Technology Reseller v34

01732 759725 NEWS : DISTRIBUTORS 10 Mike Barron Security training for Synaxon members Channel and managed services group SYNAXON UK has formed a new partnership with Layer 8, a specialist practitioner in security behaviour change, to help resellers develop the skills and knowledge needed to articulate messages around security to end customers. The agreement gives SYNAXON UK members ten licences for The Layer 8 Toolkit, free of charge, for 60 days. Available as an app or via the web, this provides information on everything from compliance to ransomware in small, bite-sized chunks to help users deepen their knowledge of digital security and data protection and encourage best practice. Mike Barron, Managing Director of SYNAXON UK, said: “Our partnership with Layer 8 puts the focus firmly on getting people talking about and collaborating on security with the aim of reducing risk. That sounds simplistic, but as any reseller that has tried to talk to customers about digital protection and security policies will tell you, it’s actually extremely challenging as it often means developing a complete change of the customer’s mindset.” www.SYNAXON.co.uk Tech Data experts build multi-cloud sandbox Tech Data has developed a new way for cloud services providers and aggregators, ISVs and enterprise resellers to test multi-cloud management solutions and explore different approaches to managing dynamic hybrid infrastructures. The sandbox was built by a team of experts at Tech Data using the Red Hat OpenShift container platform, as part of Tech Data’s Multi Cloud Project, which aims to enable partners to experiment, learn, develop and test next generation multi- cloud technologies. Another aim of the project is to bring together partners with complementary skills in public cloud solutions and microservices development and create an ecosystem that supports effective development and delivery of environments built on IBM’s CloudPak for Multicloud Management solution. Richard Hampson, Business Manager – Hybrid Cloud at Tech Data UK, said: “Enterprises are now looking to make use of multiple cloud systems on which they can deploy different applications and services. They need to manage and control those deployments effectively and securely and ensure they are getting the best value at all times. The scenarios will be complex and entirely different for every customer. Our sandbox will enable partners to test and build multi-cloud management use- cases ahead of full deployment.” http://trustedadvisor.techdata.co.uk/ UC billing made easy Wholesale telecommunications provider UC-Reseller is hoping to make it easier for MSPs to enter the unified communications market with the launch of a new telecommunications billing platform that is claimed to remove the complexity and bill percentage-based usage charges typical of existing billing solutions. In addition, UC-Billing allows MSPs to bill existing services, such as support, Office 365 subscriptions, internet connectivity and web hosting, alongside their telecoms billing. According to UC-Reseller, setting up UC-Billing for the first bill run is just a question of registering the client, adding services, detailing the Caller Line Identities and loading and processing the Call Detail Reports (CDR). UC-Billing will then produce a branded invoice, email it and a full CDR to the reseller’s client (or let the reseller use their own SMTP server) and collect payment automatically via Go Cardless. UC-Reseller says that the simplicity of UC- Billing frees MSPs from having to make the choice between mastering the complexities of telecommunications billing regulations/ complex platforms and becoming an agent of a larger telecommunications company, with small monthly commissions and the risk of losing control of a client. UC-Reseller is currently offering resellers five clients free of charge for the first 3 months, after which there will be a monthly service subscription and no usage charge. Faster processing of customer service requests Cloud services distributor Giacom has added the Nuvolex ManageX platform to its Cloud Market, giving MSPs an efficient way to manage their existing Microsoft 365 customers, secure their customer data and continue to grow their cloud customer base without increasing service delivery costs. The multitenant management platform simplifies provisioning and daily administration across all Microsoft 365 workloads, as well as Azure VMs, through a ‘Single Pane of Glass’ administration portal. By automating both in-tenant and cross-tenant administration, it enables MSPs to handle customer service requests three to five times faster and improve a customer’s security posture. Common cloud service requests that can take help desk administrators significant time to remediate can be done on the platform in a matter of seconds, with a few mouse clicks. Teams training from Maverick Distributor Maverick AV Solutions has launched Microsoft Teams training for teachers to coincide with the launch of a smart learning bundle from Logitech that enables video collaboration using Microsoft Teams in the classroom. The course has five modules and can be delivered in English, German, Spanish, French and Mandarin, with tutorials conducted live through a Teams call to familiarise participants with the platform and enable them to ask questions. David Johnson, General Manager at Maverick AV Solutions, said: “Microsoft Teams has become essential for modern learning at all stages of education. Many educators are familiar with the use of Microsoft Office. However, the transition to hybrid working requires all new skill sets. We have created and tested a set of training sessions for our integrators to deploy rapidly into the education market.” Learning fast Tech Data has jumped 45 places to 15th position in this year’s RateMyApprenticeship Top 100 Employers Table. Of the 13 apprentices who embarked on this year’s programme, nine have already moved into full-time roles with three of the others choosing to go on to university instead. www.techdata.com