Managed Services, Backup And Recovery, And Networking News From May 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, Axcient launches a new backup offering, Tech Data offers managed services providers (MSPs) Intel Security services, MegaPath revamps its delivery model, Dell Software unveils new backup appliances, Unitrends unveils Release 8.1, SolarWinds N-able announces N-central 10, ScanSource Communications offers Plantronics Device-as-a-Service Pro, and Snom phones are ready for Skype for Business.

Axcient Launches New Backup Offering

Axcient has unveiled a new offering — Direct to Cloud — that expands the company’s backup offering to laptops and desktops and enables organizations to replicate physical and virtual servers to the cloud without the need for a local appliance.

Unlike backup products that only copy files to cloud storage, Axcient Direct to Cloud enables customers to take full system snapshots of their laptops, workstations, and servers and store them in the cloud. When the primary system is unavailable, customers can instantly launch a virtual replica in the Axcient Business Recovery Cloud to enable seamless business continuity. When ready, customers can then migrate images to new hardware or a virtual environment.

Tech Data Offers MSPs Intel Security Services

Tech Data Corp. will now support MSPs that seek to grow their businesses through the Intel Security Managed Services Specialization program. MSPs in the United States that meet the requirements of the program can access the program’s features and tools directly through Tech Data, tapping into the McAfee/Intel Security solutions and expertise already available via its StreamOne Solutions Store.

Through features such as pay-per-use pricing, access to security products, reporting and billing, and up-front discounts to maximize profitability, MSPs participating in the Specialization program through Tech Data have what’s required to deliver profitable managed security services.

The Intel Security Partner program (formerly the McAfee SecurityAlliance Program) delivers security solutions to resellers of all sizes and their end user clients, offering a structure and tools to help MSPs start the sales cycle. Through Tech Data’s dedicated Intel Security team, solutions providers can access updated training, education, and enablement tools to boost their knowledge about Intel Security technology and help them maximize profitability.

MegaPath Revamps Delivery Model

MegaPath recently announced its new indirect sales and service delivery model designed to better assist reseller partners. The new model, which will provide dedicated resources to support new sales and customer retention programs, includes a dedicated channel sales team, a dedicated support resource, and improved service delivery.

MegaPath’s agent partners and resellers now have access to the following dedicated sales and service delivery resources:

• Channel sales manager — Responsible for the overall relationship and for working with partners on go-to-market planning; identifying and developing strategic agents; and enabling the agent community
• Channel account executive — Focused on working with a partner’s agents to nurture and pursue opportunities
• Channel customer service representative — Responsible for customer retention, renewals, and cross- or upsell opportunities among a partner’s customer base

Dell Software Unveils New Backup Appliances

Dell Software added two new offerings to its line of DL series backup and recovery appliances. Combining Dell’s PowerEdge servers with its AppAssure data protection software, the new Dell DL4300 and DL1000 1 TB appliances provide SMBs with turnkey data protection solutions.

The DL4300 gives customers the scalability needed to expand as their business grows. The standard edition offers up to 60 TB of usable capacity, while the high-capacity offering provides up to 120 TB of usable capacity. In addition, Dell gives customers the freedom to license only the portion of the total appliance capacity that they need today, while maintaining the flexibility to license the unused capacity only when more storage is needed.

A complement to Dell’s existing DL1000 2 TB and 3 TB offerings, the DL1000 1 TB provides the features and power of the DL in a package specifically designed and priced to meet the unique needs of small businesses. The DL1000 provides near-continuous data protection by taking snapshots as often as every 60 minutes, utilizing AppAssure’s changed data tracking and deduplication that backs up and moves only data that has changed to minimize networking and storage requirements.

The DL4300 is available both direct from Dell and through the channel, while the DL1000 TB is available online only.

 

Unitrends Unveils Release 8.1 Enhancements

Unitrends recently announced the availability of Release 8.1, the latest version of the data protection software powering its Recovery-Series family of physical backup and disaster recovery appliances as well as its Unitrends Enterprise Backup (UEB) virtual appliance. Release 8.1 includes a new changed-block tracking feature for Microsoft Hyper-V environments. This new filter driver more optimally tracks changes to virtual machines at the hypervisor-level as they occur, resulting in up to 50-times faster incremental backup windows and much shorter recovery point objectives (RPOs). This release also extends VMware protection to support vSphere 6. In addition to hypervisor-based protection, Unitrends also enables the protection of applications and operating systems within one or more VMware vSphere virtual machines. Additionally, deployment options for UEB now include execution directly on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) in addition to packaged virtual appliances for VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V. The RHEL integration provides greater scalability for larger enterprises and includes direct attach for tape archiving.

 

SolarWinds N-able Announces N-central 10

SolarWinds N-able has announced its N-central 10 platform. Many of the new features and enhanced functionality found within N-central 10 are the result of feedback from the industry pioneer’s MSP Elite and Super Elite partner communities.

N-central 10 includes new support tools to allow MSPs to troubleshoot, diagnose, and remediate help desk issues; support for drag-and-drop automation as well as support for real-time direct support tools as a la carte licenses, allowing MSPs to improve support and help desk functions to end users; a new user interface that delivers a more streamlined and simplified user experience; and a new “device overview” page that includes detailed information for each client device in a single dashboard to manage tickets and troubleshoot and resolve issues without interrupting end users. The update also includes enhancements and support for the NOC (network operations center) and the help desk, offering automated device discovery, AV/patch deployment, backup, remediation/self-healing, and advanced reporting.

 

ScanSource Communications Launches Unified Comms Service

ScanSource Communications now offers Plantronics Device-as-a-Service Pro (DaaS), a subscription-based cloud solution for VARs, MSPs, and cloud services providers (CSPs) looking to deliver Plantronics unified communications audio devices and services to their customers. The Plantronics Device-as-a-Service Pro program will allow ScanSource to provide additional value and support to CSPs by offering a method for including headsets to their solution offering. DaaS Pro is unique in that it is not a lease or a warranty, but it will help service providers increase their margins while adding a recurring monthly revenue stream. CSPs not only benefit from this DaaS Pro model, but their end users also receive flexible and scalable access to audio devices and critical services.

 

Snom IP Phones Ready For Skype For Business

Snom Technology recently announced that its D715 and D725 IP desktop phones have achieved certification for Skype for Business, demonstrating their full compatibility with Microsoft’s unified communications solutions.

The phones support enhanced PC pairing via Ethernet “Better Together” unified communications. Features on Snom’s standard Lync-qualified phones include click-to-dial, call transfer, and server side conferencing. The D715 and D725 IP desktop phones are the latest models of Snom’s 7xx series, its flagship line of desktop phones. The endpoints feature an upgraded Broadcom chipset, full HD voice support, and a Gigabit Ethernet switch, which provide the highest level of performance, speed, and audio call quality to support current and future voice-driven IP communications. The D725 has 18 multicolor function keys, and it is ideal for call-intensive business environments. The D715, with five programmable function keys, is an entry-level phone for everyday office workers.