Managed Services, Backup And Recovery, And Networking News From February 2015
Each month, Business Solutions reports news on business in the channel. This month in managed services, backup and recovery, and networking news, CompTIA launches its legal services program and its “Future Leaders” community; ConnectWise acquires ScreenConnect; Tigerpaw Software releases a new version of its mobile solution with customer relationship management (CRM); My Digital Shield updates its channel partner program; AVG adds a service module for its remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform; Continuum selects Webroot for endpoint protection; Milestone certifies BCDVideo’s Nova Series; and Axcient introduces up-front compensation for SaaS sales.
CompTIA Launches Legal Services Program, “Future Leaders” Community
CompTIA launched its first professional service benefit, the CompTIA Legal Services Program. The association’s premier members now have access to core legal services provided by InfoTech Law Advocates (ITLA), which include a complimentary risk assessment and annual report filing service and a one-hour free legal consultation. The program also includes complimentary “Quick Calls” with an ITLA legal professional and a schedule of services offered at special rates for CompTIA premier members.
The association also introduced its new Future Leaders Community, which brings together members of the IT industry who are age 35 and younger, looking to grow their careers, connect with peers, and make an impact on the industry.
ConnectWise Acquires ScreenConnect
ConnectWise has acquired ScreenConnect, a stand-alone remote control solution. The acquisition comes at a time when ConnectWise and LabTech are expanding their product portfolio and investing in the platform approach through open APIs. ScreenConnect delivers secure remote control from any computer or device in the world to any other computer or device. Following the acquisition, ScreenConnect will remain headquartered in the Raleigh, NC, area and will look to immediately expand its organization. The company will retain its corporate culture and product development capabilities. ScreenConnect will be available free of charge with the release of LabTech 10.
Tigerpaw Releases New Mobile Version With Added CRM
Tigerpaw Software, developer of business automation software for technology providers, released a new version of Tigerpaw Mobile with CRM functionality, including real-time access to accounts and contacts. In addition, existing field service functionality has been enhanced in areas including standardization, service order timers, time entry, and service order entry and editing. The new Tigerpaw mobile app also features a redesigned user interface (UI) with a new agenda page, enhanced menu, and new “My Dashboard” page.
My Digital Shield Updates Channel Partner Program
My Digital Shield, a provider of Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS) for small businesses, announced its channel partner program includes updates and new offerings. The updated program has simplified partner program levels, with new partners automatically joining the program as Silver Partners earning 25 percent continuous revenue share. Subsequent levels are Gold, where partners earn 35 percent in revenue share, and Certified, where partners earn 45 percent in revenue share. The updated program includes the option for partners to cobrand with shieldtest.com, the company’s free comprehensive security test, and cobranded datasheets for partners to provide to customers. It also features an updated partner portal, partner training, and sales and technical training.
AVG Adds Service Module For RMM Platform
AVG Technologies introduced the VMware ESXi service module for the AVG Business Managed Workplace remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform. With the service module, AVG partners have the capability to perform additional services for their customers such as real-time health checks on the status of host hardware components. The services module also provides automatic notification when VMware snapshots exceed preset thresholds and access to the past seven days’ data for troubleshooting storage issues. It also supports a series of standard activities including remote power on, off, and pause of virtual machines; creating and managing snapshots; remote access to the host console; and automatic discovery of VMware host and guest devices.
Continuum Selects Webroot For Endpoint Protection, Real-Time Intelligence
Continuum is partnering with Webroot to deliver Webroot SecureAnywhere Business-Endpoint Protection to its managed services provider (MSP) partners. MSPs can leverage Webroot’s cloud-based security to deploy and manage endpoint security across multiple domains, devices, customers, and offices in single-pane view. Continuum is bundling the security solution into its intelligent remote monitoring and management platform backed by the company’s network operations center (NOC) and service desk.
Milestone Certifies BCDVideo Nova Series
Milestone Systems certified BCDVideo’s Nova Server and Storage Series. The certification verifies components are interoperable and optimized for performance with XProtect VMS (video management software). Certification tests identify that the system integrations meet minimum expected performance thresholds based on known benchmarks for best practice. The certification also measures the maximum number of cameras at a given frame rate, resolution, and codec that can be supported by the server and storage system. The maximum number of cameras achieved on the system was set at 150 1 MP cameras at 10 frames per second and 60 percent video compression.
Axcient Introduces Up-Front Compensation For SaaS Sales
Axcient introduced a new channel program that offers compensation up front for the sale, delivery, and support of its Business Recovery Cloud solution. The name of the program, SaaS:FLO, stands for “Software-as-a-Service: Front Loaded Option.” The program’s up-front compensation model addresses a key issue for VARs that have not found selling SaaS solutions attractive because profit margins have been low. Under this new program, VARs can deploy SaaS, make significant margin up front, and compensate their sales reps without having to change their business model.