Technology Reseller - v15 2018

technolog y reseller.co.uk 15 NEWS : RESELLERS Europe’s largest Google Cloud practice created in CTS Qlouder merger Cloud infrastructure specialist Cloud Technology Solutions (CTS) has merged with application development and machine learning company Qlouder to create Europe’s largest dedicated Google Cloud practice. The merger gives the Manchester company a presence in the Netherlands and the ability to provide an end-to-end full-service offering for Google Cloud, including application development, machine learning, big data analytics, cloud migration and IT infrastructure. CTS will continue to use the Qlouder brand for Google Cloud Platform data projects. CTS chief executive James Doggart said: “This merger lays the foundation for us to expand our presence and strengthen our offering at a time when the market for our expertise is growing rapidly. Qlouder enjoys an enviable reputation as a leader in application development and data science. Joining forces will enhance the services both existing and prospective clients can access, enabling them to harness the power of big data through machine learning and AI.” He added: “We are strong believers that machine learning will revolutionise how businesses do business and it’s fantastic to be able to offer this as part of our proposition.” CTS is a leading Cloud Premier Partner, with offices in Manchester, London, Belfast and Edinburgh. It has migrated more than eight million users to the cloud since 2008. www.cloudsolutions.co.uk https://qlouder.com Staff at Midshire have raised £2,844 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) by racing against each other in a coast-to- coast (and back again) static bike ride. Fifty employees from Midshire’s Stockport and West Bromwich offices completed the 290-mile round trip, racing head-to-head in 15 minute spurts. Interactive Sharp BIG PADs encouraged friendly rivalry by showing live video feeds from each office. https://www.bhf.org.uk (L to R) James Doggart CEO at Cloud Technology Solutions with Stefan Hogendoorn co-founder of Qlouder Midshire turns silver into gold Managed IT service provider Midshire has joined the top tier of the Microsoft Partner Network, after moving from Silver to Gold Partner status in the Small & Midmarket Cloud Solutions category. Of 640,000 members of the Microsoft Partner Network globally, only 5% are certified gold. Midshire has also become a Silver Data Centre partner. Established in 1990 and acquired by Sharp Electronics Europe in 2017, Midshire is a full service technology reseller providing managed print services, IT and business telecommunications support. With offices in West Bromwich, Stockport and Wales, it has an annual turnover of £35m and employs over 250 people. https://partner.microsoft.com/en-gb Comtec spearheads new APC Technology Partners program Comtec, an Elite APC partner, has been chosen by Schneider Electric to drive forward its new APC Technology Partners Program in the UK. The programme provides small and medium-sized businesses with business continuity solutions developed in conjunction with technology partners like Untangle, Infrascale and Accelerated Concepts Inc.. Selected for their ability to maintain access to critical data, even in the event of a component or network service failure, natural disaster or security breach, the solutions combine hardware and software with advanced cloud interfaces for simpler deployment and remote monitoring and management. The first three solutions offered under the Technology Partners Program are: n Unified Threat Management with APC (developed by cybersecurity innovator Untangle); n Back-up and Disaster Recovery with APC (developed by Infrascale, a 2017 Gartner Leader in Disaster Recovery as a Service); and n 4G/LTE Routing with APC (developed by Accelerated Concepts Inc., a provider of wireless cellular network data hardware and services). Eddie Desouza, head of new business at Comtec, said: “We’ve been working with APC for a number of years now and this evolution of the relationship will ensure our customers have access to best-of-breed technologies designed specifically to negate downtime and ensure access to business-critical data and systems. The markets we serve are increasingly operating at the network edge, where availability and resilience are top priorities.” www.comtec.com   Chess acquires TMS Technology solutions provider Chess ICT has acquired TMS, an independent expert in billing solutions, hosted voice and data connectivity solutions for IT and telecoms suppliers. The acquisition gives Chess a range of voice and data solutions, including a secure and scalable ‘out of the box’ managed billing platform; a highly experienced WLR3 integration team; and trusted relationships with more than 100 channel partners and resellers. Suzanne Chappell, Chairman and Founder of TMS, is retiring, but the rest of the TMS team, including Operations Director Helen Booker, will stay on. Ranyell to Azzure IT Fast growing Sheffield-based tech firm Azzure IT has appointed Giles Ranyell as its new marketing manager. Ranyell joins Azzurre from ERP and financial solutions provider UNIT4, where he worked for 12 years, helping, amongst other things, to launch CODA2go (later re-branded as Financial Force). Before that, Ranyell held a number of B2B marketing roles in the telecommunications, finance, construction and manufacturing industries. www.azzure-it.com Giles Ranyell