Opinion
Opinion
Cloud Computing Services
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The cyber security channel – what’s in store for 2021?
Ben Richardson, head of channel EMEA at Forcepoint, shares his thoughts about what cyber security could look like in the year ahead Continue Reading
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Ransomware has MSPs in its sights
Peter Geytenbeek, senior manager of channels EMEA at Thycotic, shares a warning about the need for managed service providers to take their own security seriously Continue Reading
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The problems of brand association
Billy MacInnes wonders whether SolarWinds MSP partners might have been asked some questions over the past few weeks Continue Reading
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How has the cloud changed life? Let's ask a vendor and channel player
The cloud has changed the way many of us operate, and Nick Booth has gone out to take a closer look via a couple of examples Continue Reading
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Why consultation helps IT service providers keep customers for longer
Managed service providers need to focus on the ‘partner’ aspect of their role, says Mav Turner, group vice-president of products for SolarWinds MSP Continue Reading
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Covid-19 pandemic highlights a crisis of data
Paul Evans, CEO of Redstor, shares his views about why he feels the ‘new normal’ offers unprecedented opportunities Continue Reading
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The sustainability challenge
Epson research indicates that users do care about sustainability, but it's not as easy as just tapping into that sentiment Continue Reading
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How the GSI partner model has supported customers with distributed workforces
Adam Tarbox, director of the global system integrator business for EMEA at Nutanix, shares his thoughts about the impact of the pandemic and the GSI partner model Continue Reading
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Four disciplines for maintaining staff productivity to meet service level agreements in pandemic
Datto’s vice-president of engineering for remote monitoring and management, Ian van Reenen, shares some views about productivity during the current crisis Continue Reading
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Providing more value to your customers over time
Maintaining your client base means your technology offerings, services and reporting must evolve Continue Reading
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What will the next phase of working look like due to Covid-19?
Andy Jane, CTO at Olive Communications, looks back at the past couple of weeks as the UK has been on lockdown to see how businesses have coped during the initial stage of the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis Continue Reading
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How managed services can help SME security teams take back their time
For those uncertain about investing in managed services in 2020, doing so could be the answer to freeing up your IT team to turn its attention to areas where it’s needed most. In the first of a three-part series, we look at the services you will need Continue Reading
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Zero clients: The future of mobile security for the channel?
As cyber attacks and security breaches continue to grow, IT managers are seeking new ways to secure their critical business data. While thin clients have been a good option in the past, they have limited benefits for remote working. That is where ... Continue Reading
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Digital transformation for print: Four traps to avoid
In the final part of her series on the world of print, Nicola Narey looks at how print providers can keep on the straight and narrow Continue Reading
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Moving with the times – how PSPs can adapt their skills for the digital age
In the first part of her two-part series on the world of print, Quadient’s Nicola Narey shares her views on why print service providers need to evolve their businesses Continue Reading
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Distribution model is alive and well
Warren Buffett’s interest in Tech Data represents a very strong endorsement of distribution and the channel’s role Continue Reading
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Opportunities and threats with Microsoft 365 Business Voice
The latest announcement from Microsoft brings significant business benefits and increased revenue to its resellers Continue Reading
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Digital transformation: How far are we really in the journey?
Are customers really in as much of a hurry to digitally transform as the shrillest advocates of the technology would like us to believe? Continue Reading
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Will IAM make you more secure in a less secure world?
There are growing opportunities for the channel with identity and access management, as migration to hybrid environments gains pace Continue Reading
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The five challenges SMEs face due to poor internet connectivity
What are the leading problems for small to medium-sized enterprises when it comes to internet connectivity? Continue Reading
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Westcoast and iland present a tale of two disties
Talking to just a couple of distributors reveals the evolution and determination from those firms to remain ahead of the market Continue Reading
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Supporting intelligent workspaces
As new technology continues to drive new ways of working, IT departments need support in facilitating the flexibility and connectivity demanded by today’s tech-savvy workforce Continue Reading
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Are you ready to trade with the world on Brexit day?
While some claim there are no freight management systems in place to help businesses trade after Brexit, the vendors of such systems – both traditional and newer, more user-friendly versions – would disagree Continue Reading
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The hybrid cloud and clearing technical debt
When done properly, hybrid infrastructure can deliver efficiency, cost savings and performance, but with so many options available, good advice from a channel partner is key to achieving these benefits Continue Reading
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What makes a great managed security service provider?
With an increasingly challenging threat landscape, being a successful MSSP can be a struggle. Making sure customers stay safe is critical to the success of your business, which is why understanding what makes a great MSSP is crucial for you to be ... Continue Reading
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Securing SD-WAN – beyond the base level
Software-defined networks has sophisticated security features built in, but additional layers of security are required to ensure robust protection against increasingly advanced cyber threats Continue Reading
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What are the risks of not responding to a critical alarm in time?
When selling management tools, managed service providers need to educate users about the importance of acting on the alarms generated by such equipment Continue Reading
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Apstra stops the cyber criminals from loitering with intent
Intent-based networking fine-tunes all the complicated variables that influence the performance of a network infrastructure and can head off any potential cock-ups Continue Reading
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Shifting business model to benefit from the rise in cloud
Channel partners will need to undergo their own version of digital transformation to take full advantage of the shift to cloud Continue Reading
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A bridge too VAR
The expedition from VAR to MSP is not short of challenges but, equipped with the right map, ambitious companies can feel more confident in getting past first base. In the second part of his series, Predatar CEO Alistair Mackenzie takes a closer look... Continue Reading
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Ransomware and the danger of MSP lock-out
Recent attacks on managed service providers have highlighted remote monitoring and management vulnerabilities, reinforcing the need for a security-centric approach in MSPs’ foundational practices Continue Reading
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VAR from the madding crowd
Predatar’s CEO reflects on the transformation from VAR to MSP, highlighting some of the key milestones and the obvious pitfalls to avoid Continue Reading
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Help us to help you – how the customer-first model helps you empower your business
We are in the middle of the fourth industrial revolution, with technologies such as the internet of things, data analytics, artificial intelligence and cloud-based business management tools a regular talking point. But technology alone won’t solve ... Continue Reading
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What has the channel ever done for digital transformation?
How the channel can play an important role in the drive for digital transformation Continue Reading
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Channelling the cloud – building healthy CSP relationships
Creating a successful relationship with cloud service providers is essential for channel partners looking to increase their cloud portfolio. iLand 's director of channel sales has five tips to make the most of the opportunity Continue Reading
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Insight 2019 technology predictions
Michael Guggemos, CIO of Insight, shares his thoughts about what will be the key issues for the channel in the months ahead Continue Reading
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Tech Data’s Advanced Solutions: 2019 channel predictions
Miriam Murphy, Senior Vice President EMEA , Advanced & Specialist Solutions at Tech Data shares some thoughts about what next year will hold Continue Reading
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Improving processes with the cloud
Dominik Birgelen, CEO of oneclick, has some advice for those looking to harness the cloud to improve their operations Continue Reading
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There's a cloud partner to cover every need
The recent Cloud Industry Forum report into how customers spend their money on infrastructure caught the attention of Billy MacInnes Continue Reading
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Are the good old days coming back?
Long lunches and conversations of substance are things that Nick Booth hopes will return Continue Reading
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Nuxeo aims to help companies with problems of subject access review and digital transformation
Subject access reviews cost money and Nick Booth finds someone that not only understands how to save customers a few pennies but also how to help the channel make some Continue Reading
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What has HP Inc got in common with Manchester City and Chelsea FC?
Comments made by the HP boss about the context of the recent acquisition of Apogee got Billy MacInnes thinking about other operations that buy strategically to deny rivals Continue Reading
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Virtustream is about to get biblical on the channel and its Aas
The vendor gathered the great and the good together to outline its cloud strategy and Nick Booth was in the audience Continue Reading
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MSP Day 2018 - Only the beginning
Jason Howells, EMEA Director, Barracuda MSP, shares his views about building on the success of the first MSP Day Continue Reading
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AI Cops Walk the Thin Line Between Fin Tech and Fiend Tech
Steps are being taken to ensure that AI and machine learning do not damage consumers finds Nick Booth Continue Reading
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You don’t need to treat clients mean to keep them keen, says WP Engine
The technology that made WordPress so easy to use is something that has caught Nick Booth's eye Continue Reading
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Considerations on a European channel strategy
Brad Parks, VP of business development at Morpheus Data, shares some of the thoughts that go through then mind of a vendor looking at increasing European channel coverage Continue Reading
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The rise of IoT
Craig Smith, director IoT and analytics solutions and services at Tech Data, shares his thoughts about the rise of the Internet of Things Continue Reading
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5 growing pains MSPs need to overcome
Gregg Lalle, vice-president of international sales and strategy at ConnectWise, explores the business challenges that confront MSPs as they endeavour to scale their businesses without compromising the customer experience Continue Reading
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Cloud appeals come rain or shine
The recent hot weather got Billy MacInnes thinking about the benefits of paying for what you use Continue Reading
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Looking beyond MSP Day to year-round sales opportunities
Later this month the first MSP Day will be marked but supporting and encouraging managed service providers is not a one-off exercise argues Jason Howells at Barracuda MSP Continue Reading
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Are resellers ready for the race to multi-cloud?
Multi-cloud is here to stay and could offer resellers a chance to stand out from the crowd if they can rise to the challenge Continue Reading
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Giving the NHS some IT treatment
There are plenty of things that could help the NHS save money by using IT finds Nick Booth Continue Reading
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Hugging hardware is outdated - the new trend is cuddling a cloud
The world is changing and as Nick Booth finds out after a chat with Arcserve the days of stroking the tin is coming to an end Continue Reading
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There is no Margin for Error in Azure it’s Strictly Bill Room
Nick Booth finds some inspiration in what Microsoft partner Astel Systems has been doing to deliver cloud services Continue Reading
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Continuing in the face of disaster
Paul Blore, managing director at Netmetix, cloud network specialists, writes about the importance of business continuity and how businesses can best implement it Continue Reading
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In pursuit of agility: empowering the citizen integrator
Agile IT is something that a lot of customers want help with and Erica Langhi, senior solution architect, Red Hat, casts her eye over the current market landscape Continue Reading
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The multicloud dream
Nutanix’s Jan Ursi looks at the new route to revenue for hyper-convergence channel partners Continue Reading
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Focusing on the cloud reality
It's easy to lose sight of what is actually happening in the market sometimes warns Billy Macinnes Continue Reading
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Could the NPL be the good referee that helps the IT industry’s game?
The National Physics Laboratory might have a role to play in keeping the IT industry on track explains Nick Booth Continue Reading
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Charting a course to the new world
VMware would like its resellers to be actively selling cloud products and services, something Billy MacInnes recognises as an issue for more than just that vendor Continue Reading
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Whoa…we’re halfway there, and opportunities await if you’re a cloud player
The future is the cloud and Jennifer Warawa, EVP of Partners, Accountants, and Alliances at Sage, has noted that the channel is already on the road to the future Continue Reading
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The true value of mobile device management
Ian van Reenen, vice president of engineering, endpoint products at Autotask, shares some thoughts about the challenges facing those trying to manage mobile devices Continue Reading
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Demystifying the myths of the channel and the cloud
Niko Mykkanen, head of partner channel strategy, Amazon Web Services EMEA, shares some thoughts about the way the channel can approach the cloud Continue Reading
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Industrial Internet of Things: Redefining MSP service offerings
Ian van Reenen, vice president of engineering, endpoint products at Autotask, looks at the opportunities IoT in the commercial sector offers MSPs Continue Reading
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Channel people still play a vital role
Hearing that channel firms are growing is welcome news for Billy MacInnes and he wonders just what is driving that success Continue Reading
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Breaking down the barriers to Smart Tech in the home
Rod Slater, head of Smart Tech & IoT at Exertis, has some advice about how the channel can take advantage of the wave of smart technology targeted at the home Continue Reading
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People must think the cloud computing industry is a bunch of Yahoos
Nick Booth has some thoughts on the revelations that Yahoo suffered a major security breach that went unreported for quite some time Continue Reading
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Winning gold in the technology race
It has been a glorious summer for Olympians and Gary Bell, executive director - outsourcing at Civica draws some inspiration for IT users Continue Reading
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Cloud: Everyone else is doing it, why can’t we?
Chris Roberts, director of Channel at Pulsant, looks at why some have been more successful than others in changing sales culture, remuneration approaches and business models when it comes to selling cloud Continue Reading
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8 tips for creating a successful sales methodology for IT services
Mark Banfield, senior vice president, International, Autotask, shares some advice about how to create a successful sales methodology Continue Reading
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Enabling a smarter state: delivering services based around people, not policy
David Cameron might be on his way out but his vision of a smarter state is one the channel can still help deliver says Chris Ginnelly, managing director, Civica Digital Solutions Continue Reading
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The negatives of legacy IT
In the age of digital transformation Billy MacInnes muses over the increasingly negative associations that legacy IT suffers from Continue Reading
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Does the UK slide down the cloud rankings matter?
In light of the recent BSA findings that the UK has dropped down the rankings of a good place to use the cloud Billy MacInnes wonders if that is a terrible thing Continue Reading
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Infrastructure as a utility – The next stage in cloud evolution
Philippe Fosse, VP EMEA channels at EMC, shares his thoughts on the channel, innovation and the cloud Continue Reading
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Speed and digital transformation might not be the best mix
Few would argue against the need for more customers to embrace digital transformation but Billy MacInnes warns against rushing that process Continue Reading
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Five technology trends that will define 2016
Just what should resellers look out for in the year ahead? Brian Buggy, co-founder and vp products at Zynstra, has some suggestions Continue Reading
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Office 365 – a sheep in wolf’s clothing
The channel might have feared Office 365 but it could be an opportunity claims Aidan Simister, regional director at Lepide Software Continue Reading
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Government fumbles around, unable to find the spot on the G-Cloud
Nick Booth canvasses some opinion about just what is happening with G-Cloud Continue Reading
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IT is not always to blame for a failed tech project
IT projects failing to be delivered is a problem we have all grown used to but as Billy MacInnes discovers the reasons things go wrong are not always obvious Continue Reading
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Channel opportunities in a time of change
Customer transition could be a positive for the channel says Philippe Fossé, vice president of EMEA Channels, EMC Continue Reading
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Salesforce.com strikes the right balance
The balance between the subscription and support sides of the business seems to be well balanced at Salesforce.com argues Billy MacInnes Continue Reading
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The BI managed service opportunity
Peter Baxter, managing director EMEA, Yellowfin, looks at just what the BI market can offer those delivering managed services Continue Reading
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Tempting the DIYers back to using the experts
With the news that many SME owner managers try to fix their IT problems themselves Billy MacInnes wonders how they can be tempted to use the channel Continue Reading
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Is BYOD DOA? Not for MSPs
The bring your own device trend is far from over, particularly for MSPs, argues Ashley Leonard, president and CEO of Verismic Continue Reading
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The future of managed print services is all about the service
Vendors, distributors and resellers alike need to accept the world has changed says Giles Thorpe, managing director, CCE Continue Reading
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WS2003 end of life – Is your business ready?
Mark Scaife, head of technical development, Phoenix IT, looks at what the forthcoming support switch off for WS2003 means for the channel's customers Continue Reading
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The mis-alignment between customers and service providers
Recent findings from LogicNow revealed that many customers were not on the same page as their service providers and Billy MacInnes has some thoughts on why Continue Reading
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Bett 2015 – time to make a play for managed IT services
David Fearne, technical director at Arrow ECS UK & Ireland, gives his reaction to the BETT show Continue Reading
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The Microsoft cloud case that could have far reaching consequences
The ongoing legal battle between Microsoft and the US government over just what can be shared in the cloud is one that Billy MacInnes thinks could have a far reaching impact Continue Reading
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Mind the gap and find the right skills
Billy MacInnes looks back over some recent market coverage and exposes skills gaps at different ends of the market Continue Reading
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Moving to the cloud: why resellers need a helping hand
Moving to the cloud can be a challenge and the advice from David Ellis, director of strategy at Arrow ECS, UK and Ireland, is to find the right partner to help Continue Reading
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Onward and upward at Innovate UK
Britain’s technology strategy board (now rebranded as Innovate UK) held an exhibition of the inventions that can make Britain’s industries leaner and greener Continue Reading
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Served from the cloud
Graham Harris, product director for cloud at Daisy Wholesale, discusses cloud and why the channel shouldn’t be intimidated Continue Reading
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Can you really motivate the channel with boot camps?
Stand by your beds! There’s a rash of military style training courses for the channel. But Nick Booth wonders if they work? Continue Reading
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Confusion in the cloud
The IT industry is awash with jargon and acronyms – BYOD, CYOD, COPE, PaaS, IaaS, SaaS, … the list goes on and now there is an new one according to Adam Davison from Cloud Distribution Continue Reading
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The cloud takes the green tint off SAP
The shift by users towards the cloud has also pushed the responsibility for emissions away from the user causing SAP a few problems finds Billy MacInnes Continue Reading
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Data – the lifeblood of a business
David Ellis, director of technology and services, ComputerLinks, looks at the importance of protecting data Continue Reading
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The internet of dumb, nasty things is on the way
Machines – we can’t live without them, but they’re about to gang up on us and do us in. Nick Booth is worried Continue Reading
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Can Twitter really be worth more than $24bn?
As Twitter shares start trading Billy MacInnes wonders if the social media firm really is worth its valuation Continue Reading