Author: Nick Farrell

Sky’s the limit on UK competition probe

Posted on October 9, 2023 by - News

The UK’s cloud computing market faces a competition probe over concerns that Amazon and Microsoft are ruling everything with an iron fist.

Media watchdog Ofcom said the two make up 70-80 per cent of the sector in the UK, while closest rival Google has 5-10 per cent.

Ofcom had said in April it was worried a lack of competition made it difficult for businesses to switch providers.

It has referred the sector to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to look into the issue.

Amazon and Microsoft told the BBC they would work with the CMA as it conducts its investigation. However, Amazon said it felt Ofcom’s concerns were “based on a fundamental misconception” of the sector.

The services are used by businesses across the UK, and Ofcom estimated that in 2022 the cloud services market in the UK was worth up to £7.5 billion.

Ofcom orders probe into cloud industry

Posted on October 6, 2023 by - News

The dark satanic rumour mill has manufactured a hell-on-earth yarn claiming that Ofcom is set to order the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to probe the UK’s cloud industry over anti-competitive practices.

One cloudy company has been tipped off that there will be a recommendation to the CMA to open an inquiry into the cloud market for competitive reasons.

The source further said the CMA’s investigation would likely encompass aspects such as egress fees, data portability and interoperability.

It may even extend to examining software licensing and its potential to influence the market dynamics.

Meta rolls out generative AI tools for advertisers

Posted on October 6, 2023 by - News

Meta is starting to roll out generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools for all advertisers.

It claims these functions can create content like image backgrounds and produce variations of written text.

The company started testing these tools in May, giving access to a select group of advertisers in a “testing playground”.

The new features will be available in Meta’s Ads Manager when their official rollout is completed next year.

The announcement marks the Facebook and Instagram owner’s first moves into bundling generative AI technology into its products for mining vast stores of past data to generate new content like prose, art and software code.

Verisk announces two new hires

Posted on October 6, 2023 by - Moving People

Data analytics and technology provider Verisk has announced two new hires as part of the company’s international insurance market growth strategy.

For those not in the know, Verisk solutions in the UK and Continental Europe use data, artificial intelligence and machine learning to help insurers enhance decision-making, improve the customer experience and drive profitable growth.

Verisk has named Robert Stewart, Director of Business Development at Verisk Underwriting Solutions, and Neil Garrett as Sales Director, effective September 2023.

Verisk said it wanted to improve its support of clients and tap into the emerging needs of the industry across the UK.

Infinity buys RedkiteCRM

Posted on October 5, 2023 by - News

Infinity Group has acquired RedkiteCRM, one of the few Microsoft-focused Housing Management System providers serving the social housing sector.

RedkiteCRM provides deep industry expertise and dedicated IP catering to the unique challenges faced by housing associations managing tenant communications and operations.

In a match with Infinity Group, all their tailored solutions are built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Experience, CRM, Business Central and Power Platform.

The acquisition sees Infinity Group grow to 150 full-time employees while expanding its customer base and capabilities to deliver hyper-focused solutions to the social housing sector.

These include digitising communications and automating processes across damp and mould, rent arrears, rent accounting, compliance, allocations, repairs, fire safety, customer services and asset management. It also provides a single source of reporting for all interactions.

Mitel snaps up Unify

Posted on October 5, 2023 by - News

Mitel has acquired the unified comms business Unify from French reseller Atos.

The move means that Mitel has a combined customer base of more than 75 million users in 100 countries and an expanded community of more than 5,500 resellers, service providers, technology, and strategic alliance partners.

Mitel’s president and chief executive officer, Tarun Loomba, will serve as president and CEO of the combined company.

Trend Micro redesigns partner programme

Posted on October 5, 2023 by - News

Trend Micro has spruced up its worldwide partner programme pushing its MSSP, MSP, and SOCaaS products.

Trend Micro CEO, Eva Chen, said: “We anticipate the achievements still to come as we continue to align with our partners to safeguard the digital world strategically.

“As we introduce a new era of the channel with this completely re-designed partner programme, I am proud to announce our joint mission to enable partners to become the most resilient cybersecurity companions and guide our customers through their security lifecycle.”

Trend wants to improve the ability for partners to offer assessments to customers, including cyber risk assessments, new additions of external attack surface, cloud posture, and Azure AD assessments.

Consumers will pay more to companies they trust

Posted on October 4, 2023 by - News

A new study shows that while UK consumers cutting back on their non-essential spending, trust is a key driver for continuing retail growth.

Forter’s report found that UK consumers are willing to spend 44 per cent more on average with retailers they trust and coined the “Trust Premium.”

The report said that as economic conditions grow less favourable, investing in building customer trust and long-term loyalty is vital to help insulate retailers against market turbulence.

Forter CEO Michael Reitblat said the Trust Premium represents potentially millions of pounds in revenue uplift for retailers.

Cohesity expands Alliance

Posted on October 4, 2023 by - News

AI security outfit Cohesity is expanding its Data Security Alliance ecosystem with six leading Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) vendors, including long-standing partner BigID, Cyera, Dig Security, Normalyze, Sentra, and Securiti.

The company said that while cloud adoption continues to increase, copies of data are often shared between clouds without oversight by IT or security, resulting in the growth of shadow data. Because of this, data security, cyber recovery and compliance are at risk, as seen by 82 per cent of breaches involving data stored in the cloud.

Cohesity says the need for DSPM capabilities and modern data security and management services has never been greater. DSPM gives customers a deep understanding of their sensitive data, who has access to it, how it is being used, and where it is stored. When combined with Cohesity’s modern data security and management technology, customers build a strong cyber resilience posture.

Palo Alto Networks opens in UK

Posted on October 3, 2023 by - News

US Security outfit Palo Alto Networks has opened its UK headquarters in London.

The firm wants to use London as a hub to expand its UK operations and the office will cover sales, customer support, systems engineers, and Unit 42 threat intelligence experts.

Palo Alto Networks announced plans to create 485 new cybersecurity jobs in the UK over the next five years and will focus on growing its Unit 42 threat intelligence, cyber advisory and incident response capabilities in the UK.

Palo Alto Networks EMEA and LATAM CEO Helmut Reisinger said that as the UK works towards achieving the Government’s ambition of becoming a technology and scientific superpower by 2030, cybersecurity will be critical to its success.

“As new technologies transform how organisations across the UK operate, they are fuelling a rapid increase in cyber threats that directly impact the levels of resilience and trust in an interconnected economy,”he said.

Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations teams up with TD SYNNEX

Posted on October 3, 2023 by - News

Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations has formed a strategic vendor partnership with TD SYNNEX at the company’s Vendor Summit and Inspire 2023 conference.

This means that TD SYNNEX channel partners can offer their clients Dynamic’s IT asset disposition (ITAD) services.

Adding Dynamic’s global ITAD services gives TD SYNNEX customers several competitive advantages, including industry-leading certifications, a closed-loop chain of custody, complete data and brand security, datacentre decommissioning, available service and portal white labelling, and onsite technical and white glove services.

Lenovo steps up sustainability plans

Posted on October 2, 2023 by - News

Lenovo is going flat out to improve its sustainability position and help partners and customers meet their goals.

Lenovo’s executive director of global sustainability services, Claudia Contreras (pictured) said that Lenovo is a very large company with a big got a big footprint.

“There’s the corporate responsibility that we have to make good on those commitments of getting to a business that’s much more sustainable. We’re signed up for science-based target agreements of net zero by 2050, and there’s all sorts of goals that we have for 2030 too.

CheckPoint sees business picking up and will press on with projects

Posted on October 2, 2023 by - News

Israel Checkpoint

While Israeli security company Checkpoint might be delaying its current channel projects, it insists they are not being dropped as business starts to pick up.

CheckPoint UK spokesperson said the company’s projects are “definitely not going away” despite a slower second quarter.

The company saw its third and fourth quarters picking up, and that’s the general feedback from its partners too.

Partners are reporting an increase in interest, we’re seeing it in the pipeline as well, across the technologies.

NCC sees 94.5 per cent drop in operating profits

Posted on September 29, 2023 by - News

Security outfit NCC Group has reported a 94.5 per cent drop in operating profits in 2023 to £1.9 million despite two rounds of layoffs earlier this year.

The company saw a reduced trading performance in assurance (cybersecurity) and a loss before taxation of £4.3 million.

NCC said it had increased finance costs of £2.5 million due to increased borrowing after the IPM acquisition and an increase in base interest rates.

Crowdstrike has a new global head of channel and distribution strategy.

Posted on September 29, 2023 by - News

CrowdStrike has tapped Lucy Evans as its new global channel and distribution strategy head.

Evans joined the vendor in September after an eight-year tenure with Blackberry, latterly as its global partner programme lead.

She joined Blackberry as a senior global alliances manager in 2010. Before this, Evans worked at Avaya, heading up its distribution channel operations.