Author: Nick Farrell

Air IT snagged Edinburgh-based SoConnect, which means more reach in Scotland, new know-how, and a wider circle of customers.

By bringing the new Scottish crew on board, Air IT’s team has grown to 570, allowing it to offer a full suite of services to thousands of small and medium-sized business customers.

SoConnect said it is jazzed about getting into Air Sec, the top-notch security service cooked up by Air-IT.

Air IT boss James Steventon said: “With a mission to make IT feel effortless, SoConnect is a fantastic cultural fit with an accomplished team that shares our values and commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience.” Read more…

Infinity Group has acquired the end-customer business of Pax8, which was part of Bam Boom Cloud, and entered a strategic partnership with the distributor.

The companies stated that the acquisition brings 200 Business Central customers into Infinity Group’s existing base of 340 clients. This will complement the reseller’s existing business practice areas of Microsoft security, modern workplace, data and AI, and customer engagement.

The acquisition aligns with Infinity’s expansion into the US and EU markets, where the London-headquartered group had no prior presence. Read more…

Cloudy Wasabi Technologies announced a new partnership with Dell Technologies to deliver affordable and ground-breaking hybrid cloud solutions for backup, data protection, and long-term customer retention.

Wasabi Technologies chief executive officer David Friend said that the Wasabi-Dell dream team is stepping up to the plate, offering flexible, efficient hybrid cloud solutions that allow users to streamline their data management processes while slashing overall costs.

“Dell is a clear industry leader with a broad and deep portfolio of transformative technology. This collaboration will catapult Wasabi’s cloud storage into the limelight, catering to users on the hunt for a reliable, economical solution for safeguarding their data archives over the long haul.” Read more…

The French IT company Atos has four new offers to reorganise its debt.

These offers are from a group of Atos’ current creditors: Bain Capital, EP Equity Investment, managed by Daniel Kretinsky, and Onepoint, managed by David Layani. Onepoint is also Atos’ biggest shareholder.

Atos’s board of directors has already decided to reject Bain Capital’s offer. They said the “offer did not meet the company’s objectives of considering its full business scope.”

Atos wants to choose a financial reorganisation solution that its creditors will accept by 31 May. They want to reach a final agreement by July 2024. Read more…

Security outfit Check Point Software’s 2024 Cloud Security Report has revealed a staggering upswing in cloud security incidents.

The report shows a jaw-dropping rise from 24 per cent in 2023 to 61 per cent in 2024, marking a whopping increase of 154 per cent within a year. The report highlights the growing complexity and frequency of cloud threats, exposing the escalating cunning of cyber criminals in cloud environments. Read more…

Insight Enterprises’ gross profit has demonstrated remarkable growth, surging 13 per cent year over year to a record-breaking £320 million.

Net sales for the quarter ending 31 March 2024 saw a modest uptick of two per cent to £1.74 billion but took a three per cent dip to £300 million in EMEA.
Product net sales remained steady, while the services side leapt 17 per cent year-over-year to £302 million. Read more…

Microsoft’s chief security advisor, Sarah Armstrong Smith, told a London Security conference that Vole blocks a staggering 250,000 password attempts a minute or 360 million per day.

She said that Microsoft is a prime target, and if only a minuscule fraction of these attempts succeed, cybercriminals can make a comfy living at the expense of their victims. And indeed, they do. Password spraying is just one weapon in their extensive arsenal. Read more…

The Brains behind Daisy Group Matthew Riley has confirmed a merger with Wavenet, a firm owned mainly by Aussie finance titan Macquarie.

The merger involves Daisy Corporate Services breaking away from the parent group and being absorbed by Wavenet. The newly formed entity, retaining the name Wavenet, is poised to become a top-tier managed services provider, serving a whopping 20,000+ UK enterprise customers. The client list includes Costain, the NHS, and Transport for London. Read more…

Security outfit Dynatrace says there is a pressing necessity for channel partners to furnish solutions that bolster security teams’ communication with C-suite and mitigate cyber risk

In its annual global CISO survey entitled State of C-level engagement in application security 2024, Dynatrace said that such steps will mitigate cyber risk.

The study indicates that organisations grapple with internal communication hurdles, engendering voids in their capacity to discern and address cyber risk. This augments their susceptibility to security threats and carves out an avenue for the channel to provide solutions that bridge these gaps. Read more…

Air IT has written a cheque for Scottish Microsoft cloud and communications expert SoConnect.

Air IT CEO James Steventon said the move would increase Air IT’s workforce to 570 employees and enhance its capabilities in the Microsoft cloud domain. At the same time, SoConnect will benefit from bolstered cyber expertise.

“SoConnect is a fantastic addition to Air IT, and we’re delighted to have them on board. Their ethos of making IT effortless aligns perfectly with our own, and their skilled team fits our culture and dedication to outstanding customer service.” Read more…

Global technology provider and specialist distributor Westcon-Comstor claims all of its electricity requirements in the UK are now being supplied by renewable sources.

The company’s locations in Bracknell, Cirencester, and Swindon are entirely powered by renewable electricity, positioning the UK as the first nation where it has achieved this landmark.

The company claims that this signifies a considerable stride towards Westcon-Comstor’s broader goal of adopting 100 per cent renewable electricity worldwide by 2030—a commitment established last year under the RE100 global renewable energy initiative. Read more…

Thoma Bravo has finalised the purchase of Darktrace for $5.32 billion (£4.25 billion).

This transaction translates to approximately $7.75 (£6.20) for each share, marking a 44% increase over the company’s average share value during the preceding three months. When Darktrace first appeared on the London Stock Exchange in 2021, its shares were priced at £2.50.

Darktrace, headquartered in Cambridge, uses autonomous AI to detect and respond to cyber threats through its Darktrace ActiveAI Security Platform. The company’s global customer base of approximately 9,400 underscores its unique position. Read more…

French tech seller Atos had a rough start to the year, with its cash flow taking a hit in several big departments. Eviden saw a 3.9 per cent dip, and Tech Foundations wasn’t far behind with a 1.5 per cent drop.

Overall, the company’s earnings were down by 2.6 per cent, which works out to about £2.15 million

Atos reckons the slump in Eviden’s cash was due to things being quiet in the Americas, leading to a 7.5 percent fall-off, and the UK wasn’t exactly buzzing either. Read more…

TD SYNNEX is building a new AI community to foster idea exchange, build partnerships, and create innovative solutions using the tech.

The TD SYNNEX AI industry ecosystem was inaugurated at IBM’s London premises to unite ISVs, innovators, partners, vendors, and industry representatives.

Over 20 partners, including IBM Watson X and Microsoft Copilot affiliates and some prominent reseller firms, attended the initial gathering.

The launch was propelled by the substantial surge in AI recognition and its practical applications for organisations. Read more…