This month Ingram Micro awarded its top-performing public sector partners during its 2009 GovEd Alliance Spotlight Awards. This group of fast-growth solution providers serves customers across the spectrum of K-12, higher education, state, local and federal government. Channel Insider provides a look at the winners.

More and more tech companies are looking to enter the US market, but deciphering a formula for success is not an easy task. Lucian Wagner, co-founder and chairman of Launch in US Alliance, says that most European companies who try to seed the US market fail. Channel Insider takes a deeper look at the top 10 mistakes most companies make.

The Ponemon Institute recently conducted a study on behalf of Lumension to take the pulse of decision makers from both IT security and IT operations groups about endpoint management and security. Channel Insider dives into the results.

Even as sales of enterprise technologies declined smart phone sales have been on the rise, growing 13 percent in the third quarter of 2009 alone. And where BlackBerry had reigned, other devices have started to infiltrate the enterprise. From Motorola’s Droid to Apple’s iPhone, here’s a quick overview of the top smart phones today most likely to be found in a business environment and in need of IT support.

Utah-based Saygus recently unveiled its flagship Android smartphone product – the VPhone - at CES Innovations in New York and took home the “Best of Innovations” blue ribbon in the wireless handsets category. Inside, Channel Insider takes you under the covers of one of Google’s new Android phones.

More than 150 exhibitors are showcasing their IT solutions at Interop New York 2009, November 16-20 at the Javits Convention Center, including APC, AT&T, CA, Cisco, Citrix, Enterasys, Force10 Networks, HP, IBM, LifeSize, Microsoft, Qwest, Riverbed, and Xirrus. Channel Insider takes a closer look at 20 of the announcements made at this week's conference and exhibition.

HP’s massive $2.7 billion pick-up of 3Com will certainly turn the heat up on the company’s growing rivalry with Cisco. Channel Insider takes a look at which new capabilities added by 3Com will best help HP go toe-to-toe with Cisco.

A recent study by the industry organization CMO Club and communications consultancy Hill & Knowlton found that chief marketing officers are struggling to harness the power of social networking to build their brands. Channel Insider takes a deeper look at the recently released research and how CMOs are tackling the social network trend.

The cloud is hot, for sure, but what’s the SMB opportunity? A new report from AMI Research shows that remote managed IT services for small to medium size businesses is set to grow rapidly in North America over the next five years. Inside, we take a deeper look at how the SMB MSP market is, and will be, affecting the channel.

There is a lot driving the cloud, including the hassle of managing servers. A recent survey of 441 IT professionals revealed that the majority of businesses would “love to never have to buy another server again.” Channel Insider takes a look at the Rackspace Hosting survey results to see what IT really thinks about server maintenance.

At last week's Partner Connect conference in Orlando, Symantec CEO Enrique Salem and Channel Chief Randy Cochran recognized distribution and reseller partners for their sales and services excellence.

In conjunction with the release of their quarterly IT Skills and Certification Pay Index, the IT compensation experts at analyst firm Foote Partners released its most updated Hot List for IT Certifications. The rankings are based on Foote Partners’ analysis of pay trends and interviews within the industry that help project the certification demand in the next three to six months.

In a recessionary year not everyone has cash to spend on acquisitions, but cash-rich companies can gain advantages by making big strategic moves and taking advantage of bargains. Big movers this year include Cisco and Oracle, certainly. But here are our picks for the biggest and most significant technology acquisitions so far in 2009.

Reprisals from recently departed employees and a lack of adequate security budgets and resources are becoming major concerns for senior IT professionals, according to the 12th annual Ernst & Young Global Information Security Survey. Channel Insider takes a deeper look into this growing problem.

Momentum continues to build behind software as a service. Gartner is forecasting worldwide software SaaS revenue to hit $7.5 billion in 2009, a 17.7 percent increase from 2008 revenue of $6.4 billion. And it’s not stopping there. Expectations for sales total $14 billion by 2013. Channel Insider breaks out the most promising SaaS markets for the channel.

Gartner has released new data on what's happening globally in the vertical IT markets. Sales will be down in 2009 but they are predicting growth in 2010. Channel Insider takes a closer look at what’s hot and what’s not.

After the interoperability nightmares that cropped up after the Vista launch, Microsoft took special pains to work closely with all of its ISVs and hardware partners through its Ecosystems Readiness program in order to ensure smooth user transitions to Windows 7. Included in the mix were Microsoft¹s many security partners, most of whom have already optimized their newest versions for Windows 7. Even though Microsoft has certainly worked to better lock down its operating systems through the Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL), antivirus and antimalware security still remains an important part of the Windows ecosystem. As channel partners help their customers upgrade to Windows 7, AV is a no-brainer up-sell in order to complete the upgrade package. Channel Insider takes a look at the latest Windows 7 ready antivirus packages to examine their newest features and what their vendors are up to within the channel.

Most channel partners tasked with securing small businesses likely will not be surprised by the latest Zogby poll co-sponsored by the National Cyber Security Alliance and Symantec in honor of October’s designation as National Cyber Security Awareness Month. The results confirmed plenty of solution provider’s anecdotal conclusions that the SMB is still very insecure. This survey polled 1,500 small business owners across the country. Read on for the details.

Online IT services marketplace OnForce says that a recovery may be in the works, based on the results of its third quarter market trends report. Here’s what you need to know about the highest paying jobs, the jobs in the most demand and the top geographies for IT services

Gartner's IT Expo & Symposium is being held this week in Orlando, Fla. During the opening keynote address, Gartner's leading analysts made some predictions and recommendations for IT. Gartner's findings may foretell what business issues and budget restraints VARs could be facing in 2010. Channel Insider takes a deeper look.

Nearly a quarter-century has passed since Microsoft launched its first graphical user interface operating system. When Windows 7 is released this week, it will be the 29th version of the Windows operating system. Vista didn’t rock the computing world, but it wasn’t Microsoft’s first failure. Here’s a look at the highs and lows of Windows long history.

Heads-up sales by mobile-savvy channel partners may yield better benefits now than even just two years ago, given the way that telecommuting is trending. According to a recent survey completed by Harris Interactive on behalf of Riverbed Technology, American workers are working off-site more often these days and are accessing business files from off-site locations in droves. That spells opportunity with a big "O" for resellers and channel providers seeking to sell solutions that enable remote access and user mobility. Channel Insider takes a look at the survey results compiled by Harris after questioning 900 U.S. workers. By Ericka Chickowski

The uncertainty in the market may be tough for those in the channel, but if a new survey of CIOs and executive IT leaders conducted by the Society for Information Management (SIM) is to be believed, spending will largely hold steady or even increase in 2010. The survey questioned SIM members about their 2009 and 2010 budget priorities and offers those selling into the enterprise a critical look into CIO priorities in the next 12 months. Channel Insider takes a deeper look at the findings.

Applied Management Systems, a full-service healthcare management consulting firm, recently released its annual list of top healthcare trends for 2010. Trends like larger IT budgets and market growth spell good news for healthcare technology companies. Channel Insider takes a look at the top trends and how technology can help health care organizations streamline costs and improve patient safety. By Leah Gabriel Nurik

Sure, there’s virtualization and storage and servers and switches. But how sexy are they? Channel Insider recently visited D&H’s MidAtlantic Show in Hershey, Pa. to check out the technology that was turning heads. Here are our picks from the most crowded booths, the most interesting emerging technology and/or the most unusual product that could boost your consumable sales.

After years of an acquisition spree in an effort to fortify its position against giant rival Cisco, networking and storage vendor Brocade (NASDAQ:BRCD) has reportedly put itself on the sales block and technology giants including HP and IBM are considered likely suitors for the San Jose, Calif.-based company. Here’s a look back at some of Brocade’s recent milestones and acquisitions as it sought to gain strategic advantage against its rivals.

This week, Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst debuted new analysis showing a sharp decline in private equity fundraising. Channel Insider takes a closer look at the numbers and at which industries are securing cash in today’s rough and tumble VC market.

Finally, some good news. Analyst firm IDC is predicting that between now and 2013, IT and software spending will help create nearly 5.8 million new jobs and 75,000 new IT companies. The predictions stem from a recent IDC study, commissioned by Microsoft, that measures how IT contributes to a number of economic metrics in 52 different countries, including GDP, job creation, the formation of new companies and local IT spending. It contributes a lot, apparently. Read on to see how Channel Insider breaks out the data.

A new study out this week examined the attitudes of IT executives and network administrators about the role of outsourcing with regard to security and compliance activities. Conducted by Amplitude Research on behalf of VanDyke Software, the study quizzed 350 participants. While many expressed reservations in some areas—claiming offshoring of security jobs has a negative impact on network security—the vast majority believe that hiring outsiders to conduct security audits is a good use of IT dollars.

This week, IT Service Management provider Axios Systems released survey results that spell doom, gloom and dissatisfaction for IT organizations moving into 2010. Channel Insider takes a closer look at the results and enterprise IT’s ongoing angst and what it could mean for the channel.

A little over a year ago, HP (NYSE:HPQ) announced plans to buy IT consulting and outsourcing giant EDS. But storm clouds were gathering in the form of the worst economic downturn that many believe the U.S. has seen since the Great Depression. That environment has made the payoff for the HP/EDS deal lower than first imagined. And now Dell (NASDAQ: DELL), looking to shore up its own services organization in the wake of hardware commoditization, has announced plans to acquire IT consulting firm Perot Systems (NYSE:PER).

Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can be incredibly useful tools for those in the channel to connect with clients, prospects, vendors and even future employers. But every rose has its thorns. The extremely informal nature of social networking communication tends to invite participants to let their guard down. If you’re not careful, you may just make that misstep that could cost you a potential opportunity down the line, or worse yet, cost you your job right now.

This week Websense Security Labs revealed the results from research conducted thus far in 2009 within its State of Internet Security report. Channel Insider dives into the stats and examines the report highlights.

IT storage and infrastructure giant EMC wasn’t always so big. Here’s a quick look at how the industry juggernaut, which reported revenues of $14.9 billion in 2008, rose to power.

As a 10-year veteran of the managed service provider (MSP) market, Lane Smith, founder of San Diego-based Do IT Smarter, has been selling managed services since before the channel even really knew what they were all about. Back in 2005, Do IT Smarter switched from a typical MSP to become a Master MSP, providing the infrastructure necessary to support other smaller VARs to white label the services and sell to their own brand of services to customers. As a part of his program, Smith provides comprehensive sales training to all of his channel partners in building up and selling their MSP to customers. He’ll be conducting a two-day boot camp in October for new prospects, but you don’t have to wait to glean a little advice from Smith. Channel Insider interviewed him for a few of his best secrets to success.

Dell has been through a sea change in recent years - the company that started in founder Michael Dell’s dorm room and was raised on a religion of direct-only sales of PCs has grown to a top player in the industry. To maintain itself and grow, Dell has expanded to new products, services and a new go-to-market plan. How does a company make such a dramatic change? Here’s a sampling of some of the moves Dell has made in recent months and years to expand markets and offerings.

A well-received blog is an extremely effective tool for resellers, integrators and service providers alike to connect with current and prospective customers. Channel players can leverage blogs to establish a reputation for thought leadership, to offer customers some educational tidbits and to generate new business. But all too often the channel partner fails to do any of these things because its blog authors screw up during the execution stage. Here are some of the most common blogging mistakes made by the channel.

A recent report by market research firm IDC and security vendor RSA suggests enterprises must can establish a holistic data-centric security framework if they ever want to quell insider threats. That creates an opportunity for solution providers to swoop in and help customers tackle this framework head-on. Here’s how.

End users are IT’s worst nightmare. They have a nearly inexhaustible capacity for misusing and damaging equipment, misunderstanding instructions and applications, and ignorance for how technology works. The Spiceworks community of IT professionals and service providers maintains a rolling list of stupidest questions end users ask. Here’s a sampling.

Whether it’s the edginess caused by the recession, the increasing convergence of technologies and solutions or the rush to lead in new markets like cloud computing, competitive furor among many of the major IT vendors is at an all-time high. Former friends have turned foe and in some cases the tone has gotten personal. Read on for some of the more interesting vendor rivalries to watch today.

All of the major antivirus and security management companies such as Symantec, McAfee, TrendMicro and Kaspersky have their own flavor of mobile security suites that integrate well with their individual ecosystems. But if your clients are looking for alternatives or if you need point products to fill specific gaps within your solution repertoire, there are plenty of additional options as well.

Solution providers are often the first line of retreat for end users who realize they have a security problem. A recent survey of solution providers by Channel Insider and CompTIA found that there are eight common ailments found during security assessments.

What are the top IT skills and certifications sought out by employers, even in the midst of a devastating recession that has pushed unemployment to its highest level in decades? Foote Partners, a research firm specializing in employment matters, has compiled 'Hot Lists' of the top Non-Certified IT Skills and the top IT Certifications. Better still, Foote Partners has broken it down further to specializations and listed the top paying skills and certifications in descending order. Where do you fit?

It always pays for channel partners to keep tabs on their vendors' financial performance, as these numbers can be the bellwether for future dealings with resellers. Here's a recap of some of the Wall Street statistical highlights from last quarter.

Channel legend (all of two year's old) holds that those that drink from The ASCII Group 'Cup of Success' shall enjoy wealth and prosperity. The cup passed last week from Kaseya to Reflexion, which shared the magic with all in attendance at the ceremony. Here's a look at the festivities.

A survey of more than 5,700 small businesses, including 1,400 in the United States, conducted by Panda Security showed the state of security within small organizations still leaves something to be desired.

By Ericka Chickowski

Microsoft, the world’s largest software company, got knocked down a peg this week, reporting tumbling sales and an 18 percent drop in net profit. Here’s a Channel Insider look at the woes plaguing this titan of the channel.

Security researchers around the globe will convene next week in Las Vegas for the annual Black Hat/Defcon conference. As usual, researchers will unveil a number of new exploit methods, vulnerabilities and proof-of-concepts that are sure to raise a few eyebrows within the infosec community. Read on for some of the more-anticipated exploits and the people who will reveal them.

OnForce’s second quarter report on service volumes and prices for technology services showed that pricing still remains under pressure but work order pricing began to stabilize at the end of Q2.

Figures released by a number of sources show a definite slowdown in number of contracts and the amount of money spent by IT organizations on outsourcing and offshoring deals.

Databases are digital treasure vaults of the enterprise, yet many organizations fail to adequately secure their data repositories. The following six techniques can help shore up database security and prevent embarrassing and costly breaches.

CIOs in recent survey continue to throttle back their budgets and reduce spending on new IT projects. But they do see some light coming next year.

Microsoft partners are heading down to dewy New Orleans next week to help kick off the Redmond, Wash., software titan’s annual partner conference, known simply by the acronym WPC. Partners have a lot on their mind. Read here for what they most want to know.

Developing an effective strategy to address myriad security threats takes time, personnel and a significant monetary investment. But compared to the potential loss of customers, reputation and revenue, these expenditures are paltry. Here are seven steps Accenture says you can take to help you and your customers develop a holistic strategy.

To win midmarket IT customers, you must understand how those IT executives think and who they rely on for advice.

The IT industry is in the midst of a mass metamorphosis. Lines are blurring between networking technologies, storage, servers, software and telephony. Vendors that represent the tried and true establishment in one discipline are now making hard-right turns into new, largely unfamiliar and often competitive markets. Read on to see just a few of the major convergence plays of the last year.

Solution providers that invest in vendor technical certifications are more profitable, sell more complex systems and have better relationships with their customers, according to the new Channel Insider/Amazon Consulting certification study. But not all vendor certifications have the same ROI. The following vendors have the best certifications for return on their partners’ investment.

Microsoft isn’t the first vendor to offer free antivirus software to consumers and small businesses. Several vendors have free general available versions of their malware protection suites. Their strategy: get customers interested and open opportunity to partners. Here are few worth free AV packages worth considering.

Microsoft is gearing up for its annual Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans next month by honoring its partners who have demonstrated excellence over the last year. The following Microsoft partners received 'Partner of the Year' awards for innovation, technology delivery and professional services.

Channel Insider & Amazon Consulting asked IT vendors about the professional sales training and certification they make available to channel partners and the benefits they gain from it. We also polled 457 solution providers on the same topic to see how regularly they avail themselves of sales training and what rewards they receive from it. The results are a clear indication that solution and consultative selling leads to higher sales and margins.

Technical certifications are a major factor in end users' selection of solution and service providers. Channel Insider and Amazon Consulting asked more than 200 enterprise and midmarket purchases which vendor certifications they value the most when selecting a solution provider. Here are the top seven.

If failing banks, tight credit and swelling unemployment ranks are getting you down and there’s no sign of hope in site, take heart. While the total picture is far from rosy, there are growing signs pointing to some hope for a better economic future for technology sales. Here are a handful of them.

Enterprises to small businesses are facing a increasing number of threats and risk exposure, and they're often ill-equipped to deal with security problems, according to a new survey by CompTIA. Here's where solution providers can help rescue end users from their security woes.

Virtualization—already transforming servers and storage—is ready for the desktop. Several vendors are pushing their desktop virtualization technology, creating new opportunities to optimize user productivity while decreasing operational support and maintenance. Here’s a look at these vendors and their technologies.

The fight against security threats is never-ending, forever-changing and now more severe.Read on to see some of the most common methods and circumstances that can lead to a vulnerability with your network or systems.

Server hardware sales have taken a larger than average hit this past year, due mainly to the recession but also to the wave of server and data center virtualization. IBM and HP lead the pack of vendors, but for better trending take a look at these numbers.

Distributors and VARs report that Apple's Mac platform has gained momentum in business implementations in recent years. And while Apple hasn’t earned a great reputation with solution provider channel partners, VARs still sell and integrate Apple products. And other third-party companies that work with the Apple platform do offer channel programs. Here’s a selection of Apple and Apple compatible technology solutions for business.

Solution providers will join two to three vendor partner programs this year, mostly to gain access to new technologies and products, according the Channel Insider/Motorola Partnership Study. Here are the 10 technologies most desired by solution providers.

We learn from the experiences and wisdom of others. Channel Insider asked successful solution providers what books have both inspired them and have shaped their approach to making their businesses a success. Here is Channel Insider’s recommended reading list, straight from the source—the Channel Insider community.

Losses continue to run wild on Wall Street, but tech stocks are one bright spot for those looking to invest. With last month’s earnings round up many companies indicated they have seen the bottom and expect to see modest gains in the second quarter. Following are 10 tech stocks that continue to outperform the rest.

Don’t buy your mom or your favorite moms another bouquet of wilted flowers as a gift to wish her a Happy Mothers Day. Sure, she’ll smile, give you a big hug and thank you. But what she really wants is something digital. You’re not the only one who likes gadgets, you know. Here’s what Mom really wants – compiled by Channel Insider’s staff moms.

Star Trek’s Captain Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise take to the silver screen this week in the latest warp-speed adventure set in the 23rd century. For the last 43 years, Star Trek has inspired scientists and engineers with technological visions of the future. But, how advanced is Star Trek’s technology? There are many 21st century solutions that VARs could implement to make the Enterprise more efficient and secure.

Several security vendors and professional groups released new security survey reports revealing that security budgets are under pressure, but priorities and spending are relatively stable.

The RSA Conference is arguably the world's largest gathering of security vendors, solution providers and end user professionals. While the recession put a damper on this year's event, RSA still drew dozens of companies with new and innovative technologies. Here are a few ofthe more interesting exhibits at this year's RSA Conference.

Tax day is upon, so you’re really under the gun if you haven’t done your taxes yet. If you rush, you may overlook many common, valuable tax deductions. Failing to take account of these deductions could cost you thousands.

After nearly a decade of threat warnings, evolving threats and billions of dollars in technology investments, you’d think that businesses have at least a baseline of IT security protections. Recent reports reveal some surprising security shortcomings in the business community.

Hardware vendors are expected to be among the hardest hit by the recession. So it's not a surprise to see them come up with some creative tricks to boost sales and help their solution provider partners close more deals. Here are a few tricks tactics that you can use to get customers to open their wallets.

The U.S. job market continues to shed jobs and is at its weakest in more than a quarter century. However, business technology consumers continue to seek help from highly trained technology professionals. The following are the technology skill sets in highest demand.

The economy is beginning to show signs of life, but it’s far from being healthy or robust. Channel Insider asked solution providers which vendors will drive the most customer interest in their products and revenues for their partners. In these tough times, these vendors were voted as the top rainmakers.

St. Patrick's Day and the color green go together. In honor of the green, Channel Insider built a system designed to satisfy both the environmental green and the need to save greenbacks - two things every system builder is after these days. That means selecting parts that sport ROHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) logos, as well as offering Energy Star compliance. Beyond that, the components must work together. After all, a poorly functioning PC can never be green. So follow along as Channel Insider puts the green into the desktop PC for St. Paddy's day.

Technology stocks have been hammered by the recession, and many of the one-time blue chips are now trading below $20 per share. Channel Insider went bargain hunting and find common items and tech stocks you can buy for less than one Andrew Jackson.

Following Apple’s lead, Microsoft, Nokia and Blackberry are launching their own online apps store for mobile devices. Here are Channel Insider’s choices for mobile apps that these vendors should stock for mobile users.

The recession is hitting some industries harder than others. These verticals are cutting IT spending faster than others.

The recession is taking a toll on vendor and distributor revenues. The Channel Insider 2009 Market Pulse survey finds that solution providers expect stark changes in their relationships with vendors and distributors over the next 12 months.

The economy is slowing and tech product pricing is under pressure. When it comes to making money, these technologies are where solution providers think they'll get the most bang for their buck over the next 12 months.

IT spending is under pressure and businesses are looking to contain costs wherever they can, but these technologies really have them excited. According to the Channel Insider 2009 Market Pulse survey, these top 10 technologies are what solution providers are asking for most.

Cash is the lifeblood of business, but credit and financing is what fuels most business. Despite the economic meltdown, solution providers say credit isn’t a problem, but there are reasons for worry. Here's Channel Insider's exclusive analysis of credit trends in the solution provider community.

Channel Insider asked solution providers which vendors would provide the most support and stability during the recession. Based on the survey responses, the following vendors are ranked as the ones solution providers can count on to help them through a recession.

Spammers and cybercriminals are working harder than ever to develop ever-sneakier ways to launch an attack. In anticipation of a 2009 filled with increasingly sophisticated threats from spammers, here are some top strategies IT and security pros can use to thwart the bad guys, compiled from security experts from MXLogic, Websense and Bell Micro.

Counterfeit IT hardware and pirated software is on the rise, fueled by a stagnant economy and end users need to do more with less. Here are 5 tips from vendors, consultants and solution providers to ensure your customers get what they pay for.

Even as product sales slowed, demand for professional and break/fix services accelerated. OnForce, the world’s largest marketplace for IT and consumer electronics service professionals, tracked which tech services job yielded the highest billings. The following are the highest paying services engagements of 2008.

New research by Channel Insider and Amazon Consulting reveals vendors not only get the growing opportunity in managed services, but are quickly developing programs to support this burgeoning market. Here are 10 things you don’t know about how vendors perceive and support partners’ managed services.

Technology vendors and suppliers have slashed more than 200,000 jobs since the recession began. In January only, more than 125,000 job cuts were announced. Here’s a look at the top 10 tech companies that have announced mass layoffs.

iPhones are for more than just conversations, playing music and causal Web browsing. Some lightweight applications are providing solution providers, businesses and IT pros with some innovative extensions to resources and capabilities once reserved exclusively for PCs.

The data security breach at Heartland Payment Systems underscores the need for robust and constant security measures. Rob Fitzgerald, founder of the Lorenzi Group, offers these six tips for solution providers to help keep their customers’ data secure.

No vendor program is perfect and every vendor has incidents of violating their boundaries with channel partners, but the recession is presenting extraordinary temptation to curtail channel efforts in favor of preserving direct revenues and profits. In the Channel Insider 2009 Market Pulse survey, we asked solution providers which vendors were most likely to compromise their partners and channels to preserve their revenues and margins during the recession. The following are the top 10, as ranked by Channel Insider readers.

A look at the frequency, reasons for and consequences of changing the software platforms that enable remote monitoring and management of managed services delivered by solution providers.

Google has spent the last several years playing on the periphery of one of Microsoft’s richest markets: Office applications. Now Google is launching a reseller program to accelerate the adoption of its Web-based Google apps. But Google isn’t the only one trying to challenge Microsoft’s dominance of everyday productivity apps—word processors, spreadsheets, presentations and databases. Several alternatives—many of them free—are attacking Microsoft. Here are a few alternatives worth considering.

In the Channel Insider 2009 Market Pulse Survey, we asked solution providers which vendors they thought would go out of business or be acquired in 2009. The results may shock you. Based on their perceptions and predictions, the following are the vendors that made the going list of those that won’t be here in 2010.

Oil prices may be plummeting, but it won’t last forever. If the energy shock in recent years has taught us anything it’s that conservation is good for both the environment and business. These tech vendors are leading the charge in making the earth greener and more efficient.

Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite IT solution provider? Look no further. Channel Insider polled some of our favorite solution providers and added some of our own ideas to come up with a collection of gadgets that any tech enthusiast would love to get in his or her holiday stocking this year. If you need some last minute gift ideas for the geek in your life, look no further than our picks.

Managed services promises to be a cost-saving alternative to on-premise hardware and software solutions. According to a CompTIA survey, managed services demand will increase significantly in these five industrial sectors.

While you’re surfing the Web during work hours trying to find the best deal on an iPod Touch, spammers and cybercriminals are hard at work on ever-sneakier ways to launch an attack. Security vendors MXLogic, WebSense and Microsoft say trouble is brewing for 2009, so be on the lookout for these emerging threats. In fact, you might want to resolve to do whatever it takes to thwart them.

Turnover of channel chiefs and executives accelerated in 2008, with more than two dozen high-profile leaders changing jobs or leaving their posts. Here are some of the most visible and high-profile executives that have changed employers.

Channel Insider wanted to see if we could build a high-performance custom PC suitable for power business users and gamers for under $5,000. We achieved our goal…big time! Here’s a step-by-step guide for how we did it, and how you can build a hot, high-performance custom system that will have users begging for more.

Unified communications remains a bright spot for IT solution providers. The unified communications market is expected to grow from $200.8 million in 2007 to $2.433 billion by 2012, according to recent research from Unified Communications Strategies. Professional services will increase product revenues by 18 percent in 2007, reaching 40 percent in 2012. Most of the big-name players are represented, with Microsoft, Cisco and Avaya the best-known in the space. But there are some smaller vendors and traditional telecommunications companies making big waves with solutions targeted to SMBs. Here’s our list of the major players.

Data loss prevention (DLP) is one of the hottest security technologies in the market. Microsoft and RSA's new alliance may revolutionize DLP, but there are plenty of products on the market today that offer varying levels of data protection. Here's a sampling of the market leaders.

When it comes to getting a great return on investment, end users say these channel-centrix vendors can't be beat.

The channel’s all abuzz about cloud storage these days, as the technology can offer cost savings, incredible scalability, high availability and the flexibility of on-demand capacity. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all technology, and there are a number of vendors emerging each with their own unique way of leveraging the technology. This is by no means an all-inclusive list, and it’s important to make sure you’re choosing the right cloud storage for the types of data, access needs and price constraints of your customers. But as the space heats up, here are five cloud storage providers whose names you should be familiar with.

Businesses large and small are cutting their spending—IT, staffing, marketing and sales—in response to either decreasing business or anticipation of lower revenues as a result of the recession. According to Computer Economics, the following are some of the key areas where companies are cutting spending and, in some cases, opening new opportunities for solution providers.

Solution providers are struggling to find IT sales and technology talent to capture deals and service their customers. While IT vendors believe solution providers are responsible for solving their talent issues, they are helping by providing funded headcount, training opportunities, lending sales and technicians, assisting with recruitment services, and facilitating peer-to-peer partnering. According to the Channel Insider/Amazon Consulting Channel IT Talent survey, the following are how solution providers ranked vendors’ performance at assisting them with their talent needs and problems.

When it comes to IT jobs, good help is hard to find, even in this economy. Solution providers are having a hard time filling IT jobs for sales and tech talent, according to the Channel IT Talent survey conducted by Channel Insider and Amazon Consulting. Here’s how the IT jobs crisis is impacting solution provider businesses.

The financial services crisis and the deteriorating economy are having an impact on solution providers’ business. The result is less robust sales, revenues and profits in 2008 than most anticipated.

Channel Insider asked VARs, MSPs, IT consultants, IT solution providers and resellers about how the Wall Street meltdown and financial crisis would affect their businesses and their IT customers' businesses in the months ahead. Here is what they said.

IT vendors have long recognized the potential value of midmarket customers, and most agree that the best way to reach these customers is through channel partners, VARs, resellers, IT consultants and solution providers. But in order to win over those customers, solution providers and IT consultants must understand how they think, the nature of their pain points and who they listen to.

If you balk at the idea of offering financing because it doesn't seem worth the complexity or time commitment, you may want to reconsider. Programs available through a variety of technology specialty financing organizations and IT distributors make it quick and easy to offer this option to customers.

Here are a few of the most basic kinds of credit and finance vehicles available to the solution provider channel and its customers. These are all available through distributors or other technology finance providers.

Here are six types of green IT improvements that can be facilitated by managed services.

Thanks to Asus, AMD and a few other vendors, an instant-on PC that sips power, yet shouts performance, is more than just a dream.

Are IT certifications commanding the same kind of respect as they used to? Some recent surveys have suggested that they don't. But that doesn't mean that IT certifications have lost all their value. Here are some reasons why IT certifications still matter.

Creative Labs gets creative with its all-in-one inPerson videoconferencing solution and service.

Stuck with with old IT hardware and unsure how to dispose of it properly? Here's how Converge helps solution providers get rid of their IT junk.

Watch your back. Here are the vendors, distributors, telcos and services firms out to grab a piece of your MSP action.

Five simple ways to increase your employment value without IT certifications.

A quick look at some Symantec alternatives for SMB shops.

See where your peers are falling short in financial planning, and learn how to avoid these common fiscal errors.

Try as they might, Symantec officials are still struggling to clarify just what will and will not change for their reseller partners in the wake of executive comments at Symantec Vision 2008 last month.

If high travel and energy costs have your customers holding off on IT purchases, it's time to sell them on telepresence, an immersive form of video conferencing that could save them money in the long run.

A joint research project from Amazon Consulting and Channel Insider.

Why should large enterprises have all the fun when it comes to virtualization technology? Small businesses can benefit too. Build an inexpensive desktop virtualization server that brings virtualized desktops to client PCs anywhere, and at a price anyone can afford.

As brothers Dan and Michael Schwab take over and prepare to move D&H Distributing into the next generation, here's a look at some of the cutting-edge technology that's come and gone over the last 40 years.

Freeware is often maligned as "too good to be true." After all, how can something that is free for the taking be any good?

Although there are plenty of emerging technologies to choose from, solution providers should make strategic selections. Here are some tips for how to go about choosing the right ones.

Misery loves company. So, why not be the company that finds the silver lining in these seven technology storm clouds?

Resellers should help clients plan their security spend, in much the same way that they plan the rest of their IT spending. CDW's Payton Engel Shows you how.

PC Tune-Up is one of those utilities that proves to be worth the price of admission. The product offers both a solution to real problems and can drive service revenue for solution providers looking to add PC Tune-Up to their bandoleer of utilities.

Want to know which IT certifications still get respect? Here's the short list.

D-Link's latest IP cameras bring the security of video to almost anywhere.

Slideshow: Plenty of VARs are excited by the prospect of overnight success in Managed Services. But leaping into the market can be a recipe for failure. Here are the key steps successful MSPs have identified to improve their chances.

Witness the technologies that grabbed the most attention among the 1,000 VARs gather for the SMB-focused distributor's annual event.

It can be a long journey between getting a list of vendor leads and actually making a sale. Here's a list of steps to follow to convert that daunting list of names into real business deals.

After gorging themselves on technology, an increasing number of companies are looking for ways to condense their computing environments and save on energy costs. Here is what Electronic Data Systems, which has a strong green IT practice, recommends.

Fujitsu’s tiny tablet PC is loaded with features that rival larger notebook computers.

OnForce, the online exchange of professional IT services between solution providers, compiled the following market intelligence from more than 750,000 work orders it processed in the first three months of 2008 on behalf of nearly 13,000 solution providers.

Here are some quick tips to make sure users are on the road to going green.

Avoid bleeding edge technology and ensure you get the best return on your time and money. Here are some tips that will help you sidestep pitfalls when selecting an emerging technology.

Whether it's the price of real estate in Manhattan or engineers trying to squeeze another year out of an oil well in Alaska, these ten verticals are driving opportunity for VARs that can reduce their power and cooling needs.

From maintaining open communications to providing incentives and always playing fair, it's easy to spot the vendors who treat their partners right. Here's how to tell if your vendor is a straight channel shooter.

Infrastructure and data protection continues to provide the richest opportunity for solution providers in 2008.

VARs weigh in on who tops the list of the best vendors for small and midsize businesses.

Emerging technologies promise greater margins and opportunities to build services, but not all are ready for the channel.

Cisco's Partner Summit was held the week of April 7 in Honolulu. Here is a look at some of what we saw.

The editorial team at Channel Insider have selected the executives in the channel they think deserve a special mention for everything they did in last year for the channel. Find out now who made the grade.

Finding your way around behemoth vendors such as Microsoft can be a daunting task for a business partner. We've put together a list of the top six channel executives who you should know to help build your relationship with the software giant.

Under CEO Robert Dutkowsky, Tech Data has aggressively expanded its services, support and solutions offerings for its more than 100,000 reseller customers worldwide with new divisions and channel initiatives for SMBs (small and midsize businesses), large enterprises and government agencies. These are the top five initiatives for 2008 and the channel execs behind them.

IT directors and managers are looking for value when hiring a solution provider, according to Channel Insider research. While 62 percent cite "best value for the money" as an influential factor when selecting a solution provider, only 12 percent cite low price as a consideration.IT managers also want solution providers to better deliver technical analysis, recommend technologies they can investigate and demonstrate better ROI.

Doing business is always easier when you know someone on the inside. That's why Channel Insider has compiled these must-have lists of go-to people.

Here's a look at how some businesspeople are using free online social networks as tools for networking, business leads and marketing.

Earth Day is no longer just about planting a tree and forgetting about it until next year.  While the general public's awareness of environmental issues has been steadily on the rise, more companies are beginning to jump on the bandwagon as well, selling their end customers on both the positive PR and the cost savings gained by going green. Here are some ideas VARs can take to their end customers.
 

As the world's largest technology distributor, Ingram Micro has held a unique position in the technology marketplace, and has been serving both vendors and resellers through marketing programs, outsourced logistics services, technical support, financial services, and product aggregation and distribution since 1979. The company serves about 170,000 resellers in 150 countries with hundreds of thousands of IT products worldwide from nearly 1,400 suppliers. Here are the top five channel executives you need to know at Ingram Micro.

Whether you want routers or switches or teleconferencing or Telepresence, Cisco is a go-to vendor for most networking needs. The company sells 80 percent of its products and services through channel partners and claims more than 30,000 partners as part if its channel program. Here's the lineup of Cisco executives making decisions about the company's channel program.

The Lifebook A6120 is solid desktop replacement system.

 

Too big to comfortably lug around, Fujitsu’s E8410 LifeBook is aimed directly at the desktop user who wants some portability when necessary. By Frank Ohlhorst

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by building a green PC! There is more to being green than just power usage. System builders will need to consider how components are manufactured and whether those components meet ROHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) requirements, which reduce the effects of hazardous waste. Energy Star compliance is another good indicator of power efficiency, but, in the end, it comes down to selecting the right components and making them work together. After all, a poorly functioning PC can never be green. By Frank Ohlhorst

Here are the 10 coolest things I saw at CeBIT this year. By Sara Driscoll

If vendor services programs are at odds with the services that solution provider partners offer, what can be done to smooth out the rough edges in the relationship? Here, we offer insight into how vendors and solution providers can diplomatically—and profitably—navigate through these murky waters.

According to Ziff Davis Enterprise Research, which conducted online surveys with 245 IT directors and managers, there are a number of influencing factors when it comes to selecting a service provider. Find out what the top 10 factors are here.  

The latest iteration of Nuance’s PDF Converter Pro takes aim at Adobe Acrobat by working with PDFs cheaper, faster and better.

When it comes to optimizing the WAN, Exinda Networks has an appliance-based approach that offers more than just bandwidth control.

With the reorganization of IBM's SMB group into its General Business Group and the restructure of the company's hardware unit, it can be hard for VARs to know who to go to when they need something done. Here is the Channel Insider take on the top five IBM execs VARs should get to know.

New displays grow in size and features, yet shrink in prices to woo consumers. International CES 2008, in Las Vegas, is all about new products and what they mean to consumers, but that does not mean the channel should be left out! After all, who will sell

The Konica Minolta 8650DN moves printers beyond commodity status.

Marathon Technologies provides a different approach to high availability and failover with EverRun HA 7.1.1 for physical and virtual Windows Server environments.

A Ziff Davis Enterprise online survey finds that VARs and solution providers are optimistic for next year, with vertical markets and mobile technology being seen as key drivers.

An online survey was conducted among a sample of technology decision makers selected from the Ziff Davis Enterprise Service Provider database from Nov. 27 to Dec. 10, 2007. In total, 393 ZDE subscribers qualified for and completed the survey. Qualified re

Toshiba's AMD Turion-based portable combines value with features for the channel.

The latest PCs in the Lenovo ThinkCentre family include the M57p, a model that offers a small footprint, energy efficiency, good performance and enhanced management capabilities.

After more than 20 years touting a direct-only philosophy, Dell made a splash last year with its first official channel program. But navigating the executives who are making the decisions can be tough for first-timers. Here's a guide to get you started.

Dell and direct sales have been synonymous for years. But now the company is launching its very own indirect channel program, complete with deal registration. Further, Dell says it's been quietly working with the channel for years. Here are some facts ab

Lately, it seems that Dell makes something for everybody. However, many of Dell's products are destined for direct sales or even retail distribution. What's the channel to do? The Channel Insider picked five products from Dell that could prove to be chann

In fiscal year 2006, IT distribution enjoyed its biggest sales year since the record-setting year of 2000, before it all came crashing down in the dot-com bust. Here are some of the technologies that led the pack, courtesy of the Global Technology Distrib

Intel reshuffled some of its channel ranks in 2007, offered partners a suite of Google advertising tools and new options around market development funds, and generally gained more momentum against rival AMD. Here are the people who made it happen—Int

In the 2007 Vendor Value and Satisfaction Survey, conducted by Ziff Davis Enterprise Research, 472 qualified respondents were asked to rate vendors on value, reliability and loyalty. Of these respondents, 170 were from companies with revenues of between $

During the last two years, Hewlett-Packard has stabilized its PartnerOne channel program and made its channel partners a larger part of its go-to-market strategy. But because it can still be tricky to navigate HP’s numerous divisions—and even harder

As this season of giving thanks arrives, VARs have a lot to be grateful for.

Eset’s ESS (Eset Smart Security) is a desktop suite that provides anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam and firewall features in a single, easy-to-deploy and easy-to-manage package. ESS is designed to protect consumers and small and midsize businesses from

The transition from solution provider to managed service provider can be tough. Here are the top five challenges your company is likely to face, based on a survey of 325 channel professionals.

The Computing Technology Industry Association focused on finding the major opportunities within the convergence market for the small and midsize business sector in the United States and Canada.

Channel Labs offers a step-by-step guide for providing your customers with Linux on Windows Vista PCs.

Findings from a Computing Technology Industry Association survey suggest how small and midsize businesses will spend their money on technology in 2008.

eWEEK has found seven backup service providers that are looking for partners.

IBM's new online Grow Your Business with IBM Software portal spoonfeeds SMBs information from the vendor's enormous product catalog and uses wizards to plot out logical steps to growth.

Gartner lays out some ground rules for getting into software as a service. (Source: Gartner)

Gartner stats show that the growth rate of software as a service is overtaking that of software in a number of technology categories.

,B>Slide show: Resellers rate their vendor partners and key channel programs elements.

The year may not have been stellar, but the channel fared better than other sectors of the economy, and some thanks and praise are due to the following groups and events this year.

Each year the channel sees a mind-boggling variety of new products and technologies that invariably carry the promise of higher profits. Here are 10 we found most promising.

IDC software analysts share their predictions for the channel in 2007.

The 110th Congress is facing a number of issues that could benefit or upset VARs, from small-business tax credits to more H-1B visas. CompTIA and ChannelInsider.com propose a legislative agenda VARs should note.

Vendor leads can be useful if you follow the right steps. From the editors of eWEEK Strategic Partner, here are 10 tips that will net you the best leads.

Solution providers choose 2006's channel products of the year in 26 categories.

by Chris Preimesberger

From the Dell effect to Cisco’s new footing, Ziff Davis Editorial Director Mike Vizard delivers his mid-term channel report card.

eWEEK Labs picks out 50 channel products worth keeping tabs on from the categories of Enterprise Software, Mobile & Wireless, Security, Management and Infrastructure.

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