Managed Services, Backup and Recovery, and Networking News From October 2013
Each month, Business Solutions reports news on business in the channel. This month in Managed Services, Backup and Recovery, and Networking, news includes a partnership, products, a promotion, a playbook, and a “Proof of Concept Lab.”
SYNNEX Opens Proof Of Concept Lab, Adds Wireless Solutions
SYNNEX CONVERGESolv Secure Networking Group has opened a networking “proof of concept lab” for resellers. The lab demonstrates new software defined network (SDN) solutions and other advanced server and storage solutions. By using the lab, resellers have the opportunity to test new initiatives prior to introducing them to their customers. SYNNEX is working with vendors whose products are used in the lab to provide connectivity for underlying computing and storage infrastructure.
The company also announced that it now offers wireless and network solutions from Motorola Solutions. These solutions include Motorola’s WLAN, WLAN mesh networks, enterprise voice, and AirDefense products.
In addition, the CONVERGESolv Secure Networking Group has added managed wireless and hosted notifications to its portfolio of value-added services. This will give resellers access to a wireless network managed by SYNNEX that provides initial setup and configuration, 24/7 monitoring, alerts when access points fail, troubleshooting assistance, firmware upgrades, and policy changes.
StorageCraft Partners With N-able
N-able has formed a partnership with StorageCraft to integrate, market, sell, and support the StorageCraft backup and recovery product line. StorageCraft provides solutions for local, off-site, and cloud-based storage, which will be available through N-able beginning in Q4.
N-able also announced Help Desk Manager, a new ticketing system with flexible installation options, including installing it as a SaaS product, on a Windows server, on Linux, or as a web application. It features ticketing and workflow automation and enables the administrator to define permissions and rules — all controlled from its dashboard. Help Desk Manager will be available in the first half of 2014.
Lombardi Joins Intronis As VP Of Partner Success
Intronis announced the formation of its Partner Success organization, led by Jasmine Lombardi, vice president of partner success. The new organization and Lombardi’s appointment are steps to facilitate onboarding new partners as well as supporting existing partners.
Prior to joining Intronis, Lombardi led the product operations team at Aspen Technology. She has held senior client services and technology roles at Mzinga, Prospero Technologies, and PAREXEL International. Lombardi’s background includes software development, information systems consulting, business process management, professional services, client relations, and partner support, as well as development and execution of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) licensing models, partner success organizations, and global process management.
Unitrends Upgrades Data Protection Software
Unitrends released the latest version of unified data protection software for its physical and virtual backup and recovery appliances. Upgrades to Unitrends 7.2 include allowing administrators to manage replication on one appliance via one user interface and enabling Windows file-level master, differential, and incremental backups. In addition to the servers, operating systems, storage platforms, hypervisors, and applications previously supported by Unitrends’ unified data protection, Unitrends 7.2 expands support to include Oracle 11g on Linux and Solaris, Debian 7.0 and Ubuntu 13.04 on Linux, and VMware resource pools. Administrators can also exclude a subset of VMware virtual machine drives from backups, which reduces backup size, saves storage space, and increases retention. For MSPs, Unitrends 7.2 includes integration with the ConnectWise professional services automation (PSA) tool and remote monitoring and management (RMM) systems.
FalconStor Announces Data Protection Solutions
FalconStor Software introduced FalconStor Continuous Data Protector (CDP) 7.5 and FalconStor Network Storage Server (NSS) 7.5 data protection solutions. With the solutions, customers can replicate multiple types of data — each with its own encryption format. The solutions also include an enhanced continuous protection journal feature. In addition, FalconStor NSS 7.5 enables data migration to and from cloud infrastructures, which allows customers to provide business continuity, data protection, and disaster recovery services. Both solutions include RecoverTrac 2.7 disaster recovery (DR) automation technology, which automates failover and failback in any physical, virtual, or hybrid environment.
CompTIA Offers Certifications For Mobile Apps, Cloud
CompTIA offers new skills certifications. CompTIA Mobile App Security+ covers skills required to create a mobile application, while ensuring secure network communications and back end web services. There are two certification exam editions —native Android and iOS. The organization also offers CompTIA Cloud+, which covers knowledge and best practices required to deliver cloud infrastructure solutions. For non-technical personnel, CompTIA offers Cloud Essentials, a specialty certification for management, customer service, and operations employees seeking to validate their understanding of what cloud computing means from a business and high-level technical perspective.
Continuum Meets HIPAA Compliance Standards
Continuum has taken measures to ensure it meets the standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. Among its compliance measures, Continuum has made code modifications to its remote monitoring and management (RMM) tool to counter evolving threats and implemented security solutions including new firewalls and a security event and incident management (SEIM) system in its new data center. The company has also reinforced physical security in its facilities and improved tools that partners use for security management by enforcing use of strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and enhanced end user authentication processes. Administratively, Continuum appointed Rob Autor, senior VP of global service delivery, to lead its information security initiatives and the newly formed information security steering committee composed of senior executives.
Also, Continuum has created a “HIPAA Resource Center” to provide compliance information for managed services providers (MSPs) to help them understand the technical implications of the new HIPAA rules.
NetEnrich Dashboard Aids Hybrid IT Infrastructure Management
NetEnrich’s next-generation IT operations platform now offers a new dashboard that unifies on-premise and cloud-based IT infrastructures into a single view. With the dashboard, users can navigate and inspect hybrid IT infrastructure, monitor metrics for enterprise applications — including Microsoft Active Directory, Exchange, SQL, Internet Information Server, and MySQL — and view all incoming alerts whether they are from an application, hardware, or software element. The platform also includes rule-based escalation matrixes to ensure the correct administrators are notified of critical issues and a feature that automatically generates executive summary reports. Additionally, NetEnrich partners can brand the client interface with their own logos and colors.
N-able Launches MSP Playbook
N-able by SolarWinds has launched an MSP playbook that includes best practices and step-by-step business and technology guidelines for managed service providers (MSPs). The company, which provides remote monitoring and management (RMM) and service automation software, is providing the playbook exclusively to N-able partners. The MSP playbook details how to build, buy, or outsource a network operations center (NOC), how to price services and organize sales and support teams, and how to optimize profits and maximize recurring revenues. The book also covers how to choose a professional services automation (PSA) tool and provides a number of sample agreements and service level agreements (SLAs).