Author: Nick Farrell

Cheap malware kits creating channel problems

Posted on July 25, 2022 by - News

Malware, Wikimedia CommonsHP has issued a report which says that cheap “plug-and-play” malware kits are causing a major headache for the channel.

The report with the concise title  The evolution of cybercrime: Why the dark web is supercharging the threat landscape and how to fight back said 76 per cent of malware advertisements listed were on the dark web, and 91 percent of exploits were being priced at around £8.50.

Kits often comes as a bundle, with malware as a service, tutorials and mentoring services added to the malware offering.

Criminals are targeting major software brands, looking to exploit known vulnerabilities and bugs that they can take advantage of so they can get in a position to take command of user systems.

Ian Pratt, global head of security for personal systems at HP, said its research would be shared with the channel, and that partners would be alerted to its implications.

Tags:

Ensono makes Malloy in charge of Europe

Posted on July 25, 2022 by - Moving People, News

Ensono, a technology adviser and managed service provider, announced that Howard Malloy has been appointed Senior Vice President (SVP) and Managing Director (MD), Europe.

Malloy most recently served as the Global Vice President of Client Success and prior to that, he served as Managing Director for India.

Ensono said that Malloy’s appointment is part of Ensono’s long-term commitment to invest in the future of the UK and wider European market.

“The company has a long history of investing in cutting edge UK technology firms, acquiring IT services provider Attenda in 2016, Microsoft Azure experts, Inframon in 2017 and cloud-native consultancy Amido last year. These strategic acquisitions have helped Ensono provide clients a truly end-to-end transformational service, becoming their trusted ally for better business outcomes ,” the company said.

Total snaps up OverBright

Posted on July 22, 2022 by - News

Total Computers has bought cloud and digital transformation firm OverBright.

OverBright is a provider of cloud and digital transformation services to the public and private sectors and Total says the deal is part of its strategy of focusing growth on IT solutions and services.

Total said it has already revealed strong growth in its managed services business as part of a 30 per ent year-on-year growth in group turnover to £91 million.

Microsoft blue over Azure job cuts

Posted on July 22, 2022 by - News

Microsoft campusSoftware King of the World Microsoft has cut jobs in its Azure, security and other business segments.

In a statement, a Microsoft spokesvole said the company still expects to grow its overall headcount as it aligns resources.

“As Microsoft gets ready for the new fiscal year, it is making sure the right resources are aligned to the right opportunity. Microsoft will continue to grow headcount in the year ahead, and we will add additional focus to where those resources go”, the Volester said.

Despite the cuts, multiple Microsoft executives during the event highlighted opportunities for partners to sell customers on the tech giant’s cloud and security offerings, telling partners that the company will make a push this year for packages of cloud products focused on specific industries – such as health care and financial services.

Medius gets Microsoft Top Tier partnership status

Posted on July 22, 2022 by - News

AP Automation outfit Medius has declared that it now has Top Tier partnership status with Microsoft.

Medius was named a Microsoft Gold Partner, for the tenth consecutive year in March 2022, so this is the latest development in a string of successes for the AP Automation company.

Medius has driven 25 percent year-on-year growth in 2022 globally and more than 2,600 customers use Medius solutions across the world, managing transactions worth approximately $180 billion annually, it is claimed.

Midwich’s Nimans and DVS buy caused huge revenue growth

Posted on July 21, 2022 by - News

After its acquisition of Nimans and DVS this year, distie Midwich saw its revenues in the UK and Ireland grew by 85 percent year on year during the six months until 30 June.

Midwich snapped up Nimans for £27.5 million in February this year. The distributor turned over £114.3 million in revenues and pre-tax profits of £5.8 million for calendar 2020.

The group’s organic revenue grew 27 percent year on year, which the company attributes to acquiring Nimans and DVS.

The overall gross margin was stated to be approximately 15 percent, which Midwich says is largely equivalent to H1 2021. The group’s board expects stronger gross margins to be in sight for H2 as more live and face-to-face events return in a number of the markets Midwich services.  

US Senate throws cash at chip industry

Posted on July 21, 2022 by - News

The US Senate has voted to move ahead with proposed legislation that will see billions of dollars in subsidies and tax credits chucked at the chip industry.

The Senate has begun debating on the bill which will attempt to ease the supply chain problems which started with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The big idea is to decrease the reliance on Asia for semiconductor supply, with chip shortages hurting the world’s biggest vendors and their resellers over the past couple of years.

Alation named as one of best places for women to work

Posted on July 21, 2022 by - News

Enterprise data intelligence outfit Alation  has been named as one of the best places for women to work.

2022 UK’s Best Workplaces for Women by Great Place to WorkUK is based on anonymous feedback from women employees who reported on their workplace experience and their representation in the workforce and management.

The award, now in its fifth year, showcases the best workplaces for women based on a number of criteria including culture and support for career progression.

It recognises organisations with a culture where people trust each other, and employees are able to reach their full potential no matter their role or function. The award further recognises organisations which support the different identities women hold and ensures their daily experiences are positive.

Apple slows hiring and research as star sets

Posted on July 20, 2022 by - News

Fruity cargo cult Apple is slowing down hiring and spending next year and is blaming the economic downturn for punters no longer wanting its shiny over priced goods.

Apple said the move will not impact all teams and is not a company-wide policy and Jobs’ Mob is still planning an “aggressive” product launch schedule in 2023. It just wants to do it on the cheap with as few staff as possible to maximise profits.

The company, which invented the rounded rectangle, is cutting back on research and development, we guess it is because it has invented everything already.

IBM does better than expected

Posted on July 20, 2022 by - News

A not so mobile X86 PCBiggish Blue saw revenues climb nine percent to $15.5 billion in its second quarter, thanks mostly to its infrastructure businesss.

Sales jumped 16 percent on a constant currency basis, including around five points from sales to spin-off company Kyndryl, while pre-tax income stood at $1.7 billion.

On a non-GAAP basis, pre-tax income was $2.5 billion, up 48 percent year-on-year.

CEO Arvind Krishna said on the company’s earnings call.

” “In the second quarter, we drove solid results reflecting the investments and changes we have been making to execute our strategy,” With this performance, we continue to deliver on our model of mid-single-digit revenue growth. Technology plays an important role in today’s business environment. With this demand backdrop, we are executing our hybrid cloud and AI strategy. We have made changes to our portfolio and focused investments in our offerings, technical talent, our ecosystem, and go-to-market model.”

Babble doubles with extra Yorkshires and Biscuit

Posted on July 20, 2022 by - News

Comms provider Babble has strengthened its presence in Yorkshire and Essex  by completing another double acquisition.

The London-based outfit has acquired Yorkshire Telecom and Biscuit IT, and Basildon-based mobile services provider ADSI.

Biscuit IT has been part of Yorkshire Telecom since 2016 and the joint business serves 390 customers across the north of England in a range of sectors, Babble said.

O2 partner ADSI, meanwhile, serves 4,650 customers across the south-east of England and London with 30,000 O2 mobile connections – making Babble’s mobile division the UK’s second largest O2 dealer, the company claims.

Babble CEO Matt Parker said: “Acquiring Yorkshire Telecom and ADSI is a real win for us. Their customers are exciting, growing businesses with big ambitions and, aside from our own, are some of the most satisfied I’ve ever seen which is a huge credit to them Yorkshire Telecom’s and Biscuit IT’s specialism of comms and cyber and ADSI’s excellent mobile platform are areas where we feel we can add exceptional value for the businesses they serve.”

BT workers strike over pay

Posted on July 19, 2022 by - News

More than 40,000 workers at BT are to take part in a two-day strike over pay.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents the telecom giant’s employees, has served the company with notice that its members will strike on Friday 29 July and Monday 1 August.

BT has offered its employees a £1,500 pay increase but the CWU is arguing that it is effectively a pay cut when taking inflation into account.

CWU general secretary Dave Ward said that it was not a case of an employer refusing to meet a union’s demands – this is about an employer refusing to meet iy.

Tags:

Never mind the heatwave, Europe is all cloudy

Posted on July 19, 2022 by - News

Number crunchers at IDC claim that public cloud services spend in Europe is set to reach $113 billion in 2022 and will double by 2026.

According to IDC’s Worldwide Public Cloud Services Spending Guide, the growth rate represents a 22 percent five year 2021-2026 CAGR.

Investments in software-as-a-service (SaaS) will continue to lead most of the spending, but pegs platform-as-a-services (PaaS) to be the fastest-growing segment.

Hess walks away from Telefónica Tech CEO role

Posted on July 19, 2022 by - Moving People, News

Telefónica Tech UK&I CEO Martin Hess has stepped down from the role and will be doing something different in the company.

Hess will be replaced by the firm’s vice president of sales and marketing Mark Gorton while he focuses on longer-term strategic growth, both in the UK&I and worldwide, Telefónica Tech said.

Gorton played an “instrumental role” in the growth of Cancom UK&I, which was sold to Telefónica Tech in July 2021, the Microsoft partner added, and also in the acquisition of Incremental Group in March this year.

“I am incredibly proud of the journey our business has been on and where we have got to in a relatively short space of time and I am confident that Mark and Dominic will continue this same upward curve”, Hess said.

RM wins £26 million to sort out Harris Federation’s IT infrastructure.

Posted on July 18, 2022 by - News

Education supplier RM has won a contract to refresh the Harris Federation’s IT infrastructure over the next five years.

For those not in the know,  Harris Federation is a multi-academy trust in and around London. The idea of the partnership is that every academy will have a full infrastructure refresh, including increasing wireless points and switches and cabling.

RM will also replace all devices with a standard design that will allow all teachers and pupils to improve the quality of teaching further.

RM MD Jason Tomlinson said: “RM is uniquely positioned to underpin Harris Federation’s digital transformation along every step of their journey. Our ability to not only augment their IT organisation but also provide them with access to best-in-class next generation platform-delivered managed services, automation and our enhanced buying power through our unique partnerships, will give them the leverage they need to achieve their strategy and deliver the positive impact they are looking for. ”