Category: News

Insight Enterprises snaps up Amdaris

Posted on August 21, 2023 by - News

Insight Enterprises acquired Bristolsoftware development and digital services provider, Amdaris.

Apparently, the plan is to add Amdaris’ innovative software development, application support, managed services and consultancy services to its broad solutions portfolio and IT supply chain capabilities.

Led by Co-CEOs Andy Rogers, and Vlad Nanu, Amdaris is a Microsoft-Gold Certified Partner. With more than 800 people in their workforce, the company’s core expertise in providing outsourced extended delivery teams for enterprise and consumer software applications makes it an ideal addition to Insight’s global Modern Applications and Data & AI practices.

Insight Enterprises is a Fortune 500 Solutions Integrator with 13,000 people worldwide helping organisations spruce up their business and maximise the value of technology.

The company provides clients with a comprehensive portfolio of solutions, partnerships and 35 years of broad IT expertise.

Southampton FC renews Acronis and Tailor Made Technologies partnership

Posted on August 18, 2023 by - News

Southampton FC officially announced its renewed partnership with Acronis and Tailor Made Technologies.

Under the agreement, TMT will provide the team with a full suite of Acronis cyber protection solutions to protect the team’s data assets and optimise data workflow, facilitating the team to perform at its best on and off the pitch.

Director of IT, Huw Fielding, comments: “Southampton FC takes cyber protection very seriously. Global organisations like ours often come under fire from cyberattacks targeting our sensitive data, including information on thousands of fans. Protecting the data we have been entrusted with is a significant priority for us, and we have the utmost confidence that Acronis’ solution, delivered by Tailor Made Technologies will help us do so.

AI in retail could be a boom for the channel

Posted on August 18, 2023 by - News

Nearly 60 per cent of retailers will be signing up for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and computer vision (CV) products within the upcoming year.

This revelation stems from a recent Honeywell survey, which revealed a shift towards technology adoption that complements and empowers retail employees rather than replacing them.

The AI in Retail poll, encompassing a thousand retail directors occupying crucial roles in IT, operations and customer experience across regions such as the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, uncovers a range of key findings.

Brother UK launches three new MPS

Posted on August 17, 2023 by - News

Brother UK has launched three new managed print services (MPS) for businesses of different sizes, to make it simpler for partners to meet demand for print-as-a-service.

Dubbed MPS Essential, MPS Professional and MPS Enterprise the three products are designed for the needs of SMBs with a single office through to larger, multi-site corporations.

The company said that the aim was to give partners straightforward, better-focused solutions to target a mix of businesses and expand their revenue streams.

SMEs collected £21 billion of government contracts

Posted on August 17, 2023 by - News

Canalys Forum EuropeUK SMEs received £21 billion of government contracts in the fiscal year 2021/22, translating to an average of approximately £3,800 for every British small business.

New Cabinet Office figures revealed UK small businesses acquired £21 billion worth of government work during the fiscal year 2021/22 – which can be seen as a testament to the government’s commitment to supporting and empowering SMEs.

The sum is an  increase of £1.7 billion from the previous year, marking the sixth consecutive year that small businesses have seen an upsurge in government contracts.

Cabinet Office Minister, Jeremy Quin claimed the figures showed the government’s dedication to fostering an inclusive market that supports SME participation. He noted the impact of lowering entry barriers, ensuring more small companies partake in public sector spending, thus generating wider economic benefits.

AI needed to fix bribery and corruption

Posted on August 16, 2023 by - News

A new Juniper Research study has found that the total number of KYC checks for banking conducted using AI will reach almost 175 million globally by 2028, up from just over 23 million in 2023.

The demand for regtech solutions is increasing across not only financial services, but also industries such as healthcare and cybersecurity, as continuous verification of identities becomes fundamental in preventing financial crime and non-compliance.

Rural connectivity could do wonders for UK economy

Posted on August 16, 2023 by - News

An economic study conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) has shown that improved rural connectivity has the potential to enhance the UK economy by £65.1 billion.

The Great Rural Revival report, in collaboration with Virgin Media O2, digs into four pivotal sectors – tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and small enterprises – to unearth a promising path towards rural prosperity.

The findings revealed the alluring prospect of elevating rural employment by an 6.8 per cent, ushering in 284,000 new jobs.

UnitedHealth’s EMIS take over approved

Posted on August 15, 2023 by - News

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved UnitedHealth’s £1.2 billion takeover of EMIS.

For those not in the know EMIS has been supplying the NHS with data management systems, notably including the electronic patient record system that serves as the cornerstone for the majority of NHS General Practitioners (GPs).

Complementing EMIS’s offerings, Optum, which is part of UnitedHealth Group, has been a provider of software solutions for GP prescription management, alongside crucial data analytics and advisory services aimed at optimising the healthcare ecosystem.

The proposed acquisition, which unites these two prominent entities, triggered initial concerns during a CMA Phase 1 investigation. There were apprehensions that the merger could potentially lead to detrimental outcomes for the NHS, manifesting as a reduction in competition. These concerns served as the catalyst for a more intensive Phase 2 enquiry, guided by an independent panel, tasked with delving deeper into the potential implications of the merger.

While the merged businesses themselves do not compete, Optum and its competitors use the data infrastructure maintained by EMIS, weaving their proprietary software solutions into EMIS’s electronic patient record system.

The independent panel overseeing the Phase 2 investigation said  the merger does not pose significant competition concerns. This provisional clearance signifies a critical juncture, underscoring the potential compatibility and synergies between the two entities while upholding the principles of competition within the healthcare technology sector.

Panel Chair Kirstin Baker said: “Digital technology and data analytics play an increasingly important role in supporting high-quality healthcare in the NHS, and so it’s important we investigate this deal thoroughly.”

She continued: “We want to ensure the NHS continues to benefit from innovation and efficiencies brought about by technology services competing for its business. After carefully considering a broad range of evidence, we have provisionally found that this deal is not expected to harm competition or adversely affect patients.”

 

SMEs are a good sustainability target

Posted on August 15, 2023 by - News

Canalys Forum EuropeChannel sales teams hoping to pitch to SME’s might want to come in with a sustainability angle.

The latest SME Insights Report puts sustainability as a powerful factor driving the actions and strategies of small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in the UK business sector.

The report said that three-quarters of UK small business owners say sustainability is a cornerstone of their business strategy.

However, this fervent commitment poses a challenge – the prohibitive cost of implementing “green” business infrastructure – that stands in their path.

The insights are gleaned from the SME Insights Report, which questioned over 1,000 UK small business owners. Financial costs stood out as a drag on their sustainability efforts for more than half (57 per cent) of small businesses.

NCC Group lays off more staff

Posted on August 14, 2023 by - News

Jobs at NCC Group, a UK cybersecurity firm are proving to be less than secure with more layoffs announced.

NCC specialises in penetration testing and software escrow services, confirmed tthat a “small number” of staff would lose their jobs, but declined to say precisely how many would be cleaning out their desks.

A spokesperson said that a relatively small number of the company’s talented colleagues in consultation and some based in North America have already left NCC Group.”

NCC Group cut 125 roles, about seven per cent of its workforce, in February this year.

 

Microsoft releases more AI products

Posted on August 14, 2023 by - News

Software King of the World, Microsoft has unveiled more generative AI products for frontline workers.

Vole teamed up with Aptos Labs to build new blockchain AI tools and has now introduced a new Copilot offering which uses generative AI to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of frontline professionals.

Windows Copilot AI-powered assistant is empowering service managers who receive customer escalations in Outlook or Microsoft Teams to use Copilot in Dynamics 365.

According to Microsoft, this AI-driven tool automates repetitive tasks to create work orders. Notably, there are other integrations within Microsoft 365 that further improve these capabilities. Frontline technicians will be able to access important work order information via Teams.

Cisco plans to acquire cloud-native mobile core developer Working Group Two

Posted on August 14, 2023 by - News

Cisco plans to acquire cloud-native mobile core developer Working Group Two for $150 million.

Cisco said the acquisition will enable it to bolster its mobility services platform to help operators launch new offers across IoT and industry verticals.

The outfit is run as a joint venture between Cisco and Norwegian telco Telenor after it was spun out by the carrier in 2017.
Once the transaction is complete, Working Group Two will be fully owned by Cisco, with the new owner acquiring Telenor’s 44.6 percent stake in the entity.

Rapid7 fires 18 per cent of staff

Posted on August 11, 2023 by - News

US cybersecurity vendor Rapid7 is moving to MSPs and firing 18 per cent of its workforce – about 470 employees.

Most of the cuts are in sales and engineering. The company will close some office locations too.

Rapid7 CEO Corey Thomas said that the layoffs were a tough decision.  But “making decisions from a place of strength allows us to restructure intentionally.”

We suspect it would have been tougher for those who were fired rather than the person deciding they have to clean out their desks, but maybe that is just us.

Earlier this year, publicly traded Rapid7 reportedly considered a sale to private equity investors. In March, Rapid7 acquired Minerva Labs for $38 million in cash and stock.

On the vendor’s quarterly earnings, Thomas told listeners that Boston-headquartered Rapid7 sees “massive potential to drive high-margin managed services, both through existing offerings and investing in accelerating our strategic managed service partnerships.”

Check Point acquires Perimeter 81

Posted on August 11, 2023 by - News

Israel Checkpoint

Security outfit Check Point has snapped up acquire Perimeter 81 a Security Service Edge (SSE) company.

The company says that the acquisition enables Check Point will help organisations accelerate the adoption of secure access across remote users, sites, cloud, datacentres, and the internet, all while aiming to deliver the most secure and fastest SSE solution in the market.

Under the terms of the agreement, Check Point will acquire Perimeter 81 for approximately $490 million, on a cash free, debt free basis.

Spy outfit went direct to get government to buy software

Posted on August 10, 2023 by - News

US spy tech outfit Palantir directly contacted the minister of state for disabled people, health and work, Tom Pursglove in a bid to get him to buy technology to crack down on benefits fraud.

For those who came in late, Palantir, was founded by PayPal co-founder and Trump supporter Peter Thiel.  It wrote to Pursglove in April to brief him on its technology, promising that it could help the Department for Work and Pensions to “recover large amounts of fraud.”

According to emails seen by The Guardian after a Freedom of Information request, Palantir attached a note trying to arrange a meeting with Pursglove or his team “to explore whether this capability could be of benefit here in the UK.”