www.technologyreseller.uk THE MAGAZINE & ONLINE CHANNEL NEWS & RESOURCE FOR MSPS, IT RESELLERS & SUPPORT PROVIDERS PAGE 16 With James Arnold‑Roberts, CEO of Voiceflex 60 SECONDS 100% of recurring supplies revenue, zero follow-up. Increase profitability versus hardware-only sales A range of MPS options Increase customer life-time value More upsell opportunities Ongoing support from Brother Grasp the MPS opportunity – learn more on BrotherZone Brotherzone.co.uk/make-printing-simple ⎙ Customer loyalty, locked in with Brother Managed Print Services (MPS) IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 PAGE 26 How AI is helping ControlUp punch above its weight ENDPOINT MANAGEMENT PAGE 32 PrintIT Reseller Autumn Roadshows coming to a city near you EVENTS ROADSHOWS AUTUMN 2026 Manchester Airport Doubletree Thursday 29th October (Free parking) Bristol North Doubletree Tuesday 29th September (Free parking) Coventry Hilton Doubletree – Thursday 10th September (Free parking)
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24 PCs What does Nvidia’s RTX Spark superchip mean for PC sales? Rhiain Cliffe, End User Device Specialist at Phoenix Software, gives her verdict 26 Endpoint Management Why Jed Ayres believes DEX specialist ControlUp is well placed to challenge the leaders in endpoint management 31 Golf Society All the winners from the PrintIT Reseller and Technology Reseller Golf Society’s second round of the year at Copt Heath Golf Course 32 Events 2026 channel roadshows 36 Tech Digest New solutions and services for MSPs and their customers 41 People New faces, new places 03 CONTENTS technologyreseller.co.uk ISSN 2632-9301 (Print) ISSN 2632-931X (Online) Technology Reseller is published by Kingswood Media Ltd., 7 Amherst House, 22 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 2BT • Tel: 01732 759725 Email: [email protected] www.technologyreseller.co.uk No part of Technology Reseller can be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. © 2026 Kingswood Media Ltd. Editor: James Goulding 07803 087228 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media and Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: Ethan White 01732 759725 · [email protected] Events & Commercial activities: Paul Johnson 01732 759725 · [email protected] Account Manager: Jeff Root 01732 759725 · [email protected] Designer: Brian Cloke 07484 288189 · [email protected] If you no longer wish to receive Technology Reseller magazine, please email your details to [email protected] Register online To receive your regular FREE printed copy of Technology Reseller Magazine simply fill in our online registration form at www.technologyreseller.uk/register Read Technology Reseller online, on tablets and smart phones www.technologyreseller.uk Join us : Follow us technology-reseller-magazine technologyreseller.co.uk 04 Distribution News Giacom partners with Evolution Capital to give MSPs insight into KPIs 07 Reseller News Abzorb’s IoT network for Essex councils a ‘blueprint’ for the public sector 12 MSPs First MSP to achieve Assurix validation already profiting from the trustmark 13 Compliance Wavenet CISO Paul Colwell welcomes updates to Cyber Essentials that he says will usher in a new era of accountability 14 Events Why MSP Global is unlike other MSP shows – and how to get a free standard pass to this year’s event 16 60 Seconds… With James Arnold-Roberts, CEO of Voiceflex and winner of the Technology Reseller 2026 Industry Leader of the Year Award 17 Cover Story Customer loyalty, locked in with Brother Managed Print Services (MPS) 18 Q&A Technology Reseller quizzes Acronis CEO Jan-Jaap Jager about his vision for the company’s new AI-first platform 23 Procurement New report highlights the growing influence of AI in cybersecurity solution selection and procurement IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 ROADSHOWS AUTUMN 2026 Manchester Airport Doubletree Thursday 29th October (Free parking) Bristol North Doubletree Tuesday 29th September (Free parking) Coventry Hilton Doubletree – Thursday 10th September (Free parking)
01732 759725 DISTRIBUTOR NEWS 04 of margin, profitability and value; and make betterinformed decisions without having to build their own in-house business intelligence capability. CFO Assist gives larger MSPs with an existing Finance Director or CFO visibility across complex financial data, transforming detailed information into clear dashboards, while Virtual CFO, designed for smaller MSPs, delivers the same quality of insight but in a lighter, more cost-effective format. Ellie Allseybrook, Business Development Director, Software Sales at Giacom, said: “MSPs have historically focused on revenue growth but, especially in the current climate, acquirers and investors are looking deeper at how that revenue is delivered. CFO Assist and Virtual CFO give MSP leaders the financial clarity they need to understand true profitability, improve operational maturity and build businesses that are not only growing but optimised for long-term valuation.” Sam Godfrey, Transaction Services Director at Evolution Capital, added: “EC Analytics transforms core financial data into a clear, visual and dynamic environment, allowing leadership teams to interrogate performance, understand what is really driving customer behaviour and margin, and make better decisions in real-time. Operating exclusively in the MSP sector, our mission is to provide a purposebuilt solution that helps MSPs build stronger, more scalable and, ultimately, more valuable businesses. Our partnership with Giacom is exactly what MSPs need to achieve this.” Giacom.com … Arrow Electronics awarded Microsoft Frontier Distributor designation Arrow Electronics has been awarded Frontier Distributor designation within the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program in recognition of its ability to help channel partners build, deploy and scale Microsoft cloud and AI solutions across multiple markets and industries. Sophie Daval, Director Hyperscalers, Global ArrowSphere, said: “Microsoft’s Frontier Distributor designation reflects the investments we continue to make in cloud, AI and technical enablement across our channel ecosystem. Following our recognition as Microsoft’s 2025 Distribution Partner of the Year, this designation further reinforces our ability to help channel partners simplify cloud adoption, support AI deployments and build scalable services around Microsoft technologies.” QBS Software recognised as a UK Best Managed Company for second year QBS Software has been recognised by Deloitte as one of the UK’s Best Managed Companies for the second year running. The business awards programme recognises private companies that demonstrate sustained strength across strategy, culture and commitment; capabilities and innovation; and governance and financial performance. Dave Stevinson, Group CEO of QBS Software, said: “Winning this recognition once is incredibly difficult. Winning it again demonstrates the consistency, maturity and quality of the business we are building. It is testament to the layers of governance we have put in place across the group.” Over the past year, QBS Software has continued to expand across EMEA, completing three strategic acquisitions, extending its reach into high-growth META markets and deepening its role as an AWS Designated Seller of Record (DSOR) – a strategic differentiator for QBS Software as enterprise software procurement increasingly moves through cloud marketplaces. Alongside its commercial growth, QBS Software has invested in the governance, financial and operating structures needed to support long-term scale, including the appointment of PwC to manage its global audit and tax operations. QBS Software, which is aiming to become a $1 billion organisation, is a certified B Corporation, holds Investors in People Gold accreditation and was awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in 2026. www.qbssoftware.com … Giacom and Evolution Capital join forces to give MSPs insight into KPIs Giacom, the channel-focused marketplace and software provider, is offering channel businesses expert insight into their financial performance and M&A readiness with the launch of new managed services developed in partnership with Evolution Capital, a provider of specialist M&A and advisory services for MSPs. Combining direct integration with Giacom’s billing platform and finance systems, real-time dashboards via the Evolution Capital EC Analytics platform and hands-on financial expertise, CFO Assist and Virtual CFO enable Giacom partners to track key performance indicators; identify drivers Genuine Solutions to distribute emerging accessories brand in UK Genuine Solutions, a B Corp and EcoVadiscertified distributor of smart technology and connected devices, is reinforcing its focus on emerging international brands with strong retail potential by becoming the first UK distribution partner of Chinese mobile accessories brand Mutural. This follows its appointment earlier this year as exclusive UK distributor for Scandinavian audio brand Sudio. Since launching its branded range of military‑grade mobile accessories in 2016, Mutural has expanded into more than 20 countries and built a strong presence within Apple Premium Reseller (APR) channels and high-end retail environments across Asia. Kamil Finowski, Head of Purchasing and International Sales Manager at Genuine Solutions, said: “Mutural is an exciting addition to our growing portfolio of partner brands. The business has already built strong momentum internationally and we saw a real opportunity to introduce something fresh to the UK market. The range combines strong design with reinforced protection features and gives retailers access to a brand that is still relatively new in the UK but already performing successfully in premium retail environments internationally.” Genuine Solutions will initially launch two of Mutural’s core case ranges: the Ice Series, a transparent MagSafe-compatible case designed to showcase the original device while delivering reinforced protection; and the Pure Series, a soft-touch silicone range available in a variety of colours and finishes. Paul Crossman, CEO of Revolvex, the parent company of Genuine Solutions and Relove Technology, a provider of recovery and recycling services to global brands, said: “This partnership is another important step in the direction Genuine Solutions is heading. We’re focused on building long-term relationships with brands that want more than simple product fulfilment – offering them expertise of the UK and European markets to help them build awareness, reach the right retailers and grow sustainably within the market.” www.genuinesolutions.co.uk Kamil Finowski, Head of Purchasing and International Sales Manager at Genuine Solutions, with products from the new Mutural range Dave Stevinson Ellie Allseybrook Sam Godfrey
DISTRIBUTOR NEWS continued... technologyreseller.co.uk 05 understand what is happening and respond in time to stop real impact. Our partnership with ABC Distribution helps bring that visibility and protection to organisations across the UK.” ABC Distribution will give channel partners access to Zimperium’s mobile security platform and the enablement needed to scale protection across key sectors including financial services, telecommunications, government and critical infrastructure. Chris Walsh, Managing Director at ABC Distribution, said: “Many organisations are still relying on security models that were never designed to deal with attacks happening directly on the device. What makes Zimperium different is the visibility it gives organisations into genuine mobile risk, whether that’s phishing, compromised applications or malicious activity happening in real time on the device itself. As mobile becomes a bigger part of how people work and transact, this is an area of security that businesses simply can’t afford to overlook.” … Arrow establishes experience centres to accelerate AI adoption and monetisation Arrow Electronics is hoping to accelerate partners’ adoption and monetisation of AI and cloud through the establishment of networked experience centres in Georgia, USA and Stockholm, Sweden. Serving as strategic hubs for vendors, channel partners and end customers in Europe and North America, the centres give partners access to over 100 pre-built and tested solutions and the ability Access (ZTNA); last-mile data protection controls that govern copying, downloading, printing and screenshotting of sensitive data, including into AI tools; an AI Browser option that embeds AI capabilities into the browser; the creation, distribution and governance of AI agents; and a centralised management console with role‑based access control, activity logging and policy enforcement. … Zimperium expands UK reach with ABC Distribution Zimperium, a provider of AI-empowered mobile security, is extending its reach in the UK through a distribution partnership with ABC Distribution. Mobile has become a primary entry point for modern threats such as social engineering, SIM swapping, phishing and AI-enabled scams originating directly on mobile devices and within mobile apps, where traditional security tools lack visibility. Zimperium’s mobile threat defence and mobile app protection capabilities enable organisations to detect and stop mobile-targeted attacks in real time, identify threats originating from compromised devices and applications, strengthen device trust beyond identity-based controls, and protect mobile applications from malware and exploitation. Andy Fleet, Regional Vice President of EMEA at Zimperium, said: “Mobile is now central to how modern threats are executed, from initial compromise through to transaction. The UK Government’s Fraud Strategy reinforces a critical reality: threats increasingly originate on mobile devices, and identity alone is no longer enough. Organisations need visibility into mobile risk to Northamber partners with Xyte to bring cloud-based AV device management to UK resellers Technology distributor Northamber has formed a partnership with Xyte, provider of a unified cloud platform for monitoring, managing and supporting multi-brand AV, UC and IT device estates. Xyte Connect+ gives resellers of meeting rooms, digital signage, collaboration spaces, interactive displays, AV-over-IP and workplace technology a single operational view of deployments instead of reliance on disconnected vendor portals, manual checks and reactive support. The addition of a cloud management and services layer to Northamber’s AV, UC&C and networking portfolio allows resellers and service teams to monitor connected devices across multiple sites, act on alerts, manage incidents and, importantly, build recurring managed services. Resellers can use Xyte to add remote support, health monitoring and reporting to projects from day one or build managed services for existing customer estates. Mark Sumner, Head of UC&C and Networking at Northamber, said: “Xyte gives partners a clear way to move beyond hardware supply and into managed AV operations. It helps them support more customers, reduce unnecessary site visits and create a stronger services conversation around the technology they already sell.” Xyte’s platform supports a growing range of connected AV and UC devices, including products from leading manufacturers such as WyreStorm and Avocor. [email protected] …Island brings purpose-built workspace to Pax8 Island’s purpose-built workspace for SMBs, where people, AI and agents operate side by side, is now available on the Pax8 marketplace, enabling MSPs to bill, provision and manage Island alongside their existing portfolio. Island for SMBs is a single, secure, browserbased platform that consolidates the security tools most SMBs are already paying for separately, including VPN, web filtering, data loss prevention (DLP) and password management, into one unified workspace built on the Chromium open-source browser project. Keith Weatherford, VP of Channels at Island, said: “SMB customers deserve the same level of protection that larger organisations have, without the complexity or the cost of stitching together a dozen different tools. Island solves that problem.” Instead of running many separate security tools, each with its own licensing agreement, support escalation path and renewal cycle, Island gives SMBs (and MSPs) a single SKU, a single console and a single vendor relationship. Key features include: safe browsing, antiphishing protection and web content filtering built directly into the browser; Zero Trust Network Westcon-Comstor secures investment from General Atlantic Westcon-Comstor, a global technology distributor specialising in cybersecurity, networking and hybrid cloud solutions, is supporting its longterm growth strategy with a strategic investment and financing agreement with global investor General Atlantic. The introduction of General Atlantic as a minority equity investor and long-term financing partner, with majority ownership retained by the distributor’s parent company, Datatec, will enable Westcon-Comstor to keep expanding with its current leadership and strategy. Westcon-Comstor has delivered seven consecutive years of growth and recently announced record annual sales of $5.74 billion and a rise in profitability driven by its transition to software, services and subscription-led recurring revenue and the effects of longterm industry tailwinds such as investment in AI-enabled infrastructure, growing demand for cybersecurity solutions and expansion of cloud and edge computing environments. David Grant, CEO of Westcon-Comstor, said: “The introduction of General Atlantic as a financing partner and minority investor provides us with greater flexibility to accelerate our growth strategy, including expanding our portfolio and further strengthening our digital and AI capabilities. Equally importantly, we retain the leadership stability and long-term strategic focus that have underpinned our success to date, while adding a partner with the scale and expertise to help us maintain our growth trajectory.” www.westconcomstor.com David Grant Andy Fleet Chris Walsh
DISTRIBUTOR NEWS ...continued 01732 759725 06 and the NovaStar online management platform. Paul Midwood, CTO of Solstice AV says the partnership reflects the scale, capability and market reputation that Solstice AV has built up in recent years. He said: “This is a partnership we’re genuinely proud of. NovaStar is one of the most respected names in our industry, and to be formalising this relationship as a direct technical solutions partner is a real statement of where Solstice AV has reached as a business. It reflects the work our team has put in to build real expertise in complex AV environments and it gives us a world-class product portfolio to take to market. We see this as a platform for significant growth in the coming financial year and beyond.” The partnership is expected to have immediate impact across several of Solstice AV’s core verticals, as NovaStar’s processing and control technology is widely deployed in large-format LED installations, command and control rooms, higher education environments and live events – all areas in which Solstice AV has been actively building its project pipeline. to create custom solutions with support from Arrow engineers and technicians. Nick Bannister, President of Arrow’s Enterprise Computing Solutions Business in Europe, said: “Our mission is to simplify technology, enabling our channel partners to use IT with confidence to solve realworld problems. Through global connectivity of our experience centres, we can test use cases, create demos and help channel partners understand how to run and secure workloads anywhere in the world, allowing them to create new business opportunities.” One customer that has already benefited from Arrow experience centres is Kateryna Wikstrom, Chief Product Officer at Oxide AI. She said: “Partnering with Arrow and their global experience centre has been a game-changer for us. Arrow helped us understand the technology and infrastructure and gave us invaluable access to a network of vendors and channel partners that enabled us to scale and hone our AI product. This collaboration has not only helped us enhance our AI agent’s ability to interpret user intent, but has opened new doors, empowering us to create more AI-powered solutions on a global scale.” arrow.com … Northamber extends Renaissance Distribution branding to UK cyber and infrastructure business Northamber is responding to growing demand for specialist cybersecurity and AI-focused solutions in the UK and Ireland by extending the branding of its existing specialist cyber security distributor in Ireland, Renaissance Distribution, to its cybersecurity operations in the UK. While both the UK and Ireland businesses already work closely together, Northamber says the transition represents a change in trading name only. For UK partners and customers, existing account management teams, contracts and invoicing arrangements will remain unchanged and continue to operate through Northamber plc. Northamber expects the unified Renaissance Distribution brand to create a stronger platform for vendors seeking to expand their reach across the UK and Ireland through a specialist cybersecurity-focused channel ecosystem. Michael Conway, Director of Renaissance Distribution Ireland, said: “Bringing our UK and Ireland operations under the Renaissance Distribution brand reflects the close alignment between our businesses and creates a stronger proposition for vendors and partners alike. By combining expertise, strengthening vendor relationships and expanding access to specialist solutions and services, we are better positioned to help partners grow their cybersecurity, managed services and AI practices.” Renaissance Distribution works with a growing community of VARs, MSPs, ITSPs and specialist cybersecurity partners across the UK and Ireland. Through its growing portfolio of leading cybersecurity, infrastructure and AI‑focused vendors, technical enablement, marketing support, business development initiatives and managed service programmes, it aims to help partners build differentiated cybersecurity practices and unlock new recurring revenue opportunities. … Solstice AV becomes NovaStar technical solutions partner Solstice AV, a specialist distributor operating across the professional AV, education and control room markets, has become a certified technical solutions partner for NovaStar, a global leader in LED display processing and management solutions. The agreement gives Solstice AV direct access to NovaStar’s full product ecosystem, including pre-sales support, technical training, certification Goldilock extends reach into Ireland Goldilock Secure, the NATO-backed cybersecurity firm behind the FireBreak physical connectivity controller, is extending its technology to enterprises, telecommunications companies and critical infrastructure in Ireland through a distribution agreement with Frame Communications. With AI accelerating the discovery and exploitation of software vulnerabilities, many software-based defences are struggling to keep up. FireBreak addresses this imbalance through hardware-enforced network disconnection when a vulnerability or threat is detected or suspected, stopping attackers before they reach critical systems including backup and recovery environments. Steven Brodie at Goldilock Secure said: “Frame is a strong addition to our growing global partner network, which has expanded by more than 40 channel partners in the past six months. Their extensive and well-established presence in Ireland, combined with strong relationships across the market, will play a key role in accelerating the adoption of FireBreak in the region.” Gavin McGowan, Managing Director of Frame Communications, added: “We are delighted to welcome Goldilock Secure’s Firebreak to our product portfolio. As modern cyberattacks grow more complex and sophisticated, our customers and partners are looking for practical ways to reduce cyber risk, as well as the ability to isolate and contain threats without taking their entire network offline and impacting operations. FireBreak is a perfect fit, and we look forward to working together to bring this solution to organisations across Ireland.” Together Goldilock and Frame will deliver endto-end support for resellers, MSPs and telecom providers, including solution design, reseller enablement, logistics and deployment support. Nick Bannister Michael Conway Paul Midwood
technologyreseller.co.uk continued... RESELLER NEWS 07 Abzorb’s Essex IoT network a ‘blueprint’ for public sector Network solutions provider Abzorb has created ‘a blueprint for how IoT infrastructure should be delivered across the public sector’ by designing a resilient LoRaWAN network for the councils of Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock and Essex County – and delivering it £40,000 under budget. With comprehensive coverage across 98% of the region, the network gives the six councils and county a shared, regional platform for deploying Internet of Things (IoT) services quickly and cost‑effectively. The councils recognised the potential of IoT technologies to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and provide better visibility across public assets and services, but realised that deploying IoT projects in isolation was hard to justify financially because each new initiative would require its own dedicated network infrastructure. By working with Abzorb to build a unified LoRaWAN network leveraging their existing dark fibre investment, the councils have created a long-term digital foundation that lowers the barrier to innovation. Designed as an open platform, the network allows councils to procure and deploy sensors from any supplier, further reducing costs and preventing vendor lock-in. The solution includes a second LoRaWAN network that can be made available to businesses, public sector partners and other organisations across the region, creating a potential new revenue stream for the councils from the same infrastructure investment. The network is already enabling councils to deploy multiple smart services, including footfall counters in libraries and public spaces, occupancy and damp monitoring in buildings, flood and temperature sensors, bin monitoring, carbon monoxide detection, Legionella compliance monitoring, and vehicle and people counting. Dr. Dean Al-Sened, Head of Public Sector and Enterprise at Abzorb, said: “This project is a blueprint for how IoT infrastructure should be delivered across the public sector. We believe this model works and we want every council in the UK to benefit from it. Our focus is on delivering digital transformation through shared infrastructure, intelligent design and a genuine commitment to the customer’s long-term goals.” https://www.abzorb.co.uk/ …IIP Platinum success for Apex Computing Services Manchester-based IT solutions partner Apex Computing Services has been awarded the highest level of Investors in People accreditation, reflecting its commitment to employee development and growth. Building on a Silver accreditation three years ago, it has now reached Investors in People Platinum after strengthening its leadership structure, developing a clearer long-term strategy and creating a more focused, accountable and measurable organisation. Chris Gorman, CEO of the IT support, cyber security, cloud, Microsoft Modern Workplace, AI and automation solutions provider, said: “Achieving Platinum shows that putting people first isn’t just something we talk about – it’s how we operate every day. By investing in development, wellbeing and opportunities to progress, we are investing in better outcomes for our clients and a stronger future for Apex.” Since 2023, the business has created 29 development opportunities through internal progression, apprenticeships and secondments. It has also protected time for self-development, invested in accreditations, improved wellbeing support and introduced a more structured approach to personal development. In the IIP assessment, 92% of Apex team members said they are proud to work for the company and 93% said they would recommend Apex as a great place to work. …Integrity360 and Venari Security prepare clients for the quantum era Integrity360 is partnering with Venari Security to help organisations take practical steps to assess and manage cryptographic risk today and prepare for the challenges posed by Post-quantum Cryptography (PQC) tomorrow. Encryption underpins everything, from Amazon Business launches new AI-powered tools for Prime Business members Amazon Business is bringing purchasing insights and AI-powered automation to Prime Business members with the launch of new AI-powered features and enhanced spend management tools. These include an AI assistant, available to Prime Business members at a 20% discount, new look Spend Visibility dashboards and enhancements to the company’s Spend Anomaly Monitoring feature. The Amazon Quick AI assistant connects to thousands of apps and data sources, including local files, Slack and Microsoft Outlook, enabling it to automate manual tasks, conduct deep research in minutes and produce finished deliverables such as spreadsheets and presentations. Prime Business members looking to pressure-test a pricing strategy can leverage Quick to research competitors, pull in relevant cost data and highlight risks that may not have been considered. For those seeking a second opinion on a vendor proposal Quick will analyse terms against historical agreements and flag areas for negotiation. Céline Vuillequez, VP of Amazon Business Europe, said: “The organisations getting ahead in procurement aren’t just buying more efficiently, they’re buying more intelligently. They’re using data to anticipate demand, AI to eliminate repetitive tasks and analytics to drive smarter spending. That’s the standard we’re building to, giving Prime Business members, regardless of size, the tools to focus less on process and more on the decisions that move their organisation forward.” Prime Business members can also look forward to expanded user access to Amazon Business’s Spend Visibility analytics tool which, through ready-to-use dashboards, helps users to visualise purchasing patterns, track savings, evaluate spend with small and local suppliers and compare purchases against company policy, and to its Spend Anomaly Monitoring tool, which analyses an account’s purchasing patterns and alerts administrators to unusual purchases, split purchases, abnormal repurchases, non-standard shipping addresses and excessive daily spend. Céline Vuillequez
RESELLER NEWS 01732 759725 ...continued 08 Networks, said: “Welcoming Ambico strengthens our national presence and extends the breadth of solutions we can offer clients. It builds on the momentum we’ve already created with Penntech and I’m particularly pleased that Matt and Jonathon are staying on – their continued leadership will be invaluable as we grow together.” Dynamic Networks is backed by family office Hay Wain and private equity firm Kingland Capital. To help finance the Ambico transaction it partnered with investment specialist Triple Point. www.k3advisorygroup.com … A&O Corsaire and e2e-assure address demand for sovereign cybersecurity SOC-as-a-service provider e2e-assure and cybersecurity and vulnerability management firm A&O Corsaire are addressing growing demand for sovereign security by bringing together the former’s UK-owned and operated Security Operations Centre (SOC) with the latter’s cyber assurance and transformation expertise. By working together, the two companies will enable UK customers in critical national infrastructure (CNI), defence and regulated industries to achieve compliance with automatic reporting and evidence gathering, all processed within the UK to meet sovereign technology requirements. A&O Corsaire’s assurance practice spans the full attack surface: penetration testing across web applications, APIs, networks, cloud and mobile; hardware and IoT assessments; red team operations; and regulatory compliance assessments mapped to the frameworks specific to the sectors in which the client operates. Its transformation practice takes organisations through the full remediation journey from identifying gaps to actively closing them via cloud security transformation, identity and zero trust architecture and compliance programme design. Tom McDowall, General Manager of A&O Corsaire said: “The regulatory direction of travel is unambiguous. As the UK’s NIS2-aligned legislation TXP will augment the MHRA’s IT team and support the agency as it continues to modernise its digital and technology capabilities and replace legacy systems that have caused the drug safety regulator regularly to miss targets by upwards of 100 days. www.txp.co.uk … Kubus gains new skills with Ammcom acquisition Kubus, the BGF-backed provider of managed IT services and infrastructure technology, has expanded its services portfolio with the acquisition of network cabling and infrastructure solutions specialist Ammcom Limited. Commenting on the company’s latest acquisition, Kubus CEO Jeremy Keefe said: “Ammcom has built a formidable reputation for excellence in fibre network cabling and infrastructure services and the acquisition is yet another milestone on the Kubus journey. By bringing Ammcom into the fold, we are doing so much more than growing our talent pool; we are significantly deepening our ability to deliver the end-to-end infrastructure project and capabilities that modern businesses demand.” … Dynamic Networks doubles footprint in capital Dynamic Networks has taken another step on the road to becoming a national managed IT services provider with the acquisition of Ambico – the second London firm bought by the Leeds-based IT group, following its acquisition of Penntech in September 2025. Both deals were advised by KBS Corporate. Established in 2002, Ambico provides cloud services, back-up and disaster recovery, hosted VoIP, cybersecurity and website and domain hosting. It has doubled its revenue over the past two years and, as part of the Dynamic Networks Group, will continue to be led by Managing Director Matt Sreetharan and Technical Director Jonathon Blanks. Gareth Leese, Managing Director of Dynamic customer transactions and cloud services to critical business operations. Yet many organisations lack visibility into where cryptography exists in their environments, what data it protects and how exposure (including the threat of harvest now, decrypt later attacks) could affect resilience and compliance. By combining Venari’s Adaptive Cryptographic Intelligence Platform with its managed security and advisory expertise, Integrity360 hopes to give organisations a clearer understanding of their cryptographic assets, dependencies and risk and move them from one-off discovery exercises to a more continuous approach to cryptographic risk management. Venari CEO Tom Millar said: “Organisations are drowning in cryptographic data and have no idea what to do with it. Discovery alone is no longer sufficient. The question CISOs are being asked by their board is: what do we fix, in what order, and how do we do it safely without breaking the business? Partnering with Integrity360 means we can now answer that question at scale, combining the intelligence layer Venari provides with the advisory depth and managed security capability that turns insight into action.” … Redsquid adds WTL to fast growing group Redsquid, the highly acquisitive UK-based managed technology and cybersecurity provider, has strengthened its enterprise infrastructure and mission-critical support capabilities with the acquisition of WTL Ltd. Founded almost 40 years ago, WTL has established a strong reputation for supporting enterprise environments featuring Oracle, Solaris, Linux and high-availability infrastructure. Its acquisition enhances Redsquid’s ability to support organisations operating across legacy, hybrid and cloud environments, while giving WTL customers access to Redsquid’s wider cybersecurity, managed services, connectivity and workplace technology offering. www.redsquid.co.uk … TXP to modernise MHRA IT TXP, the systems integrator specialising in tech consulting, development and resourcing, has won a £1.5m contract to modernise the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency’s enterprise cloud architecture, infrastructure and cyber security services. continued... Logicalis partners with Cyera to reduce data risk IT solutions and managed services provider Logicalis UK&I is helping organisations move beyond siloed or reactive data protection strategies towards a more proactive, continuous model of data security through a partnership with data security leader Cyera. Cyera’s AI Security Platform provides agentless, API-based data discovery and classification across on-prem, cloud and SaaS environments, enabling organisations to gain full visibility of sensitive data; identify and prioritise data exposure and access risks; enforce consistent data security policies and controls; strengthen compliance and governance across evolving regulatory requirements; and support secure AI adoption by ensuring trusted data foundations. Mike Fry, Infrastructure, Data & Security Solutions Director at Logicalis UK&I, said: “Organisations are collecting and generating more data than ever before, but many still don’t have a clear understanding of where their most sensitive data sits or how exposed it is. At the same time, AI adoption is accelerating, increasing both the value and the risk associated with that data. This partnership with Cyera enables us to help customers gain real visibility and control so they can reduce risk while continuing to innovate.” www.uki.logicalis.com Mike Fry
03304 333 888 giacom.com selling cybersecurity with confidence Our clear, layered cybersecurity framework and specialist support help you shape your proposition, go to market and win more business. Build a scalable cybersecurity portfolio that protects your customers and drives recurring revenue. Book a free cybersecurity review to identify gaps and strengthen your proposition.
RESELLER NEWS 10 01732 759725 ...continued Acumen Cyber and AttackIQ partner to continuously validate UK cyber defences against real-world threats Acumen Cyber is helping to strengthen organisations’ resilience against modern attacks by allying its engineering-led security operations capabilities with Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) from AttackIQ. Together, the companies will enable customers to continuously test defensive effectiveness, prioritise the attack paths that matter most and measure whether adversary opportunity is being systematically reduced over time. Through its partnership with AttackIQ, Acumen’s engineers will continuously emulate adversary techniques mapped to frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK, validate whether security controls prevent and detect those techniques, and help customers identify where control gaps, identity exposures, vulnerabilities and misconfigurations combine to create exploitable attack paths. Acumen Cyber CEO Mark Robertson said: “Most organisations still operate security programs built around activity metrics instead of validated outcomes. The reality is that adversaries exploit paths, not isolated findings. Our partnership with AttackIQ allows us to help customers continuously identify where attacker opportunity exists, validate whether defensive controls actually work under real-world conditions and systematically reduce Threat Debt before those paths can be exploited.” … ANS pledges £3m to boost AI adoption in Greater Manchester Digital transformation specialist ANS has pledged £3 million to support AI adoption across Greater Manchester and reinforce the city’s status as a centre for AI innovation. CEO Richard Thompson announced the commitment at the city’s Science and Industry Museum where ANS was hosting Manchester: The UK’s AI Powerhouse. Attracting leaders from business, academia, government and technology, the event featured keynote addresses from Darren Hardman (CEO of Microsoft UK &I), Liz Scott (CEO of Turing Innovation Catalyst and strategic advisor to Greater Manchester Combined Authority on AI ecosystem growth and development) and Richard Thompson (CEO of ANS), plus a panel discussion featuring Sue Daley (Director of Technology and Innovation at techUK). Greater Manchester is home to the UK’s largest AI cluster outside the Golden Triangle (CambridgeLondon-Oxford), with more than 300 AI-first startups and scaleups and over 13,500 people working in AI-related roles. ANS’s AI Adoption Fund will initially provide support to organisations looking to assess their readiness for AI, identify high-value opportunities and implement technologies securely and responsibly. https://www.ans.co.uk/data-ai/ai-powerhouse/ ITVET urges businesses to donate unused laptops as school demand outstrips supply ITVET, a Bishop’s Stortford-based technology solutions provider that also refurbishes donated corporate hardware and distributes it free of charge to schools, charities and community organisations across the UK, is calling on businesses to donate unwanted devices to its Laptops for Schools programme. Launched during the pandemic, the programme has already donated more than 3,000 refurbished laptops and PCs to schools and charities and currently has a waiting list of around 30 organisations in need of equipment for children and/or staff supporting vulnerable groups. Over the last six years, the programme has evolved from relying on public donations to sourcing devices through corporate clients, particularly businesses nearing the end of threeyear lease agreements and/or IT refresh cycles. ITVET manages and funds the full refurbishment process, including free data wiping and certified data destruction for donating businesses, a service typically valued at around £50 per device. By extending the life of 3,000 devices, ITVET estimates it has prevented around 2 tonnes of electronic waste from entering landfill. www.itvet.co.uk/about/laptops-for-schools takes shape and procurement scrutiny of the entire security supply chain intensifies, the organisations that have already established sovereign, end-to-end security programmes will be ahead of requirements that others are still scrambling to meet. What we can now offer the market is a complete answer to that question, one that is auditable, accredited and built entirely within the UK.” e2e-assure.com …Industry’s first managed AI service launched by Cybanetix Cybanetix, an MDR specialist delivering the SOC of the future, has launched a Managed AI Service to address all three aspects of AI use within enterprises – employee AI usage, AI governance and embedded AI. Capable of responding to all alerts in under 15 minutes, the service provides a 360-degree view of the AI security ecosystem and includes observability and exposure mapping, behavioural monitoring of AI activity, runtime protection at both the infrastructure and application layers, and synthetic and adversarial testing of AI models. Cybernetix CTO Merlin Gillespie said: “AI tools such as co-pilots, coding agents and LLM‑powered workflows are now embedded across every business function and represent the fastest growing, least-protected entry point in the enterprise. CISO’s need AI posture management, model provenance, red teaming for rogue behaviour, real-time runtime detection, and the evidence trail to satisfy regulators and auditors. No single product does that, whereas the Managed AI Service covers all those bases to provide a truly credible AI security programme.” cybanetix.com LIMA scores with Bolton Wanderers LIMA, the Salford-based IT service provider, has been awarded a multi-year contract to provide Bolton Wanderers FC with managed network services, Microsoft 365 support, backup-as-aservice and end-user support. As well as strengthening the Club’s core IT environment and network infrastructure, which supports everything from payment systems and turnstiles to Wi-Fi and CCTV, LIMA will help advance the Club’s longer-term technology roadmap, including enhanced cyber security, improved operational resilience and a continued move towards cloud-based and SaaS platforms. In doing so, LIMA will not only provide a better experience for supporters, staff and guests but also enhance the Toughsheet Community Stadium and on-site Bolton Stadium Hotel as venues for hospitality, conferencing and events. www.lima.co.uk
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12 01732 759725 ‘We’ve got a proposal from someone else and it’s half the price’ and having to explain that the two proposals aren’t the same, which they rarely understand. In September, Mit told me about Assurix. I mulled it over and thought that could be good for us because with an external benchmark we can at least say ‘we are at this level, are they?’.” Investment in externally verified proof that one’s controls are working is a very different approach to competitive pressures to that taken by many MSPs, which is to keep lowering prices. As Patel points out, this can only be done by cutting corners with potentially disastrous consequences for the MSP and its clients. “I was on a podcast just before this call with someone who had lost a deal because another MSP was charging £15 pounds per user per month. How in the world can a client trust an MSP charging £15 per user per month? Assume you’re a 10-user company and you’re getting charged £150 a month. How many hours can that IT company spend on your business and break even? Three hours. And how many hours can they spend to make the average margin in the industry? One and a half hours. You can’t manage the IT for a company of 10 people in one and a half hours a month; it’s just not possible.” Not for everyone There will always be businesses that choose to buy on price, regardless of the risks, but the overall push is clearly towards more regulation, more security, better governance and more accountability, so how many MSPs does Assurix expect to achieve its trustmark? “I don’t think the Assurix trustmark is for every MSP, and I don’t think every MSP is going to be able to get to the standard,” says Patel. “There’s talk of there being 13,000 MSPs in the UK; I think a truer figure is 6,000 to 6,500 MSPs. Our aim is to get to about 1,500 MSPs in five years’ time, and I think that’s probably the right cap for the number of good MSPs out there,” says Patel. To date, the largest MSP recruited by Assurix has 150 employees, and MSP is doing everything it says it is doing (and everything it should be doing) to secure its clients. For MSPs, it provides a competitive differentiator and the discipline and motivation to achieve and maintain the highest standards. Early win The value of Assurix was brought home to Little Big Tech Founder and Managing Director Nick Haley even before the company’s verification process had been completed. “We were contacted by a company that had identified certain security issues and raised them with their incumbent MSP. It turned out these had been present for more than four months without being picked up by the MSP. We went to a meeting with them, told them how we operate, told them about the process we were going through to get the trustmark – it was just before we’d actually got it – and how we would be held to account to make sure we were doing exactly what we should be doing. It was one of the easiest ‘yeses’ I’ve had.” This ‘win’ highlights the appetite for a trustmark that gives clients confidence that an MSP is delivering what it promises, which is exactly what prompted Patel to launch Assurix in the first place. “The challenge in this industry is that service is very visible, so if you don’t pick up a phone call, don’t reply to a ticket or don’t set up someone’s machine when you’re meant to the customer is going to know about it. But security is invisible – a client won’t know whether their MSP is patching machines when they’re meant to or if the stuff that’s installed on their machines is working and keeping them secure. Assurix helps SMEs differentiate between MSPs that all sound the same and promise the same things.” For Haley, this was the initial attraction. “We’re a young company, with 10 staff, in our fifth year of trading. We typically target younger, ambitious companies that are on a growth trajectory and often haven’t used an MSP before. One of the things we kept running up against when proposing a comprehensive package of support and security was being told Little Big Tech, which provides managed IT and cybersecurity services to 60 clients with five to 150 users, has become the first MSP to be awarded an Assurix trustmark following independent verification of its security controls and service operations. Launched by MSP industry leader Mit Patel last October, Assurix provides externally verified proof that an MSP is meeting required standards across 64 controls covering security maturity and operational maturity, mapped to the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) version 4. Unlike point-in-time certifications like Cyber Essentials Plus or ISO 27001, Assurix continuously monitors controls, with live controls polled every six hours, and will suspend an MSP from the Assurix Trusted MSP register should its standards slip and not be rectified within 30 days. Another way in which Assurix differs from ISO accreditations is that ISO lets businesses tolerate a level of risk as long as it’s acknowledged and managed, whereas Assurix has prescriptive standards that must be met or exceeded. For SMEs, Assurix verification is independent, up-to-date proof that an London-based MSP is first to be independently verified under new trustmark designed to prove an MSP is both secure and operationally effective National trust MSPs Mit Patel
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