Tech Data, Ingram Micro, Other Distributors Intro New Products, Programs
These are the distribution ecosphere changes you need to know.
September 17, 2020
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Synnex’s GovSolv unit recently expanded its GSA and NASPO contracts with the addition of Palo Alto Networks. Partners can now sell Palo Alto’s cybersecurity technology to the state, local and education (SLED) market.
This latest chapter extends the distribution agreement between Synnex and Palo Alto Networks, which offers cybersecurity and cloud services to partners.
“Synnex is dedicated to Palo Alto Networks’ success in the IT channel and was recently recognized with an award from Palo Alto Networks for Top Learner Growth in the Americas for its Authorized Training Partner (ATP) program,” said Reyna Thompson, senior vice president, product management, North America, Synnex. “Adding Palo Alto Networks to our GSA and NASPO contracts is an important step forward and will benefit a range of customers buying through Synnex.”
Tech Data recently announced access to IBM’s Cloud Pak for Security platform through Tech Data Cyber Range.
IBM Cloud Pak for Security platform includes containerized software pre-integrated with Red Hat OpenShift. The platform connects to existing security tools to search for threats across a hybrid, multicloud environment. Cyber Range is a virtual environment to help partners and their customers fight cyber threats. The distributor first announced Cyber Range last November.
With this announcement, the Tech Data Cyber Range can demonstrate IBM Cloud Pak for Security’s ability to integrate with other vendor technologies. There is also hands-on training.
“With access to many tools, the need to manage increasing amounts of data and a growing cybersecurity skills gap, organizations of all sizes are facing significant challenges on their journey to the cloud,” said Trisha Cooke, vice president, vendor solutions, Tech Data. “The addition of IBM Cloud Pak for Security strengthens our cyber range by enabling our partners to interact with an integrated security solution and understand how it will behave in their own data environments.”
Learn more about the Tech Data Cyber Range and see some pictures from its site in Tempe, Arizona.
D&H and SonicWall recently struck an agreement that allows D&H to participate in SonicWall’s security-as-a-service (SECaaS) and MSSP partner program.
This recent agreement allows channel partners to provide SonicWall firewalls with no upfront cost. Expenditures, including hardware, maintenance and support, are rolled into a monthly subscription fee. SonicWall’s MSSP program provides non-firewall-related software offerings. The goal is to help MSPs expand their practice to become MSSPs.
“D&H has had a long-standing relationship with SonicWall. Their MSSP program can help companies to more quickly and seamlessly migrate to a scalable and cost-effective procurement model, while ensuring their customers always have superior firewall services in force,” said Jason Bystrak, vice president of D&H’s cloud business unit. “The ability to obtain high-value solutions through a manageable monthly fee allows our MSPs to create more immediate ROI. This is opposed to paying upfront and waiting for hardware to justify its investment over time. It’s a huge advantage of the XaaS model.”
Pax8 and Liongard signed an agreement for the software company’s unified automation platform. The partnership allows Pax8 MSP partners to access the Liongard platform to automatically document, audit and secure their customer’s systems from the cloud, network and on-premises environments.
Here are some Liongard benefits:
· Trusted documentation that’s a core part of the MSP stack.
· APIs to more than 30 vendors.
· Captures historical changes to help with troubleshooting.
· Integration with Microsoft Office 365, Azure AD, and Azure.
· Integrations into AutoTask and Datto, Connectwise, Kaseya, BitDefender, StorageCraft, Veeam and Webroot.
“To keep pace with ever-changing IT requirements, we are excited to offer Liongard to MSPs,” said Ryan Walsh, chief channel officer at Pax8. “Liongard’s strong, trusted platform enables MSPs to have greater visibility into how their systems are managed. With is capabilities, the solution gives our partners a competitive edge.”
Exclusive Networks has a new CEO, the distributor recently announced. Arrow Electronics veteran Vesper Trolle replaces company founder Olivier Breittmayer, immediately. However, Trolle will work alongside the former CEO for the next three months ensure a smooth transition. Breittmayer founded Exclusive Networks in 2005. He will become a non-executive board member at Exclusive.
In his new role at Exclusive Networks, Trolle is responsible for driving the next phase of growth at the company and scaling the business.
“Jesper was the standout choice following and intensive search and selection process these last six months or so. His cultural and international experience, obvious entrepreneurial DNA, knowledge of upscaling global businesses at a pace and empathy with value-based distribution is impressive and refreshing. It is with confidence and a smile that we are getting such a capable person to take over the helm of the business we’ve grown by some 2000% over the last 17 years,” said Breittmayer.
Trolle spent 15 years at Arrow Electronics. His most recent position was president, ECS Americas, a job he held for three years.
ScanSource this month increased professional services support for partners selling CCaaS and UCaaS. The company has three new relationships with established third-party contact center consulting businesses.
PPT Solutions, Epic Connections and Vesuvitas offer technology and business advisory services. Each has its own unique specialized expertise and vertical business market focus. ScanSource and Intelisys partners can offer sourcing and migration strategies, contact center strategic assessments, cloud infrastructure implementation, business optimization and performance management.
Platinum Equity, a U.S. private equity firm is in talks with Ingram Micro parent company HNA Group, to acquire the distributor for $7 billion, it was recently reported. Tianjin Tianhai, a publicly traded subsidiary of HNA, bought Ingram Micro in 2016 in a deal worth about $6 billion.
HNA Group’s financial troubles have been ongoing, particularly since COVID-19 struck. In fact, the government of Hainan was in talks to take control of the financially strapped conglomerate and sell off its airline assets, Bloomberg reported earlier this year.
More recently, HNA Group’s Swissport, a ground-handling firm, will be taken over by a group a creditors as part of a $2.3 billion restructuring. HNA Group also owns Hainan Airlines.
And, this week, HNA Group Chairman Chen Feng was barred from flying, taking high-speed trains and vacationing due to a failure to pay a court-ordered $5,300, resulting from a lawsuit.
Read more about the acquisition speculation.
Veritas recently agreed to its first as-a-service distribution model for Veritas SaaS Backup. The vendor’s distribution partner is Ingram Micro. Veritas SaaS Backup is available through the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace to U.S. partners.
Veritas SaaS Backup offers comprehensive Office 365 data protection for Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, and Groups and Teams. It also offers protection for Microsoft Dynamics, G Suite and Salesforce.
Veritas recently agreed to its first as-a-service distribution model for Veritas SaaS Backup. The vendor’s distribution partner is Ingram Micro. Veritas SaaS Backup is available through the Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace to U.S. partners.
Veritas SaaS Backup offers comprehensive Office 365 data protection for Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, and Groups and Teams. It also offers protection for Microsoft Dynamics, G Suite and Salesforce.
While the distribution landscape changes – or, should we say, evolves – partners need their distributors and master agents. In fact, the likes of Tech Data, Ingram Micro and other top distributors are vital to a partner’s business.
Keeping up with product news, executive comings and goings, or strategic programs is a must. So that’s why we are offering this roundup of recent news from the distribution ecosphere.
Exclusive Networks’ Jesper Trolle
For starters, Exclusive Networks has a new CEO. Synnex expanded GSA and NASPO contracts with Palo Alto Networks. We have the latest on a potential Ingram Micro acquisition and Tech Data expanding its Cyber Range with IBM Cloud Pak for Security. D&H partnered with SonicWall, while Pax8 teamed up with Liongard. And ScanSource offered more professional services support.
Scroll through the slideshow above for a recap.
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