Comms Dealer

Exclusive Networks is to distribute SentinelOne products in Europe. Their plan is to replace the 'Old Guard' of legacy antivirus software and provide organisations with a standalone approach to endpoint security that combines behavioural-based detection of both known and unknown threats, with automated mitigation and forensic tools to defeat attacks that employ a combination of advanced techniques within malware, exploits, or insecure scripts.

"Bringing our solution to these key European markets is a significant step toward changing the face of endpoint protection on a global scale," claimed SentinelOne CEO and co-founder Tomer Weingarten. "We're fortunate to have Exclusive Networks alongside for this effort."

Barrie Desmond, COO at Exclusive, added: "Traditional antivirus products are continuing to fail millions of enterprise customers."

Wallix, the security software company offering privileged access management solutions for large and medium enterprises, public organisations and cloud service providers, has appointed IT security distributor Distology in the UK.

Paris-based Wallix grew by 44% in the second half of 2015 and aims to boost lead generation capabilities, pre and post-sales support and add dedicated channel resource in the UK.

Wallix is Distology's first vendor focused on the privileged access management (PAM) sector, one of the fastest growing technology areas in the cybersecurity solutions market.

Key drivers in the market are worries around internal IT security risks, password management, granting access to third parties or contractors, compliance with regulatory requirements and the governance of privileged access, monitoring and traceability.

Launched in January 2016, Wallix's main product, the WAB Suite will join Distology's portfolio of software vendors that are focused on the computer security market.

Hayley Roberts, MD, Distology, said: "Concerns around data breaches and compliance, such as the requirements imposed by the EU data protection law, the GDPR, are key factors driving uptake in the privileged access management market. Wallix enables us to extend the offering into this critical area of enterprise security."

Bruce Jubb, Regional Director for UK Ireland & the Nordics, Wallix, said: "We have ambitious growth plans in the UK."

Pennine Telecom has partnered with East Lancashire Railway in a new sponsorship deal.

The data, networking and telecommunications specialist has signed a three-year agreement which will provide it with a strong promotional presence in and around its home town.

Under the terms of the deal, Pennine will secure up to 20 poster sites at any one time across the railway's six stations and The Trackside pub at its Bury Bolton Street hub. In addition, the company's logo will feature on the ELR's main timetable leaflet and website and it will enjoy benefits such as exclusive use of the railway's 1920s Observation carriage.

Commenting on the company's decision to again offer financial support to the railway, Pennine's MD Andrew Roberts said: "We've already enjoyed a terrific and rewarding relationship with the East Lancashire Railway and can only see that becoming stronger as the attraction grows ever more popular.

"Like the ELR, we're also very proud of Bury, it's heritage and its sense of community. The railway thrives only through the support of its many volunteers and commercial partners."

BroadSoft has acquired Virginia-based Intellinote, an enterprise messaging-based team communication and collaboration software application.

"The consumerisation of IT, shadow IT and the rise of millennials in the workforce have upended traditional business and communication models. Users are now in control but today's point solutions are inadequate and lack integration, leading to scattered communications, ineffective meetings and fragmented workflows," said Taher Behbehani, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, BroadSoft.

"BroadSoft's Project Tempo envisions an integrated, contextual and mobile collaboration experience, so individuals and teams can work the way they want and focus on areas where they can make the greatest impact. The Intellinote acquisition helps us realise this vision."

Hats off to Gamma for scooping ITSPA's Best VoIP Infrastructure award, a category that focuses on companies providing back-end services for VoIP providers, and independently judged based on key features of the service, innovation, how it's differentiated from other services in the market and how well it delivers customer support.

Detailed examples of how the service has been successfully deployed were also included in the submission. Along with the written submission, each entrant underwent two months of technical testing.

Mike Mills, Head of Cloud and Infrastructure Channel at Gamma, said: "We're delighted to be recognised by ITSPA as 'Best VoIP infrastructure' for our SIP Trunking service."

Rob Walton, MD at VTSL, ITSPA member and one of Gamma's Channel Partners, said: "It's important that the partners we work with are forward-thinking and can effectively support us to deliver a reliable SIP Trunking service.

"We've been partnering with Gamma for seven years and our relationship has grown from strength to strength. We find it particularly refreshing to have direct access to Gamma's senior management and key personnel within the business and it's clear that they listen to our feedback and take it on board."

VoIP distributor ProVu has teamed up with IP intercom manufacturer Castel to offer a bespoke intercom design and build service, offering resellers a variety of models and features all compliant with disability regulations.

With its bespoke design and build service Castel offers a range of options including a choice of materials: brass, bronze, anodised colours and stainless steel, custom finishes, choice of layout and buttons, incorporation of logos and engravings and bespoke mounting options and posts.

ProVu's Managing Director Darren Garland stated: "We know that items off the shelf are not always suitable for every project, now with Castel's value added service resellers are able to meet complex user requirements."

Castel's Manji Gami commented: "Our ability to provide a customised intercom housing that blends in with the aesthetics of a building, while still providing full functionality, means that we can meet the most challenging project specifications."

Basingstoke-based Southern Communications has scooped the NEC Best EMEA Reseller Award for the third time in the last four years.

"We are delighted with this award," said Paul Bradford, CEO of Southern Communications. "To win three out of the last four years is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the continued focus, commitment and capability of Southern Communications."

Directors Andrew Robinson and Simon Campbell were presented the award during a Gala Dinner at the Hotel Excelsior on Lido Island during NEC's three day Annual conference in Venice May 25th-27th 2016.

Southern Communications is on target to double revenues in the next five years through a programme of acquisitions and product developments.

Pictured: Paul Kievit, President NEC Enterprise Solutions (outside left) Andrew Robinson, Director of IT and Technical Services (inside left) Simon Campbell, Director of Installation (inside right) Mr. Hosaka, President Global Platform Solutions (Outside Right) in Venice

RingCentral is extending RingCentral Office capabilities with greater integration into the Microsoft ecosystem, providing integrations with Microsoft Outlook and Skype for Business.

These new integrations will complement RingCentral's existing integration with Microsoft Office 365.

"In today's multi-vendor cloud application environment, enterprise customers are empowered to choose best-of-breed software solutions," said Marco Casalaina, VP of Integrations for RingCentral.

"With our open platform we make it easy to have a seamless experience with RingCentral's cloud communications capabilities embedded into many popular business applications.

"Our integrations with Outlook and Skype for Business are the latest examples of how we're delivering a best-of-breed experience to fulfill the needs of enterprise customers."

The increasing popularity of managed service delivery models is fuelling European Communications Reseller sales of data and communications networks and everything from security to mobility and video conferencing solutions, with 67.5% of resellers now offering managed service solutions.

Yet the market remains highly regionalised and fragmented with 95.2% of communication resellers providing solutions only within their own or neighbouring countries. These are amongst the trends emerging from European Communication Resellers - the Top 750, a new database report from IT Europa which is published today.

The European Communication Resellers - the Top 750 report provides detailed profiles of the leading 750 European Communication Resellers across 36 countries.

Between them the companies post sales of €25.39 billion ($26.88 billion) and employ 122,742.

In terms of activities, 88% of companies are providing Data Communications/Networks solutions; 84% are providing Telephony/VoIP; 66% providing Security solutions; 61% are offering Mobility; and 57% are providing Video Communications/ Videoconferencing. Sales operations span a number of vertical market sectors the most common being the Public Sector (44.7%), Bank/Finance/Insurance (37.5%) and Manufacturing/Industry Vertical Market (33.3%).

The largest geographic markets covered in terms of companies profiled within the report are: UK (251 companies), Germany (51), Netherlands (51), Russian Federation (41), France (38), Spain (37), Italy (31), Switzerland (28), Turkey (24), Poland (23) and Sweden (23).

"It is good to see the European communication reseller community grasping the managed services opportunity, but there are several other challenges that will need to be addressed for the sector to achieve its full potential," says Alan Norman, Managing Director of IT Europa.

"A lack of standards in such growth areas as IoT (the Internet of Things) and national differences in terms of regulations will limit the potential for pan European growth. While recent agreements in areas such as roaming charges should help, these gains could be very swiftly undermined by potential political/economic events - for example Brexit."

www.iteuropa.com

Chess has bagged Burnley-based ICT company Lanway for an undisclosed sum. It generated £21.8m turnover last year and has been in operation for 25 years, boasting over 550 active repeat customers including a number of blue chip names. The acquisition pushes Chess's headcount to 550.

Chess founder and CEO David Pollock stated: "Lanway shares our passion for delivering technological advantage to customers, and our acquisition of Lanway is another step on our growth journey, helping to bring our vision to life.

"Together with Lanway's expertise we have the talent and technology needed to deliver truly integrated solutions across enterprise, mobile and cloud environments."

Richard Btesh, Director of Chess, added: "We're ready and waiting to take advantage of the consolidation of customers and relationships."