Category: News

Mphasis buys Datalytyx

Posted on November 23, 2020 by - News

Mphasis has written a cheque for data engineering and consultancy company Datalytyx.

Datalytyx  said it provides  Data Engineering, Data Ops and Master Data Management solutions on Snowflake and Talend environments to clients globally. As the first Snowflake Rockies Partner in the UK, a Snowflake Select Solutions Partner, and a Platinum VAR partner of Talend, Datalytyx provides services for modern data projects enabling faster, more accurate analysis and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

[If you find this first paragraph puzzling, don’t worry. I do too, Ed.]

Since it started, Datalytyx has been supporting data projects by providing a managed data platform for analytics and machine learning, using best-in-class data tools. The company integrates client environments with platforms from its partners – Talend and Snowflake, creating a single integrated platform for Data and AI. Through its best and brightest talent (including engineers, scientists, and analysts) and data expertise, Datalytyx has been driving digital transformation for its clients.

Ivanti partners with Avast

Posted on November 20, 2020 by - News

Cloud security outfit Ivanti has announced its partnership with security outfit Avast Business.

Avast Business will use Ivanti Security Controls Advanced SDK for Ivanti OEM partners to offer patch management functionality through Avast Business CloudCare to automate and simplify the patch remediation process.

This component of the Avast CloudCare layered security platform enables small businesses and managed security service providers to take advantage of enterprise-grade app protection on a budget, alongside endpoint protection, cloud backup and network security.

Avast sees money to be made in patching as after its 2019 study using its Security Site Assessment tool, it found only 304 of the 500,000 devices analysed were 100 percent patched.

Atlas Cloud reshuffles top brass

Posted on November 20, 2020 by - News

Managed Service Provider of managed cloud services and cloud hosting solutions, Atlas Cloud, has been carrying out a management reorganisation.

The Newcastle-based company has appointed Mick Thompson as Non-Executive Director and Paul Butterworth as Head of Sales.

Thompson is renowned in the North East for his successful career at KPMG and in particular his 22 years as Senior Partner, managing Newcastle and the surrounding areas. His current portfolio spans various non-executive roles across the region, including the Newcastle Building Society, Clinkards Group, Greggs Foundation Charity and NUFC Foundation. 

Presidio buys into the EU

Posted on November 20, 2020 by - News

Reseller giant Presidio has stuck its substantial US foot into the door of the European market after writing a cheque for the Dublin-based IT procurement and services company Arkphire.

For those not in the know, Presidio is a $3 billion-revenue outfit from across the pond. Apparently, it wants to use Arkphire as a platform to expand its business across Europe and Asia Pacific.

The deal should be sorted out by early next year and will be the first time outside the US for Presidio.

Arkphire is a €160 million-revenue firm with 250 staff and offices in Dublin, London, Singapore and Brazil.

Juniper spends on channel expansion

Posted on November 19, 2020 by - News

The chief executive of Juniper Networks has told the gathered throngs at its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) partner event that it will be increasing its channel investment to make sure it can support its partners.

Rami Rahim, CEO of Juniper Networks, said it wanted to invest in the channel and work with partners in WAN solutions that can handle cloud, the cloud datacentre, and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for the enterprise. Security would underpin all of those.

“The transformational forces that were already in place before the pandemic will only accelerate”, he said.

Rahim added that the conditions that were enabling AI had never been greater and now was the moment for the channel to get involved with the technology.

Hybrid cloud still “ideal” among the clued up

Posted on November 19, 2020 by - News

Blue sky and white cloud with sun light and rainbow

Cloudy Nutanix has noted that hybrid cloud is still the frontrunner as the ideal IT infrastructure mode and respondents running hybrid environments are more likely to plan to focus on strategic efforts and driving positive business impact.

Announcing the findings of its third global Enterprise Cloud Index survey and research report, which measures enterprise progress with adopting private, hybrid and public clouds. Nutanix was especially interested in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on current and future IT decisions and strategy.

The pandemic has shifted IT’s focus toward remote worker support and enabling near-instant infrastructure deployments that reach geographically distributed workforces, spurring increased enterprise progress with cloud expansion. Additionally, a greater number of respondents running hybrid environments said they were likely to offer more flexible work setups, strengthen their business continuity plans, simplify operations, and increase digital conferencing usage because of the pandemic.

Giacom snapped up by DWS

Posted on November 19, 2020 by - News

Giacom, the channel-only cloud services provider, today announced that it is being acquired IT, communications and cloud platform business Digital Wholesale Solutions (DWS).

Giacom’s Cloud Market platform is apparently UK’s largest independent cloud portal targeting IT businesses who look after the IT needs of the UK’s SMEs.  It delivers SaaS solutions, including Microsoft 365 and Azure, security and backup solutions to over 70,000 end-user SMEs through Giacom’s ITC clients.

DWS is a high growth, channel-only software platform business providing IT, communications and cloud products and services to over 2,500 UK partners, with expertise in Voice, Mobile, Unified Comms and Connectivity services.

Storrar becomes Leaseweb UK MD

Posted on November 18, 2020 by - News

Global hosting provider Leaseweb has appointed Terry Storrar as Managing Director of Leaseweb UK.

In this role, Storrar will oversee business development and operations in the UK, with particular attention to expanding the company’s cloud product portfolio.

Storrar said: “The company has experienced twice the market average growth over the last few years, with a 22 per cent increase in data centre locations worldwide. Considering that cloud adoption among enterprises also continues to accelerate, I am confident that Leaseweb’s wide variety of offerings and expertise in this space will continue to effectively serve those organisations looking to bolster their IT environments.”

UK handled home working well

Posted on November 18, 2020 by - News

Faced with the COVID-19 outbreak and new regulations to control it in the second quarter of 2020, large and small businesses in the UK ably implemented technology transformations that allowed thousands of employees to work from home, according to a new report.

The report by Information Services Group (ISG), with the concise title The 2020 ISG Provider Lens Digital Workplace of the Future – Services & Solutions, found most organisations smoothly provided remote workers with the devices, bandwidth and collaboration tools they needed. The bigger issues raised by the transition were security and change management, the report says.

Public and private-sector enterprises wanted to ensure endpoints were secure and employees—especially older ones—didn’t lose touch with the organisation. In this environment, effective change management programs and the ability to offer experience-level agreements (XLAs) are helping digital workplace providers stand out.

IT decision makers wary of service management outfits

Posted on November 18, 2020 by - News

More than nine in ten IT decision-makers believe IT service management outfits are failing to meet the needs of customers, according to new research from specialist ITSM consultancy Xcession.

The findings highlight widespread dissatisfaction with current service levels, with more than half of IT decision-makers having changed or stopped working with their chosen implementer because of failure to deliver what they needed. Almost half suspect an implementer has sold them or is trying to sell them, more software licences than they require.

The research explored attitudes to the ITSM implementer market among 250 CTOs, CIOs and senior IT decision-makers from public and private sectors in the UK and Ireland.

Softcat says its last three months were on track

Posted on November 17, 2020 by - News

Softcat has said that the three months to 31 October were on track and delivered growth.

In a trading update for its first fiscal quarter of 2021, the channel player said that it was still cashing in on last year’s momentum.

The update revealed the firm had been able to grow revenues and operating profit year on year, as well as hitting recruitment targets. The outfit has yet to announce more details but these are expected soon.

The board also noted that growth was continuing into its second quarter, a period that will include a second lockdown, although not as rigid as the first, and uncertainty as the Brexit deadline gets ever closer.

Softcat CEO Graeme Watt acknowledged that it was a difficult time to predict market conditions, but said the business was in a strong position.

Cryptographic key outfit scores $20 million in funding

Posted on November 17, 2020 by - News

Cryptographic key management and protection outfit Unbound Tech has raised $20 million in Series B funding to splash out on its global channel.

Unbound’s next-gen key orchestration platform provides the cryptographic infrastructure to enable enterprises worldwide to easily secure and manage all their information and digital assets. The latest funding round is led by Evolution Equity Partners, joining existing investors Innovation Endeavors, Goldman Sachs, Citi and BlueRed Partners, to help further fuel its global growth.

Following the funding round, Unbound will focus on growing its business in the Enterprise sector. Enterprises worldwide can benefit from the agility and efficiency of Unbound’s software-based cloud-agnostic solution. To support this mission, the company plans to increase its headcount an additional 30 percent by the end of Q1 2021.

interactiveMe helps Kent care homes during coronavirus

Posted on November 17, 2020 by - News

Two Kent care homes are reaping the rewards of integrating smart technology from interactiveMe  to keep their residents mentally stimulated and connected with loved ones throughout the UK’s second lockdown.

Staff at Woodstock Residential Care Centre in Sittingbourne and St Winifreds Care Centre in Deal are already noticing an increase in resident engagement following the implementation of the interactiveMe handheld smart devices in their respective homes.

Both homes, which are part of the Nellsar Care Group, have been able to create engaging and interactive activity plans to improve the mental health of their residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have also been able to prompt families via SMS to stay connected with their residents through simple and secure video and photo sharing.

LexisNexis Risk teams up with Nuggets

Posted on November 16, 2020 by - News

LexisNexis Risk Solutions and UK Fintech startup Nuggets have announced a formalised partnership working together to enable the implementation of self-sovereign digital identity (SSI) solutions.

SSI solutions are one of a number of emerging technology-led innovations that are changing how organisations authenticate an individual’s identity digitally when they transact online.

The partnership between LexisNexis Risk Sand Nuggets will help to validate the benefits and strengths of the self-sovereign identity model, it is claimed.

As well as giving consumers ownership and control over their data, SSI is designed to protect organisations against the financial and “reputational” cost of privacy breaches and promises quicker processing and lower compliance costs for businesses.

Redcentric gives up looking for a buyer

Posted on November 16, 2020 by - News

Managed services provider (MSP) Redcentric has given up looking for a new owner after several months of failed talks.

The firm had indicated in September that it was exploring a sale as it looked to ensure that it could continue to deliver value to shareholders.

Redcentric apparently chatted to Macquarie Principal Finance, UK branch and Six Degrees Holdings but these talks went nowhere.

“The board has held constructive discussions with a significant number of interested parties. However, these discussions did not materialise into any fully funded offers. Redcentric, therefore, announces that the board has decided to terminate the formal sale process with immediate effect”, the firm stated.