Topic: Managed Services - Page 133

The distributor has introduced new functionality for ordering and managing Aerohive Wireless-as-a-Service and Symantec Endpoint Protection Cloud deployments through its online marketplace, and added products from F5 Networks to its line card.

Announced at a time of accelerating vendor consolidation, the $1.6 billion deal adds a major security and backup player to a portfolio of holdings that already included Continuum, SolarWinds, and Bomgar, as well as a minority stake in McAfee.

The new offering is the first to combine Microsoft’s productivity and collaboration suite with SkyKick’s data migration and backup products in a single, subscription-priced SKU.

The new edition includes tools for defining and marketing service plans, as well as direct integration with ConnectWise and Autotask PSA software and a new Linux-based virtual appliance deployment option that dramatically lowers acquisition costs.

That’s according to the Usman Choudhary (pictured), the vendor’s chief product officer, who says that usability—especially on mobile devices—can be the single most important factor in a security system’s effectiveness.

The network security vendor’s firewalls can now open, close, and reopen tickets in Autotask’s PSA solution automatically. The new Firebox devices, meanwhile, offer small and home office users significant security inspection performance improvements.

The new offerings give the vendor’s MSP partners visibility into endpoint status and self-serve access to sales, marketing, and training resources for the first time, according to CEO Jay Ryerse (pictured).

The former Autotask CEO sees upside in the blockbuster deal for the two companies involved and the MSPs they do business with, but wonders how long their commitment to openness and integration with third parties will last.

In meetings with ChannelPro at last week’s Empower MSP conference in Orlando, company executives including Dave Sobel (pictured) described plans to switch from device-centric to user-centric management, equip its RMM systems to make technicians more efficient, and roll out new security solutions.

Called Mail Assure and announced during pre-day activities at the vendor’s Empower MSP conference in Orlando, the system acts as a protective layer for incoming and outgoing email.