New MSP Consortium Releases RMM Platform Tool
The new Managed Service Provider Consortium (MSPC) has launched a free remote management and monitoring (RMM) platform tool with integrated professional services automation. Members can use the new platform tool to help eliminate expensive licensing fees, improve business performance and increase revenues through a customized, lead exchange platform, said MSPC.
The MSP Consortium is led by a board of directors with executives from Ciracom, Comodo, Compunite Computers, Presage Solutions, Raven Data Technologies, LazoTEK Computer Solutions and TCG: The Computer Guys. Comodo is a founding sponsor and provided key MSP and security tools free of charge.
MSPC’s charter will be to establish best practices, institute certification standards, and create and share management tools for its members. The consortium will include regional chapters to offer members guidance and collaboration to help them achieve MSP certification, improve workflow, share skills, increase their buying power, reduce licensing costs, and improve their marketing efforts, said MSPC.
Security Mentor Launches Partner Program
Security Mentor, a provider of security awareness training, has launched its Security Mentor Global Partner Program. The program enables resellers, distributors and integrators to offer Security Mentor’s security awareness training to customers worldwide that the company previously was not able to reach. The program provides partners with sales tools, cooperative marketing and demand-generation activities, marketing resources, high profit margins and educational support services.
Paragon Software Debuts New Site License Model
Paragon Software, a provider of hard-disk management and backup and disaster-recovery (BDR) technology, has unveiled the Paragon Protect & Restore Unified Site License. The new licensing model is designed to take the time out of BDR sales for channel partners while also streamlining the purchase and administration for their small- and midsize-business customers.
Offering a single SKU for centrally managed BDR, replication and deduplication, the new Unified Site License is available exclusively to Paragon’s North American channel partners. The new pricing model simplifies selling for resellers with tiered pricing based on the number of employees at the end customer. The SMB site license can scale to thousands of systems and starts with four tier options: 1 to 10 seats, 11 to 25 seats, 26 to 50 seats or 51 to 100 seats.
Hortonworks Expands SI Partner Program
In a move to drive cross-industry adoption of Hadoop, Hortonworks, a contributor and provider of enterprise Apache Hadoop, has expanded its Hortonworks Systems Integrator (SI) Partner Program to further drive global adoption of the Hortonworks Data Platform.
The expanded program includes advanced online training systems, solution-based workshops, technical boot camps and more extensive certification requirements. It also includes expanded partner levels—platinum, gold, silver and bronze—each with its own set of certification requirements. Accenture is the first global systems integrator to join the program at the platinum level.
Pure Storage Unveils Partner Success Program
Pure Storage, a solid-state array vendor, has launched its new Pure Customer and Partner Success Organization, implemented a new international distribution model and added two channel veterans to the leadership team. As part of the success program, the company will develop and scale the advisory, enablement and education resources to help partners accelerate the adoption of Pure products into larger and more complex applications globally.
Pure also is implementing a two-tier pan-regional distribution model with two distributors per country: one local-based and one pan-regional.
The addition of a regional distribution tier is expected to expand Pure’s access to new markets. To support the new programs, Pure hired Michael Sotnick, 20-year channel veteran, as vice president of global channels and alliances, and Alex Hesterberg, formerly of Riverbed and Symantec, as vice president, customer and partner success and technology services.