Managed Services, Backup And Recovery, And Networking News From April 2015
By The Business Solutions Network
Each month, Business Solutions reports news on business in the channel. This month in managed services, backup and recovery, and networking news, D-Link launches a weatherproof wireless access point, Ingram Micro introduces a new ISV resource for VARs, AVG updates Business Managed Workplace, Webroot integrates with Palo Alto Networks Firewall, StorageCraft unveils BDR for Linux, Continuum announces a new managed backup platform, and Panasonic updates the Toughpad 4K tablet.
D-Link Launches Weatherproof 802.11ac Outdoor Wireless Access Point
D-Link unveiled its new Wireless AC1200 Concurrent Dual Band Outdoor Access Point with PoE (power over Ethernet). Designed with weather-resistant features and an IP67-rated housing, the DAP-3662 is designed for creating outdoor wireless hot spot networks in high-demand business applications. “In addition to outdoor applications, the DAP-3662 can be installed in environments where challenging or harsh conditions exist,” adds Steven Olen, director of product marketing, D-Link Systems. “This includes manufacturing plants, industrial automation facilities, convention halls, stadium facilities, airports, school campuses, golf courses, and marinas.”
The unit delivers high-speed wireless performance using the latest 802.11ac standard, with maximum wireless signal rates of up to 300 Mbps using the 2.4 GHz band, and 867 Mbps using the 5 GHz band. Integrated GORE Venting Technology repels water while ensuring pressure equalization inside the device as weather conditions change.
Ingram Micro Launches New ISV Resource For VARs
Ingram Micro recently announced the Ingram Micro Preferred App Dev Network, a professional service designed to expand partner value and margins through custom application development. The program eliminates the need for Ingram Micro channel partners to invest time, expense, and expertise in integrating disparate technology solutions by allowing them to tap into a specialized services network supported by Ingram Micro Professional Services and Ingram Micro Link.
The program connects channel partners to vetted network providers with proven solutions development, as well as integration and migration capabilities across a variety of technologies, solutions, and platforms including cloud, Big Data, and mobility. The new service allows channel partners to expand their services portfolio, generate new revenue streams, and more easily identify and develop applications that can help their customers. One additional benefit is that invoicing is done via established payment terms through Ingram Micro.
AVG Updates Managed Workplace
AVG has rolled out AVG Business Managed Workplace 9.1. The managed IT solution has a number of enhancements and added features. For instance, Managed Workplace is now SAML-compliant (Security Assertion Markup Language is an open standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between parties) and fully integrates with AVG Business SSO to eliminate password hassles, save time, and generate new recurring revenue streams. With this functionality, information is passed through tokens so user names and passwords never travel across networks. AVG has also made changes to simplify the Create Site process for deploying Onsite Managers to a new site. A new user interface improves navigation speed and provides at-a-glance information.
Additionally, data protection lets you provide server backup, endpoint backup, data archive, file sharing, and disaster recovery for all your customers’ devices. The platform protects data in multiple environments including AVG’s cloud, a private cloud, or a third-party cloud and is deployable across physical or virtual servers, workstations, or mobile devices.
Alerting enhancements are also included. Creating alert rules that map to time periods lowers the alert traffic, draws attention to the important alerts, and keeps high-value alert information on your dashboard. For example, a single mistyped password in a five-minute period of time is unlikely to be of concern and should not generate an alert. However, several mistyped passwords in a five-minute period could be cause for concern, and the system can be configured to trigger an alert based on the activity and time frame.
Finally, Managed Workplace supports two-way ticket synchronization with an MSP’s preferred PSA. Synchronization can be based on device, by site, by website, or by policy set.
Webroot Integrates With Palo Alto Networks Firewall
Webroot recently announced the integration of its BrightCloud IP Reputation Service with Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall. According to a Cyber Threat Intelligence report by the Ponemon Institute, almost half of respondents are increasing the amount of intelligence data they receive to prevent or mitigate the consequences of an attack. With a greater reliance on threat intelligence as a viable enterprise cybersecurity defense, Webroot extends the capabilities of the Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall by enabling organizations to integrate BrightCloud IP Reputation Service data to detect and block malicious incoming IPs.
StorageCraft Unveils BDR For Linux
If you’re looking for a backup and disaster recovery solution for Linux, you’ll want to check out StorageCraft’s new ShadowProtect SPX. This solution allows Linux users to back up, protect, migrate, and recover virtual and physical Linux servers. SPX features allow for sector-level backup of an entire Linux system, including the operating system, applications, settings, services, and data. If disaster occurs, the system can be recovered within minutes.
SPX features include the ability to mount a volume, restore a volume, verify a backup image, or use StorageCraft VirtualBoot technology to boot a backup image as a virtual machine, a StorageCraft-built snapshot driver for Linux that ensures a verified backup every time, customizable scheduling options, and support for Ubuntu 12.04, RedHat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6, and CentOS 6.
Continuum Unveils New Managed Backup Platform
Continuum has released Continuity247, a fully managed backup platform. Continuity247 is supported by the company’s network operations center (NOC), which proactively monitors, troubleshoots, and remediates any problems to ensure backups run 24/7/365 for the SMB clients of its MSP partners. These services minimize MSPs’ time dealing with backup and disaster recovery, allowing them to focus on business issues, rather than day-to-day IT.
Continuity247 allows MSPs to manage all clients’ backups from a single pane of glass with remote access to appliances, protected machines, and the cloud. MSPs can also add Continuum’s intelligent remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform backed by the company’s NOC with additional benefits across all infrastructure they support including alerting, integrated ticketing, remote control, scripting, patch management, antivirus software, and reporting.
Panasonic Updates Toughpad 4K Tablet
Panasonic recently announced updates to the standard edition of its Toughpad 4K tablet. The unit now features a fifth generation Intel Core i5 vPro processor, as well as HDMI 2.0 input to enhance efficiencies in professional video applications. First introduced in 2013, the Toughpad 4K is a 20-inch tablet with a 4K resolution display. It features a 230 pixel-per-inch IPS Alpha LCD display with a 15:10 aspect ratio and wide viewing angles that goes beyond Ultra HD resolution, for professionals in fields where visual clarity and collaboration are essential.
The new HDMI 2.0 input, alongside other connectivity options such as USB 3.0, Intel Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 (class 1), Ethernet, and Mini DisplayPort output, allows professionals to connect a range of peripherals and tools directly to the tablet. With a magnesium alloy frame enclosed in a reinforced glass fiber case, the business-rugged tablet is built to handle a 30-inch drop to its back while operating, and 12-inch drops to 26 angles when nonoperational.