Feature Articles

51. Getting To The Bottom Of Cloud Tiering 2/9/2023

    Marketing hype notwithstanding, cloud tiering isn’t based on any technological innovations, and it isn’t a new, improved approach to managing data. Cloud tiering is similar to Information Lifecycle Management (ILM), a strategy that’s been around for years. In the current iteration, storage vendors are simply layering cloud features onto conventional hardware, then calling the combination by a new name. But cloud tiering, like ILM before it, is fundamentally flawed in the way it manages capacity.

52. Operationalizing Security Policy To Automate Multi-Cloud Network Security 2/6/2023

    Multi-cloud enterprise infrastructures are becoming more common for two simple reasons: organizations want to utilize the cloud solution that’s optimal for a wide variety of business processes, and each cloud vendor and service has their own specific sets of strengths and weaknesses.

53. Requirements For SD-WAN Success 2/2/2023

    As company needs continue to evolve, there has been a shift in what is expected from an SD-WAN solution. Today’s businesses depend on connectivity as their foundation. The growth of cloud usage in the current era of digital transformation, combined with the continued support for remote or hybrid working environments, has cemented the role that connectivity plays in success.

54. The Golden Opportunity For MSSPs To Protect Their Customers From External Risks 1/30/2023

    It’s well understood that organizations are facing ever-increasing levels of cyber risk. More than five billion individual records are believed to have been breached in cyberattacks during 2021 - the highest number yet.

55. Platform Neutrality Provides Needed Leverage To Channel Partners 1/26/2023

    MSPs thrive on creativity and choice. Many providers pride themselves on developing customizable offerings and connecting various solutions with their own “special sauce.” No two businesses are the same – including IT services firms and their clients – so MSPs typically seek vendor partners that offer flexible platforms with open integration communities. The channel thrives when providers can select the proper solution for themselves and their clients.

56. How To “Sell” Disaster Recovery To CEOs 1/23/2023

    CEOs have a lot on their plates, focusing on growth, competitiveness, profits for shareholders, and a range of other concerns. But there is a vital — indeed, existential — concern that many CEOs overlook: disaster recovery.

57. How The Channel Can Help Security Teams Battle An Identity Crisis 1/19/2023

    Identity is undoubtedly one of the most critical security challenges facing organizations today. The majority of cyberattacks exploit compromised user accounts to gain initial system access, and an increasing number of threat actors use these compromised identities to move laterally and access critical systems and data without detection.

58. 5 Cloud Trends To Watch In 2023 1/18/2023

    It’s no secret the cloud environment has changed dramatically over the last few years, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic shifted how businesses operate. As we look forward to 2023, there are numerous trends and changes within the cloud space we can expect to see as systems continue to evolve, companies adopt new technologies and the shift to hybrid and remote work becomes permanent for many businesses. Here are a few of the most prominent trends that are likely to emerge in the cloud space in 2023.

59. How To Neutralize The Threat Of Ransomware 1/16/2023

    Ransomware remains a persistent, dangerous, and costly threat to the enterprise. According to recent research from Veeam, a ransomware attack is launched every 11 seconds, potentially disrupting productivity, services, and revenue. And beyond the potential business risk, a successful ransomware attack can subject the victim to civil and even criminal liability, not to mention the often lengthy or even permanent damage to brand reputation.

60. The Revamped MSP Lead Generation Framework 1/12/2023

    We help MSPs add between 6 & 12 new managed services agreements per year by generating a warm pipeline consistently. In the second article about problems with status quo MSP marketing, I cited the backbone issue as the evolved MSP buyer. In other words, today's MSP buyer is not a first timer anymore. They have an MSP or decent Break/Fix already. But now they need a better MSP and may not even realize it yet.