Monday Morning Impact – November 28

Avnet Introduces New Managed Security Service Program

Avnet, Inc., the Phoenix-based distributor, has launched a new North American managed security service program, intended to facilitate partner offers of 24x7x365 security monitoring and management. Known as “Recon,” the company expects the new program will help partners to build comprehensive security practices.

“Threat monitoring and detection is one of the most in-demand aspects of security among end users,” said Alex Ryals, Avnet’s vice president of security and networking solutions. “With Recon, we have invested on our partners’ behalf to give them a way to monitor their customers’ security environments without draining their resources.”

The service features on-premise collection, correlation and analysis with cloud-based monitoring and remediation. It also includes assessment, discovery, and networking capabilities. Additionally, Recon provides host-based intrusion detection, file integrity monitoring, compliance reporting and vulnerability assessment options.

Recon can be bundled with security technology from leading security companies, such as Cisco, Checkpoint and F5.

In other news, Avnet has also acquired a majority interest in Hackster, Inc. (“Hackster.io”) as the first step of a two-part transaction in which Avnet will acquire the remainder of the company in January 2017. Headquartered in San Francisco, , Hackster.io is an online community that helps users globally learn how to design, create and program internet-connected hardware.

Channel Impact^®
Recon is the latest example of how distributors are increasingly looking to add value in the software and services markets, reflecting the changes in the industry in that same direction.

Synnex Launches Cloud Assessment Services Program

Synnex Corporation has rolled out its new cloud assessments services program as part of a coordinated effort to help allied solution providers more effectively determine which workloads are appropriate to transition to cloud technologies.

Through this program, the distributor has combined its own technical expertise with that of RISC Network’s CloudScape for assessment purposes and Red Hat CloudForms to help identify, map, and execute an effective migration strategy.

“Synnex’ new cloud assessment services program gives our solution providers the opportunity to have more productive cloud sales conversations with their end-user customer,” said Rob Moyer, vice president of cloud services and software at Synnex. “Leading with an assessment of their end users’ environments to better understand which workloads are even applicable to be moved into a cloud-based environment can help solution providers to be smarter with their customers’ budgets and build deeper trust.”

Channel Impact^®
This program is intended to help shorten the sales cycle and facilitate the development of more full-featured service offerings.

Accenture Acquires Nashco Consulting Ltd., Expanding its ServiceNow Capabilities

Accenture has acquired Nashco Consulting Ltd., a Canada-based company that provides consulting, design and implementation services for ServiceNow. Nashco will become part of Accenture’s global ServiceNow practice and will significantly bolster the practice certifications in North America.

“Our clients are increasingly seeking to adopt As-a-Service operating models, and this acquisition represents the latest in a series of significant investments in our cloud business to meet the growing demand,” said Julie Sweet, Accenture chief executive – North America. “Nashco’s team of certified ServiceNow professionals in Canada brings a strong track record and exceptional skills that will help our clients meet the challenges of digital transformation.”

Headquartered in Alberta, Canada, Nashco was founded in 1993 and has had an exclusive focus on ServiceNow consulting, design, and implementation services for the ServiceNow IT Service Management Suite since 2008.

Channel Impact^®
The acquisition further strengthens Accenture’s position in the ServiceNow partner ecosystem and enhances the company’s technology capabilities in the XaaS space.