Monday Morning Impact – December 26

Avnet Introduces New Partner Programs for its Cloud Marketplace

Avnet, Inc. has announced the addition of two new partner programs to its Avnet Cloud Marketplace.

The Avnet AWS CloudFront Reseller Program is designed to build strategic partnerships with key Avnet Amazon Web Services (AWS) partners who enable content delivery network (CDN) specific workloads for their end customers. Partners now have access to Amazon CloudFront, a global CDN service that accelerates delivery of websites, APIs, video content or other web assets. It integrates with other Amazon Web Services products to provide partners with a way to accelerate content to end users without minimum usage commitments.

The Avnet Oracle Reseller Program delivers an out-of-the-box branded storefront to support the resale of the most popular Oracle Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions.

Additionally, partners are now able to access and resell Avnet’s Managed Services through the Avnet Cloud Marketplace.

“The Avnet Cloud Marketplace offers our partners an easy way to expand and deliver their industry-leading cloud solutions for their customers,” said Tim FitzGerald, vice president of digital transformation, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. “These new programs and enhancements equip partners with a new set of resources and tools to allow them to quickly onboard new cloud offerings and provide their customers the solutions they demand.”

In addition to the new partner programs, Avnet has also made several enhancements to the Avnet Cloud Marketplace platform that enrich billing reporting, offer additional customization capabilities and provide new supplier features.

Channel Impact^®
The new programs align with Avnet’s strategy to provide partners with a one-stop shop for cloud solutions, along with a cloud management toolset.

LookingGlass Rolls Out MSP Partner Program

LookingGlass Cyber Solutions, a Reston, VA-based security vendor, has announced that its Cyber Guardian Network partner program has expanded to include Managed Security Services Providers (MSSPs).

The company specializes in the detection of phishing attempts, the detection of rogue mobile apps, and also compliance, threat awareness and remediation. LookingGlass’s threat intelligence platform comes with over 100 integrated open source and proprietary data feeds. Partners can also write their own integrations to existing or complementary solutions via open APIs.

“For an MSSP to add differentiated value, security has to be much more than patch updates, antivirus and firewalls,” said Laurie Potratz, vice president of global channels and alliances at LookingGlass. “We are looking for partners who currently offer a suite of managed security services to their customers, with expertise and support resources.”

In addition, the program allows MSSP partners to offer services, such as Executive or Vendor Threat Assessments, provided by LookingGlass’ special investigations unit, a team of industry experts focused on cyber intelligence, intelligence studies, security terrorism, law and behavioral studies.

Channel Impact^®
With security as a service gaining momentum, programs that address the needs of MSSPs can be instrumental in helping vendors to reach the next level.

Ingram Micro and HNA Group Announce Completion of Acquisition

Ingram Micro Inc. and HNA Group today announced that they have completed the previously announced transaction, under which Tianjin Tianhai Investment Company, Ltd. acquired Ingram Micro for $38.90 per share in an all-cash transaction with an equity value of approximately $6 billion.

“The closing of this transaction represents a significant milestone on Ingram Micro’s path to growing our business and providing a full spectrum of global technology and supply chain services to businesses around the world,” said Alain Monié, CEO of Ingram Micro. “We are delighted to move forward with this partnership with HNA Group and excited by the opportunity to accelerate the development and delivery of an even stronger value proposition for Ingram Micro’s vendors and customers globally.”

Working together, we believe there are significant opportunities to continue to expand Ingram Micro’s delivery platform and portfolio of solutions offerings into high growth regions and provide customers across a wide range of industries with greater access to new market opportunities. Today marks a significant step forward in HNA Group’s efforts to create a global, one-stop provider of logistics and supply chain solutions and services.”

Ingram Micro will remain headquartered in Irvine, California and will continue to be led by CEO Alan Monié. Trading of Ingram Micro stock on the New York Stock Exchange has been terminated.

Channel Impact^®
The move is expected to help Ingram Micro to grow its value proposition, and to extend its presence into new geographies.