Managed Services, Backup and Recovery, And Networking News From August 2014
Each month, Business Solutions reports news on business in the channel. This month in Managed Services, Backup and Recovery, and Networking news, ESET launches solutions for small office security, Ingram Micro Adds EMC VNX deployment and voice and video readiness assessment services. Intronis enhanced its ECHOplatform with complete Bare Metal Restore, and Webroot introduces a new channel partner program. In other news, Axcient announces the second generation of its virtual appliance, Linksys introduces new managed network switches, D-Link introduces a new wireless access point, Minuteman offers new battery backup systems, and AVG Technologies released a service module that allows remote monitoring and management of Microsoft Office 365. Also, Staples partners with ERI to offer a recycling service for old electronics.
ESET Launches Solutions For Small Office Security
ESET now offers two new security solutions for the small office/home office (SOHO) market: ESET Multi-Device Security Home Office and ESET Small Office Security. “Businesses operating out of small and home offices are an attractive target for cybercriminals because of their presumed lack of security measures,” said Andrew Lee, CEO, ESET North America. “The 28 million businesses in this sector require security solutions that apply to their unique environments.” The solutions provide protection from online threats for a business’ PCs or laptops, mobile devices, and file servers. The solutions are available in different configurations; the small office version covers five mobile devices, one file server, one remote administrator, and options for five, ten, or fifteen endpoints.
Ingram Micro Adds Two Expert Services
Ingram Micro’s professional services organization now offers EMC VNX deployment services as well as voice and video readiness assessment services. Channel partners can expand their portfolios with the two new Ingram Micro Expert Services, white-labeled and offered at a fixed rate and billed upon completion. Additional Ingram Micro Professional Services include wireless network assessment, penetration test assessment, Web application vulnerability assessment, virtualization health check, and VCE vBlock deployment and implementation.
Intronis Platform Automates Bare Metal Restore
Intronis has enhanced its ECHOplatform with complete Bare Metal Restore (BMR). The new BMR functionality offers complete physical-to-physical (P2P) bare metal recovery and physical-to-virtual (P2V) BMR recovery options. These capabilities enable Intronis’ channel partners to choose from and deliver a variety of restore solutions such as:
- recover back to the original system in the event of data corruption or hard drive failure
- recover to a replacement machine to address total system failure
- recover to a select point in time to resolve for data corruption or viruses
- restore physical images as virtual hard disks (VHD) to a local or network location
- restore protected images as a virtual machine (VM) by leveraging restored virtual hard disks
- mount recovered images as a drive to the same or different machine for file-level restore.
Webroot Introduces New Channel Program
Webroot has introduced its Channel Edge Reseller Program. This program enables Webroot to provide VARs, distributors, services providers, and systems integrators with a set of sales and marketing tools:
- Web Content Syndication delivers product content, trial software downloads, and white papers directly from a partner’s website.
- The Resource Center provides a wide range of sales and marketing materials directly to partner sales and marketing teams.
- Social Syndication enables partners to push fresh content and communicate with potential buyers through multiple social media sites.
In addition, partners committed to working with Webroot and meeting a minimum quarterly revenue attainment are enrolled as Elite Resellers and receive added benefits such as qualified sales leads, speaking engagements and joint seminars, market expansion programs, sales incentives, and a dedicated channel account manager.
Axcient Announces Second Generation Virtual Appliance
Axcient, a provider of cloud-based Recovery-as-a-Service (RaaS), recently announced the second generation of Axcient Virtual Appliance, which enables organizations to replicate to the cloud without purchasing any onsite hardware. In addition to Intel, the latest version also supports AMD processors. This release runs two times faster than the previous generation, has up to eight times reduction in input/output per second (IOPS) requirements, and offers new form factors including 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 6 TB, 10 TB, 14 TB, and 20 TB.
New Managed Network Switches Available From Linksys
Linksys recently announced its first managed switches in the Linksys business line. The switches are available in a 28- or 52-port rack mountable chassis, with or without Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+). They feature port authentication and MAC (message authentication code)-based port security, as well as advanced DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) snooping and IP-MAC-Port binding functions. Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and storm control features help control planned or inadvertent cable loops, and they have Gigabit or 10-Gigabit uplink SFP/SFP+ fiber-optic port expansions for servers and data centers.
D-Link Introduces Wireless Access Point
D-Link has introduced the DWL-8610AP, an 802.11ac unified wireless access point. It features wireless signal rates of up to 450 Mbps using the 2.4 GHz band and 1300 Mbps using the 5 GHz band 1. The access point includes technology that senses a neighboring AP and automatically selects a non-interfering channel, reducing RF interference and allowing more dense deployment. Additional features include
- band steering, to detect and steer 5 GHz capable clients away from the overcrowded 2.4 GHz network to the less congested 5 GHz network
- load balancing, to ensure maximum performance by limiting the maximum number of users per access point
- beamforming technology, to focus the wireless signal at connected devices for faster speeds.
AVG Facilitates Microsoft Office 365 Administration With New Service Module
AVG Technologies released an enhanced service module capability that allows the use of AVG Managed Workplace to remotely monitor and manage the Microsoft Office 365 cloud-based collaboration, communications, and productivity software platform. The expanded AVG Office 365 Managed Workplace service module gives IT solutions providers and managed services providers (MSPs) the ability to remotely perform management tasks for Office 365 from within the same screen view — solving the problem of multiple logins between applications. Administrators can view up-to-date information about Office 365 usage across all customer sites, per site, or even just for a single user.
Minuteman Offers New Battery Backup Systems
Para Systems announced the addition to its line of Minuteman Endeavor Online UPSs: the Endeavor 5-10 kVA line. These battery backup systems are available in 5 kVA, 6 kVA, 8 kVA and 10 kVA models, which can run in parallel to accommodate even higher load requirements. The systems use an AC-DC-AC process for incoming utility power at all times, and multiple external battery packs can be daisy-chained to provide a virtually unlimited amount of runtime when needed for sensitive equipment that cannot afford to experience downtime. The systems have a 0.9 power factor along with ENERGY STAR certification.
Staples Advantage Partners With ERI To Provide Technology Recycling Service
Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, now offers a service for recycling old electronics. The program, offered in partnership with Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), allows businesses of all sizes to recycle large volumes of electronics responsibly and securely. To use the program, you will order recycling boxes at www.StaplesAdvantage.com, ship back unwanted electronics to Staples, and receive a certificate of recycling stating electronics have been properly recycled. The certificate is accredited by the e-Stewards Initiative, a project of the Basel Action Network, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to the responsible recycling of e-waste. ERI guarantees data destruction and compliance with state e-waste programs. The cost varies depending on the size of the box ordered: options range from a 9x5x3-inch box to a full pallet. Customized solutions are also available.