A new channel chief for Microsoft, as-a-service goodies from Cisco, hyperconverged infrastructure additions from Lenovo, and a bitter ending for a mafioso/cooking enthusiast on the run from the law are among the stories we nearly failed to bring you.

Join Erick and Rich as they ponder the significance of Ingram Micro buying a PSA vendor, advise you to take a fresh look at your mission, vision, and values, and marvel at the guy who donated some old sweaters and $42,000 in cash to Goodwill.

If it feels like an obstacle course out there these days, you’re not alone. With Matt on vacation this week, Rich is hosting the show solo for the first time ever. Wonder how he’ll do? While the suspense builds, you’ll hear Rich and returning guest host Michael Goldstein, of LAN Infotech, discuss Ingram Micro buying a PSA vendor, Acronis introducing an innovative licensing model, and business tips from two superstar providers of cloud and managed services.

The changes are designed to encourage electrical contractors, consultants, and engineering firms on the one hand and IT partners on the other to collaborate in pursuit of burgeoning opportunities in the data center and edge computing markets.

Version 5.1 adds a fully native iPad app and provides enhanced integration with Datto’s Autotask PSA and Splashtop’s remote control system.

The transaction positions Ingram, the company says, to provide an end-to-end set of tightly integrated master MSP services to its cloud computing partners.

Newest product release makes no-code contract management software more user-friendly and configurable than ever while improving AI to streamline contract review and analysis

Panasonic Corporation and McAfee Corp. (Nasdaq: MCFE), have agreed to jointly start building a Vehicle Security Operation Center (hereinafter, Vehicle SOC) to commercialize vehicle security monitoring services. To protect connected vehicles around the world against cyber-attacks, the companies will build vehicle SOCs that enable accurate detection and early response to attacks and help strengthen Cybersecurity measures in the automotive industry.

A partnership for Wasabi and Unitrends, another for Fortinet and Linksys, an IPO for KnowBe4, and a promising development for people who want to journey to the afterlife like a Viking are but a few of the many stories we’ve finally taken the time to report.

Results from our latest reader survey suggest that 2020, while hard, could have been far worse, and that 2021, while uncertain, looks way more promising. Overview and full results included here.

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