The roundballers are back with a new season and the NBA’s 75th year. So, of course, execs released the list of the 75 greatest players in league history to spark arguments about who was included and who was snubbed. But nobody can snub these winning newsbits, so let’s blow the whistle and start.
Mobile hardware news. New Macs (M1 Pro and M1 Max) hit the streets next week with a new processor configuration (system-on-a-chip with up to 400 GB/s of memory bandwidth), and, surprise, ports again. There are 14- and 16-inch models, each including a 16-core Neural Engine for faster machine learning tasks when you’re finished working with up to 30 streams of 4K ProRes video.
The new SoC architecture on the M1 Pro and M1 Max delivers more performance than an 8-core PC laptop CPU while using 70% less power, extending battery life. The display engine drives multiple external displays and includes integrated Thunderbolt 4 controllers for more I/O options and bandwidth. Up to 64 GBs of shared memory and the high bandwidth connection between the CPU and GPU provides more GPU performance with 40% less power.
Tell your friends about your new Mac on the new Google Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro ($599 or $899, pictured). The metal unibody is finished like a luxury watch and complements the curved glass with colors that match the bodies, and it ships with Android 12. The new camera innards capture up to 150% more light than the Pixel 5 and include a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom. All powered by the next generation Titan M2 processor with a Tensor security core.
Security news. Microsoft’s security suite has a new offering: Security Program for Nonprofits. The AccountGuard program notifies organizations if staff or board members are targeted or compromised. Go ahead, signup for the free security assessment.
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud integrated with Addigy to extend cyber protections to MacOS devices. At least 55% of SMBs encourage or allow MacOS use, so the need is there. Configuration, client software installation, and monitoring can all be done from one central location.
SaaS Alerts, in addition to monitoring business productivity apps like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for threats, now monitors Kaseya’s IT Glue documentation platform too. Your customers are only as safe as you are, MSPs.
CRITICALSTART’s MDR services now include Microsoft 365 Defender. The vendor’s security suite also includes MDR for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Microsoft Azure Sentinel.
Okyo Garde from Palo Alto Networks (pictured, next to the flowers) uses a premium, mesh-enabled Wi-Fi 6 system to provide security to smart devices that can’t run traditional client-based anti-virus software. You know, the stuff users sneak in and try to hide from you.
The new NETSCOUT Visibility as a Service (VaaS) managed service offers 24×7 testing, monitoring, troubleshooting, and reporting for critical IT services and applications. Built-in nGenius service assurance solutions included.
The new Secure OnMesh from Logicalis shifts the security focus for protecting a digital workplace by making security a part of the business’s DNA. All powered by Azure Sentinel and Cisco Secure X.
Commvault and GM Sectec shook hands and partnered to jointly offer tools for ransomware readiness, backup, and data recovery-as-a-service. GM Sectec’s four global Critical Incident Response and Replication Centers backend the system.
Cloud security fans should peruse the new offering from Spot by NetApp Spot Security, which analyzes, detects, and prioritizes threats and takes remediation action.
More security training is always needed, so the new partnership between Check Point Software and Cybrary that lets Check Point customers redeem learning credits to access Cybrary’s professional development platform may help.
CyberReef adds MobileWall App Throttling to its cloud-based firewall product. Optimize network utilization by reducing data usage and costs by 50-70% and replace unsecured wireless connections with end-to-end encryption.
Other product news. At its INSIGHT conference, NetApp spun up a batch of new hybrid cloud products, like an update of ONTAP that enhances protection against ransomware, digital wallet capabilities for NetApp Cloud Manager, and new professional services offerings to help customers.
Tired of your boring old Microsoft 365 tenant, and ready for a new one? Hello, BitTitan Migration Discovery Solution to help IT pros move M365 to a new location while scoping license needs, spotting potential bottlenecks, and getting reports on the move.
Tagged as the industry’s first “”Distributed Services Switch””, the just-announced Aruba CX 10000 Series (pictured) combines L2/3 switching with stateful software-defined services and wire-rate performance. Works great with the Aruba ESP (Edge Services Platform) to extend the data center closer to the edge.
Schneider Electric expanded its Micro Data Center portfolio with the new Easy Micro Data Center Series for standard IT and commercial environments. Easy to order and install with a 2-4 week delivery.
The expanded OpenText Core Content SaaS content services platform will now include deeper integrations with Salesforce and Microsoft 365. Enhanced integration with OpenText Core Case Management adds content lifecycle control.
Need to backup container-based workloads? The newly integrated Cloudian HyperStore object storage and Veeam’s Kasten K10 data management platform should be worth a look. Scalability, multi-tenancy, ransomware protection, and more.
Oracle NetSuite announced a series of new innovations that include fintech integrated in NetSuite, an analytics warehouse, and expanded support services. Check out the new 360 Dashboards.
The SolarWinds database management portfolio got stronger with the introduction of SolarWinds Database Mapper and SolarWinds Task Factory. DevOps folks get new tools like database documentation, data lineage analysis, streamlined data warehouse management, and more.
Senet jazzed up its IoT Marketplace, making life easier for IT pros in need of IoT devices certified to meet the quality standards for commercial operation on LoRaWAN networks.
Non-product vendor news. The welcome mat in front of Broadvoice was for Jason Smith (pictured), joining as vice president of sales engineering.
TD SYNNEX now offers the Qumu Video Engagement Platform for those interested in cloud-based enterprise video technology.
Public agencies in all 50 states can now order directly from Jenne, which has been awarded a contract by the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA).
IT advisory firm Global Communications Networks was acquired by UPSTACK. Terms were not disclosed.
Channel partners and their customers may be happy to learn that Extreme Networks extended its Lending Enablement and Assistance Program (LEAP) through June 2022.
This week’s stats ticker:
Kaspersky’s “”MSP market focus in 2021“” report found that 92% of MSPs in North America are planning to add new services, with threat intelligence the top choice at 49%. Other critical issues when choosing a cybersecurity vendor amid rising competition since 2019 include pricing, quality of protection, and ability to offer additional services. Cybersecurity remains the hottest growth area, with 65% of MSPs reporting security service revenue growth. Threat intelligence services that interest MSPs include APT reporting (30%), followed by threat data feeds (35%), and threat lookup (23%). Other areas of growing value include malware analysis (44%), security assessment (43%) and targeted attack discovery (44%). In good news, 70% of MSPs reported an increase of their client base since 2019.
The report, “”2021 State of Ransomware Survey & Report,”” from ThycoticCentrify revealed that 83% of ransomware attack victims paid a ransom to restore their data. Organizations surveyed report 72% have increased cybersecurity budgets due to ransomware threats, 93% have a special budget to fight it, 50% have experienced revenue loss and reputational damage, and 42% have lost customers as a result of an attack. Takeaways include the need for an incident response plan to avoid having to pay a ransom, increased cybersecurity budgets, and perform basic cybersecurity hygiene like regular backups, patching, and improved authentication.
Smashing surprise. There are many unsettling ways to wake up. Parents can tell you dozens. Cat owners know the sad sound of something breakable crashing to the floor thanks to a furry felon.
Ruth Hamilton of Golden, British Columbia, has those beat. Earlier this month, she awoke when showered with debris.
You can’t even blame cats for knocking debris on you, so what woke up Ms. Hamilton? Pieces of her roof and ceiling as a result of a 2.8-pound meteorite crashing onto the bed beside her pillow, mere inches from her head.
Yes, a nearly three pound rock from space missed hitting her in the head by a few inches as she slept. On the other hand, Ms. Hamilton did wake up to tell the story. Let’s hope her insurance company has a sense of humor, or an appreciation for her lucky break.
