Category: News

European Commission concerned about Broadcom’s VMware merger

Posted on April 17, 2023 by - News

The European Commission is worried Broadcom’s proposed $61 billion merger with VMware will be anti-competitive.

For those who came in late, the Commission’s watchdog started snuffling around the deal at the end of last year to assess the impact the acquisition may have on competition in the market for the supply of NICs, FC HBAs and storage adapters. Now, the Commission says it has some “reservations.”

“As a result of this in-depth investigation, the Commission is concerned that Broadcom may restrict competition in the global markets for the supply of FC HBAs and storage adapters by foreclosing competitors’ hardware by delaying or degrading their access to VMware’s server virtualisation software,” the watchdog said in a statement.

Cisco to offer air gapped security

Posted on April 14, 2023 by - News

Networking king Cisco plans to deliver an air-gapped, cloud-based collaboration system for companies involved in US national security and defence work.

Beginning in 2024, the new Webex system — Air-Gapped Trusted Cloud — will provide an added layer of security for teams collaborating through the Webex App, Cisco said.

An air gap isolates a computer or network and preventing it from establishing an external connection. An air-gapped computer cannot connect to the internet or any other communications networks to have complete security with the information that resides within it.

Currently, the US government has an established approach to security assessment and authorisation for cloud products and services for national security and defence. This includes air-gapped cloud deployments, which are isolated from public networks and operated on US soil by local staff with specific security clearances to handle sensitive data.

Vertical Application Solutions framework announces suppliers

Posted on April 14, 2023 by - News

Trustmarque, Insight and Softcat are among the big names who have scored a new vertical software framework for local authorities, education, community health and social care organisations.

The Vertical Application Solutions (VAS) framework went live last month and has a kitty of £1.84 billion.

The Crown Commercial Service-run framework works with Software Design and Implementation Services, Big Data & Analytics and Back Office Software frameworks, it replaces the Data and Applications Solutions Framework, which comes to an end on 22 May 2023.

Rackspace partners with HTCE on AI

Posted on April 14, 2023 by - News

Rackspace Technology claims to have become the first managed service provider to develop a partnership agreement with the AI Innovation Centre of High Tech Campus Eindhoven (HTCE).

For those who came in late, HTCE is deemed “the smartest square km in Europe” which is an ecosystem of nearly 300 tech companies and home to more than 12,500 international researchers, developers, businesspeople, innovators, and engineers devoted to knowledge sharing.

HTCE is a global tech incubator in Health & Vitality, Sustainability, Applied Intelligence, Smart Environments and Connectivity, and Software & Platforms.

Rackspace will be part of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Centre of HTCE, which opened in April 2021 to industrialise AI in the Brainport Eindhoven region in the Netherlands. The AI Innovation Centre and its partners help companies start and accelerate their AI journey.

The AI Centre is home to 13 AI-specialised companies and a wide variety of industrial and knowledge partners and was co-founded by Philips, Signify, NXP, and ASML.

Rackspace Public Cloud President D K Sinha, said activities within this partnership would raise the level of AI knowledge, facilitate the ecosystem, driving projects, and offering relevant services to boost the adoption of AI while connecting companies, professionals, entrepreneurs, and students.

 

Schneider Electric launches Ecommerce Partner Programme

Posted on April 13, 2023 by - News

Schneider Electric has launched its first Ecommerce Partner Programme.

The vendor wants to adapt to changes in the e-commerce landscape to ensure it can provide a collaborative programme that encourages growth.

The programme provides the usual battery of options that self-respecting partners would expect, including market and product information, training and compensation, plus access to its eCommerce Transformation & Activation Manager to help develop partners with their growth strategies.

Schneider Electric vice-president of IT channels Europe  David Terry said: “For the first time, we are offering our ecommerce partners a programme which is unique and innovative that sets it apart from its competitors.

Gartner says security experts need to think more about humans

Posted on April 13, 2023 by - News

Beancounters at analyst outfit Gartner are warning security and risk management (SRM) leaders to  focus more on human-centric elements when creating and implementing cybersecurity programmes.

Gartner says SRM leaders must be focused on the essential role of people for security programme success and sustainability, technical security capabilities that provide greater visibility and responsiveness across the organisation’s digital ecosystem; and restructuring the way the security function operates to enable agility without compromising security.

Gartner senior director analyst, Richard Addiscott said “A human-centred approach to cybersecurity is essential to reduce security failures. Focusing on people in control design and implementation, as well as through business communications and cybersecurity talent management, will help to improve business-risk decisions and cybersecurity staff retention.”

Salesforce names new channel boss

Posted on April 13, 2023 by - News

Steve Corfield has been named as Salesforce’s new channel chief following the exit of Tyler Prince later this month.

A Salesforce spokesperson said: “We’re grateful to Tyler Prince for his many contributions to Salesforce and for driving significant growth in the Salesforce partner ecosystem.”

Based in the UK, Corfield has served as Salesforce’s executive vice president of industry sales and CRO for global commerce since February 2021.

He has been with Salesforce for about eight years, starting in 2015 as senior area vice president and head of sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Commerce Cloud.

Another Salesforce channel executive, Dan McAllister, also posted on LinkedIn that he was now senior vice president of alliances and channels at automation vendor Boomi.

Three months ago, Salesforce announced layoffs of about 7,000 employees. The vendor has also had to work with activist investors seeking a larger profit margin from Salesforce.

WatchGuard hires HoJin Kim as new VP

Posted on April 12, 2023 by - News

WatchGuard Technologies has appointed former Channel Company CRO HoJin Kim as its new senior vice president and chief revenue officer.

Kim will lead WatchGuard’s worldwide sales organisation and be responsible for driving revenue growth, scaling and expanding the global sales organisation, and adopting WatchGuard’s Unified Security Platform MSP framework.

With over 25 years of experience leading and growing IT channel organisations, Kim has led global and regional partner teams in developing and implementing channel strategies to build sustained competitive advantage for those companies.

WatchGuard Technologies CEO Prakash Panjwani said that “Kim’s depth of experience in all facets of the channel industry, combined with his knowledge of the security market, makes him a perfect fit for WatchGuard as we embark on our next phase of growth, focused on expanding our MSP ecosystem and driving adoption of our Unified Security Platform framework.”

“He is the ideal addition to our leadership team, and I look forward to seeing his contributions towards accelerating our stated company vision – to be the security platform provider for the MSP community.”

Before joining WatchGuard, Kim was the chief revenue officer for The Channel Company.

“I’m thrilled to join WatchGuard. I’ve spent my career working throughout all aspects of the channel, and WatchGuard’s singular focus on enabling the MSP with its Unified Security Platform approach is just what the industry needs to succeed in this cybersecurity landscape,” he said.

 

Infinigate headhunts Kaspersky’s Oudot

Posted on April 12, 2023 by - News

Infinigate has appointed Catherine Oudot as its new managing director of Infinigate France.

Oudot spend five and a half years working for cybersecurity and anti-virus provider Kaspersky building its French channel business.

In her new role, Oudot will use Infinigate’s recent acquisitions and ensure the development of its cloud solutions.

She said: “I am delighted to help our partners take advantage of the opportunities offered by a dynamic French market, supported by the strong potential of Infinigate, so that they support their customers in the digital transformation process.”

“We have a unique and innovative offer thanks to our highly specialised services and our expertise in the field of cybersecurity. I look forward to uniting the team and showing the leadership that will allow it to express its full potential.

Infinigate Group president for Europe Andreas Bechtold said: “The French market represents an extraordinary development opportunity for Infinigate.

“Oudot will take over the management of our French team to take advantage of the growth prospects available to us and our partners. Her expertise, experience, energy and determination are invaluable assets in carrying out this mission.”

Jigsaw buys some more corner pieces in Apple market

Posted on April 12, 2023 by - News

Jigsaw24 has picked up service and repair specialist Amsys to bolster its position in the Apple market for media and entertainment customers.

For those who came in late, Amsys is one of the largest Apple repair and servicing specialists in the UK, with a history that spans three decades.

Jigsaw24’s chief operating officer David Dudman said: “This acquisition and the addition of the Amsys team will significantly increase Jigsaw24’s repair capabilities and bolster our technical expertise while providing Amsys with the financial security of a company with a turnover of £169 million.”

Robot tries to explain Mike Magee (Nick Farrell is busy today)

Posted on April 11, 2023 by - News

Mike Magee is a highly respected journalist who has been covering the computer industry and technology sector for over three decades. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of technology journalism, having founded some of the most influential tech news websites in the UK and beyond.

Magee began his career as a journalist in the 1980s, working for a number of publications in the UK and US. In 1994, he founded The Register, an online news website that quickly became one of the most popular and respected sources of tech news and analysis. The site’s irreverent style and hard-hitting reporting won it a large and loyal following, and it continues to be a leading voice in the industry to this day.

In addition to The Register, Magee has also founded and contributed to several other technology news publications, including TechEye, The Inquirer, and Silicon Valley Sleuth [No, Ed.]. He is known for his investigative reporting and deep knowledge of the industry, as well as his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom and take on powerful players in the tech world.

Magee has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including being named one of the “Top 50 Journalists in Tech” by Business Insider [No, Ed.] and a “Tech Titan” by The Daily Telegraph. [I don’t think so, Ed.] He is also a sought-after commentator and speaker, regularly appearing on radio and TV programs and at industry conferences and events. [Nah, Ed.]

Overall, Mike Magee is a highly respected and influential figure in technology journalism, known for his insightful reporting, sharp wit, and fearless approach to covering the industry. His contributions to the field have helped shape the way we think about and understand technology, and his legacy as a pioneer of tech journalism is sure to endure for many years to come.

Robot explains the Channel

Posted on April 11, 2023 by - News

Mike MageeIn the computer business in the UK, a channel is a path through which products and services are delivered to customers. This path can involve various intermediaries, such as wholesalers, distributors, resellers, and retailers, who play a crucial role in bridging the gap between manufacturers and end-users.

IT spending continues to fall says IDC

Posted on April 6, 2023 by - News

Beancounters at analyst outfit IDC have been adding up some numbers and reached the conclusion that IT spending worldwide is on a downward trend.

In its new monthly forecast for worldwide IT spending growth, IDC projects overall growth this year in constant currency of 4.4 per cent to $3.25 trillion

This is slightly down from 4.5 per cent in the previous month’s forecast and represents a swing from a 6.0 per cent growth forecast in October 2022.

IDC vice president Stephen Minton said that since the fourth quarter of last year, we have seen clear and measurable signs of a moderate pullback in some areas of IT spending.

“Tech spending remains resilient compared to historical economic downturns and other types of business spending, but rising interest rates are now impacting capital spending.”

After reductions to PC forecasts a month ago, IDC has now scaled back its expectations for some additional hardware categories including servers, wearable devices, and peripherals.

UK telecoms regulator launches cloudy anti-trust investigation

Posted on April 6, 2023 by - News

UK telecoms regulator has launched a competition probe into the cloud market.

According to Ofcom, two US vendors Microsoft and Amazon enjoy a 60 per cent – 70 per cent share of the £15bn UK cloud services market.

Ofcom is proposing that the matter be referred to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for investigation.

Writing in its blog, Ofcom said that with business and the public sector ever more reliant on cloud services, this represents an imbalance that is bad for customer choice.

Firms find security a bit tricky

Posted on April 6, 2023 by - News

Security outfit Sophos has been asking around and found that nearly all organisations find essential security operation tasks, such as threat hunting a bit too challenging.

Sophos’s new survey The State of Cybersecurity 2023: The Business Impact of Adversaries on Defenders  which found that, globally, 93 per cent of organisations find the execution of some essential security operation tasks, such as threat hunting, challenging.

These challenges include understanding how an attack happened, with 75 per cent of respondents stating they have challenges identifying the root cause of an incident. This can make proper remediation difficult, leaving organizations vulnerable to repetitive or multiple attacks, by the same or different adversaries, especially since 71 per cent of those surveyed also reported challenges with timely remediation.

More than 71 per cent said they have challenges understanding which signals/alerts to investigate, and the same percent reported challenges prioritising investigations.

Sophos CTO John Shier said that only a fifth of respondents considered vulnerabilities and remote services a top cybersecurity risk for 2023, yet the ground truth is that these are routinely exploited by Active Adversaries.