities in customer service, but channel companies must understand the technology's architecture and build alliances to succeed.  Continue Reading

• Seceon MSSP program 'the way a channel is supposed to work'

  Secure Designs encountered Seceon while on the hunt for the right SIEM tool. Seceon's Open Threat Management fit the bill and paved the way to a strategic partnership.  Continue Reading

• The Trump economy: IT channel weighs business opportunities for 2017

  What's ahead for channel businesses? According to industry experts, the channel should prepare for significant changes.  Continue Reading

• Channel technology trends 2017: Cloud, cybersecurity and automation

  Channel partners can expect to see plenty of activity next year in cloud computing, multicloud in particular, as well as cybersecurity and IT automation.  Continue Reading

• Machine learning projects fuel new lines of channel business

  Machine learning projects are creating a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' for partners. Get ready with the right range of skills and experience to take part.  Continue Reading

• Blockchain technology, applications spark channel opportunities

  As more enterprises consider blockchain technology, IT services firms and consultancies have an opportunity to discuss adoption strategy and deployment options with their clients.  Continue Reading

• Flawed channel data management may result in partner overpayments

  Erroneous sales data may pose potential conflicts between some vendors and their partners; however, most vendors seem more interested in keeping the peace.  Continue Reading

• AWS and VMware alliance raises questions for channel partners

  The partnership between Amazon Web Services and VMware could help partners in the enterprise cloud market, but also raises questions regarding pricing and support.  Continue Reading

• Channel events listings for 2017

  When making 2017 travel plans, refer to this list of channel events -- including conferences hosted by IT vendors, distributors, industry organizations and vendors that cater exclusively to VARs and MSPs.  Continue Reading

• Managed mobility services market: Complexity fuels channel growth

  The complex nature of enterprise mobility opens service opportunities for channel companies, but also makes for a challenging and competitive environment.  Continue Reading

• SD-WAN: Providers could see strong growth, but face hurdles

  The SD-WAN market beckons with high-growth potential, but channel partners must confront incomplete feature sets, training requirements and market consolidation.  Continue Reading

• Tips to align cloud computing strategies with clients' business goals

  Many organizations remain puzzled about how cloud computing should integrate with their overall business objectives, creating an opportunity for cloud providers to step in and help.  Continue Reading

• Printer security: How to differentiate your managed print services

  In the relatively mature managed print service space, printer security creates a compelling differentiator, experts say.  Continue Reading

• The financial vertical: Big investments yield big prospects for MSPs

  Financial vertical specialization is a potentially rewarding pursuit for managed services providers willing to make the investment.  Continue Reading

• Ransomware infections: Channel toils to defend besieged customers

  Channel partners are working with customers on ransomware defense strategies and risk mitigation amid a rising tide of costly and disruptive infections.  Continue Reading

• MSP ticketing system: Autotask's new UI draws round of applause

  Autotask's new ticketing system user interface ranked among the top developments at the company's annual partner conference. Channel companies tell why.  Continue Reading

• Channel partnerships: How to form alliances with peers

  Strategic alliances with your channel peers could be the key to expanding your business. However, it takes more than a handshake to create a successful partnership.  Continue Reading

• Cloud distributor model makes channel partner inroads

  Emerging cloud distribution companies aim to help channel partners find the right cloud offering for their customers and also provide deployment and support services.  Continue Reading

• Salesforce telehealth system lets channel add real-time video, audio

  Salesforce's telehealth tool, built on top of its Health Cloud platform, offers partners the ability to add real-time video and audio to their healthcare vertical offerings.  Continue Reading

• MSP documentation: Why it's essential to scaling your business

  In the past, IT service managers might have gotten away with storing important info in their brains; today, having solid MSP documentation is essential to growing your business.  Continue Reading

• What does the role of CDO mean for channel companies?

  Chief digital officers may hold the keys to many of your customers' decisions, and, just as importantly, to your own company's evolution.  Continue Reading

• Business influencers: What guides your IT channel decisions?

  Channel executives are responsible for making tough decisions that impact the fates of their companies. We asked a few company chiefs to name the top influencers that shape their leadership.  Continue Reading

• Cloud computing: Ecosystem challenges and how to navigate them

  Channel companies can find a wealth of opportunities in cloud ecosystems, but must take care to navigate challenges such as vetting partners and addressing liability concerns.  Continue Reading

• Cloud verticalization: How to tailor offerings to an industry

  Experts share insight into cloud verticalization, a process for adapting cloud offerings to an industry's unique IT requirements and business problems.  Continue Reading

• State procurement model reform a boon for channel partners

  As state CIOs modernize their approach to IT procurement, channel partners may discover unprecedented bidding opportunities.  Continue Reading

• Cloud services: Market opportunity bypasses many channel companies

  While the cloud reaches critical mass among customers of all sizes, many partners don't offer cloud services or have yet to make cloud services a major revenue contributor.  Continue Reading

• Niche apps: Channel companies benefit from specialty software

  Niche applications aren't just for consumers: Channel partners are leveraging specialized software to tackle a range of challenges in fields from AI to EDI.  Continue Reading

• Application portfolios the focus of channel partnership

  CAST Software Inc.'s partner program seeks ties to technology vendors and service providers in the application portfolio management and enterprise architecture markets.  Continue Reading

• MSP operations: Channel seeks automated systems to address pain points

  Managed services providers are seeking the right mix of automated tools to boost efficiency, optimize business processes and reduce the cost of delivering services to customers.  Continue Reading

• Credentialing process helps IT service providers differentiate

  MSPs and other channel partners are pursuing rigorous audits and credentialing regimens as a way to stand out from their competitors in the IT services market.  Continue Reading

• Software robots: Enterprises ask for RPA technology on new services contracts

  Robotic process automation is making its way into new outsourcing contracts and playing a role in reinvigorating existing deals, according to industry executives.  Continue Reading

• Channel compliance controls: SSAE 16 audit requirements rigorous

  Channel companies need to pay up for SSAE audits and develop policies, processes and documentation around regulatory compliance, say experts at ChannelCon 2016.  Continue Reading

• HIPAA compliance services a double-edged sword

  Before MSPs take on HIPAA compliance work, experts advise they understand the regulatory framework they're subject under, obtain certifications and mitigate the risks.  Continue Reading

• Remote monitoring and management tools: Some assembly required

  Managed service providers use custom integration to unify monitoring tools in a bid to simplify what otherwise could become out-of-control automation.  Continue Reading

• Partner portals aim to strengthen vendor-channel relationships

  Technology vendors are launching or reworking channel program portals, offering partners the ability to register deals, receive training and obtain marketing materials online.  Continue Reading

• Workspace as a service offers channel partners DaaS alternative

  Channel executives contend workspace as a service offers the ability to support BYOD environments and provides a less jarring shift to the cloud than desktop as a service.  Continue Reading

• Company culture ideas to boost your IT channel teams

  Developing a rich company culture is not often at the top of channel executives' to-do lists, but maybe it should be. Applying these company culture ideas could pay off.  Continue Reading

• MSP security portfolios: How to offer security awareness training

  Expand your MSP security portfolio by offering security awareness training, an important layer to clients' overall security initiatives.  Continue Reading

• IT hardware sales endure as channel partner business

  Industry executives say hardware remains a key part of a channel partner's business mix, even with the rise of monthly recurring revenue from service sales.  Continue Reading

• Software defined networking projects: Channel can expect more work

  SDN projects are hindered by complexity and a lack of client skills, but those factors could also help channel partners land consulting gigs with customers seeking expertise.  Continue Reading

• Channel: Lack of cloud governance framework complicates adoption story

  MSPs and IT service providers say some customers lack a coherent strategy, while others face EBITDA challenges as they grapple with cloud adoption.  Continue Reading

• Managed IT security services firms resell cloud-based offerings

  Managed service providers are reselling security as a service offerings from third-party providers to expand their service portfolios in the IT security arena.  Continue Reading

• IT security service provider taps Kaseya to deliver cloud offerings

  Internet & Telephone, a managed service provider, is offering its customers cloud-based IT security services through Kaseya's IT management platform tech.  Continue Reading

• Cloud-based security helps channel partners cut client costs

  Channel partners are helping their customers adopt security in the cloud, which executives say provides cost-effective protection compared with on-premises technology.  Continue Reading

• Password management tools open partner opportunities

  Channel partners report increasing demand for password management systems, amid challenges associated with cloud computing, mobile technology and small business security.  Continue Reading

• Startup tech companies seek savvy channel partners

  Early-stage companies participating in the 2016 MIT Sloan CIO Symposium's Innovation Showcase are pursuing relations with channel partners that can incorporate their products into broader offerings.  Continue Reading

• Software robots transforming IT services industry

  IT service providers, particularly large, global outsourcing firms, are helping customers deploy robotic process automation and also using the technology internally.  Continue Reading

• RPA software: Service firms automate customers, themselves

  IT service providers pursue differing robotic process automation projects, while navigating the technology's cognitive developments and labor considerations.  Continue Reading

• IT security market: The cost of building a cybersecurity practice

  Expanding into IT security services can be a costly endeavor for channel firms, requiring investment in new processes, talent and partnerships.  Continue Reading

• Cloud vendor relationship management for channel partners

  Account management, marketing support and cloud performance -- these are just a few of the concerns that channel partners may have when working with cloud vendors.  Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery certification: Must have or nice to have?

  Channel partners have a number of options for disaster recovery training and certification, but some execs see greater value in certifying in specific DR technologies.  Continue Reading

• Role of distribution changes with accent on services

  Distributors are offering channel partners an expanding range of services, including network assessment, managed services, hosted offerings and IT asset disposition.  Continue Reading

• Vology's transition toward an integrator business model

  Vology has used a combination of acquisitions and organic growth as it transitions from a product-oriented approach to an IT services provider business model.  Continue Reading

• Channel business model: Transition time for IT partners

  Partners may pursue a number of business model transitions over the course of their business lives, including resell to services, services to managed services and MSP to cloud.  Continue Reading

• 'Compliance as a service': How to stay out of hot water

  Before leaping into IT compliance services, MSPs must make sure they're following best practices. Some mistakes could potentially cost them their businesses.  Continue Reading

• Cloud marketplaces: Can channel partners make money?

  Channel partners can take advantage of many cloud marketplace options as part of their go-to-market strategies. Here's what you need to know to get started.  Continue Reading

• Channel partner marketing: Offloading the work to specialists

  Channel partners, who have long bemoaned the challenges of marketing themselves, turn to outside specialists for help optimizing their website design and content.  Continue Reading

• Tech OEMs: Gray market goods are a growing concern

  The gray market revisited: A KPMG report explores whether the sale of gray market products has decreased since 2008 when economic conditions proved conducive to unauthorized sales channels.  Continue Reading

• BPM platforms unlock channel partner opportunities

  Channel partners say business process management offers greater opportunity today in light of lower BPM platform costs and increased awareness of what the tools can accomplish.  Continue Reading

• Dropbox partner ecosystem helps with security, shadow IT

  Dropbox channel partners, which number more than 2,200 worldwide, are looking for places to add value around the file storage service as it moves into the business space.  Continue Reading