Technology Reseller - v14 2018

01732 759725 NEWS : RESELLERS 18 Commsworld is set to become operator of the UK’s largest privately owned network, after pushing the button on plans to build its own national optical core network, underpinned by exclusive access to long distance fibre networks from CityFibre and Zayo. The ten and 12-year deals with CityFibre and Zayo nearly triple the size of the Edinburgh-based business’s dark fibre estate, connecting to more than 20 of the UK’s largest cities, including Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and London. The addition of an extra 2,000km of Dark Fibre will allow Commsworld to offer low-latency network connectivity and cloud services to businesses across the whole of the UK. Ricky Nicol, Chief Executive of Commsworld, said: “This network expansion takes us from a predominantly Scottish- centric provider to a UK provider, another milestone for us in the long-term strategy to take the business to that UK level. Previously, outside of Scotland, we’ve used fibre networks owned and managed by others, but this development means we have full control – and the bandwidth available is only determined by the equipment we use on the end of the fibre.” www.commsworld.com Commsworld to build UK-wide network HBP systems retains Micosoft Gold Partner status Humber Region IT company HBP Systems has retained its Microsoft Gold Partner status for the twelfth successive year, with an even higher level of competency. Operations Director Tony Pearson said: “Growth in our own company has meant we have been able to grow the range of competencies Microsoft recognises us for. We have more accredited staff, more technically trained staff, more salespeople and more good feedback covering more areas of our business, and we are recognised for our competencies in Microsoft’s Azure cloud software. The award means we are now firmly in the top 100 Microsoft partners in the UK, and we’re a Tier 1 distributor.” www.hbpsystems.co.uk Six degrees acquires CNS Group Six Degrees, the cloud-led managed service provider, has expanded its cyber security services portfolio with the acquisition of cyber defence consultancy CNS Group. The acquisition adds the 50-strong CNS Group team and over £7 million of annual revenue to the business, together with a market leading portfolio of security consultancy and services. This includes government-accredited managed security services and the Aegis Cyber Security Maturity Benchmarking model, which brings context and understanding to security risks and a granular level of detail that enables clients to prioritise spend. CNS Group CEO Shannon Simpson said: “Joining Six Degrees represents the next step in our strategic plan to increase our market share and further enhance our flagship cyber security. Working with Six Degrees will enable us to bring our highly accredited security offerings to all of the services they offer.” www.6dg.co.uk Rentuu to drive rental industry into digital age Rentuu is aiming to drag the UK rental equipment industry into the digital age and increase online’s share of the market from the current figure of just 0.05%. Rentuu provides corporate event planners, venues and conference spaces, exhibitions, schools, rental properties and coworking spaces with equipment from multiple vetted suppliers through a single intermediary. Supplies, ranging from sound systems, furniture and glassware to candy floss machines and inflatable unicorns, can be sourced within 48 hours. www.rentuu.com Microsoft admits Columbus to Inner Circle Global digital business services provider Columbus has achieved membership of the 2018/2019 Inner Circle for Microsoft Business Applications. Cecilia Flombaum, Senior Director, Microsoft, One Commercial Partner Organisation, said: “Our Inner Circle members are chosen for their business performance, as well as their capabilities as an organisation, whether that’s creating IP, developing solutions or having an industry-leading focus on digital transformation.” www.columbusglobal.com Claranet becomes AWS Well-Architected partner Managed services provider Claranet has become one of just a handful of UK organisations to achieve partner status in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Well- Architected framework, a programme designed to help AWS users build the most secure, resilient and efficient infrastructure for their applications. As an authorised Well-Architected partner, Claranet can use its AWS expertise to evaluate customers’ existing AWS deployments against the framework’s five pillars of operational excellence – security, reliability, performance, efficiency and cost optimisation – and then recommend improvements to maximise efficiency. www.claranet.com A bigger bite of Apple Onecom, the UK’s largest independent business telecommunications provider, is to offer business customers access to the entire Apple eco-system, after becoming an Apple Authorised Reseller. The company already sells around £1 million worth of Apple products each month and expects access to the full range of Apple devices, authorised accessories and AppleCare packages to produce a 30% uplift in sales. Customers will also benefit from Apple Business Manager services, including a Volume Purchase Program and an Apple Device Enrolment Program, which allows touch-less mobile device management enrolment and setup. To help drive sales, Onecom sales, service and technical staff will receive comprehensive training across the Apple product portfolio, backed up by a dedicated Apple account manager. www.onecom.co.uk