Comms Dealer

PRS Telecom has swooped on Bucks-based voice and data company DS Chiltern.

"This acquisition is an important step in our strategy," stated Paddy Gill, CEO of PRS Telecom.

"DS Chiltern has a well earned reputation for customer retention and PRS will build on this.

"We will continue to achieve sustainable growth supported by targeted acquisitions and expand our national network.

"This expansion will be supported by ongoing investment in people, resources and infrastructure."

Mark Wilson, founder of DS Chiltern, added: "It was vital that we found a company that could enhance our services and allow our clients to benefit from additional product and solutions suites."

New Government moves that ‘strike back' against cyber criminals are welcome but long overdue, according to GCI.

GCI said that while the £1.9bn package of measures announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond will bolster the UK's cyber defences, criminals are still streets ahead in terms of the technology & methods they use to carry out cyber attacks.

And the firm said that businesses need to take more responsibility for securing their own IT systems and data, rather than burying their heads in the sand and leaving themselves vulnerable to attack.

Hammond warned that outdated computer systems are allowing malicious hackers to target everyone from 'companies at board level to individuals in their living rooms'.

He said that even though Britain is already an acknowledged global leader in cyber security thanks to the Government's investment of more than £860m over the course of the last Parliament, it must now keep up with the scale and pace of emerging threats.

Cybercrime currently costs the global economy about £365bn a year and rising, due to society becoming more vulnerable because of the way in which devices connect.

The new money - which more than doubles the amount set out for a similar strategy in 2011 - will be used to improve automated defences to safeguard individuals and businesses, support the cyber security industry and deter attacks from hackers.

Hammond made the announcement at the recent Future Decoded event, Microsoft's annual two-day digital business expo, of which GCI was a headline sponsor.

Adrian Thirkill, CEO at GCI, said: "Cybercrime is a huge and rapidly growing threat to businesses of all sizes, which makes increasing awareness of cyber security and its importance to local businesses an urgent priority.

"It's good to see that the Government stands ready to strike back against the hackers with a £1.9bn package of measures to boost our cyber defences.

"Old legacy IT systems used by many businesses across the UK are becoming increasingly susceptible to cyber criminals, who find them easier to crack than newer networks which have the latest security technologies built in.

"Securing network connectivity and protecting customer and corporate applications which sit within it is increasingly mission-critical and it's vital that all businesses take responsibility for shoring up their defences against potential attacks.

"This doesn't mean buying more ‘magic amulets' from the multitude of security companies who are of course incentivised to make things sound as scary as possible. Security means ensuring you have the experience, expertise and tools to be proactive in defending against becoming a victim of cybercrime and more importantly making sure it's embedded within your own business culture and processes.

"While the UK Government and the fledgling National Cyber Security Centre are working towards a cure, the number of symptoms to be addressed seems to be multiplying. The extent of malicious attacks is growing fast and threatens both reputation, sales and profitability. But companies such as GCI can help businesses to secure their IT perimeters, help mitigate the risk and ensure protection."

Lloyds IP has been awarded Master Partner status by Unify, its highest level of certification.

Joining an elite handful of Unify Master Partners in the UK, Lloyds IP will have wider access to Unify experts.

The partnership between Unify and Lloyds IP began in 1999 and the two parties have secured over 600 customers. Over the last 12 months Lloyds IP has grown its Unify Business by 47%.

Lee Conde, Head of Business Development at Lloyds IP, said: "Achieving Master Partner status was done on target and involved a great deal of dedication, effort and focus from everyone at the company."

Barry Tuffs, Vice President for UK and Ireland Channels at Unify, added: "Lloyds IP completed the accreditation to reach Master Partner in a matter of weeks. This is not only a testament to its commitment, but is also an indication of both the level of Lloyds IP's existing skill set and the strength our relationship."

GCI has warned that British businesses could face fines totaling more than £120bn following the enforcement of new data protection laws in May 2018.

From that date, any organisation which processes or stores personal data, including payment card data, will need to adhere to the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation.

The new law defines personal data as 'any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person', with credit card data now reclassified within this definition.

GDPR applies to all businesses which handle personal data. These businesses are split into two categories: 'controllers' and 'processors'. The 'controller' says how and why personal data is processed and the 'processor' acts on the controller's behalf. Any firm that is currently subject to the Data Protection Act (DPA), it is likely to also be subject to the GDPR.

With maximum fines for data controllers of up to four per cent of a company's global annual turnover or £18m, whichever is greater, businesses of all sizes are at serious risk with SMEs potentially hit hardest proportionally.

Although the severity of the fines may vary, regulators are likely to apply the maximum fine for serious non-compliance. New mandatory reporting of data security breaches under GDPR will also increase the number of incidents reported.

GCI's PCI Director, Brad Semp, said: "The incoming GDPR legislation is a ticking time bomb and despite slipping under the radar of many firms that process card payments, ignorance will not be viewed as an excuse under the new law. Although the new rules don't come into force until 2018, the implementation process to put a solution in place can take 12 months or longer, so it's vital that firms take action to address this now.

"Despite the average cost of a data breach currently standing at £2.8m, far too many companies still look at protecting the payment card data they process as a compliance issue rather than a risk management one, and once compliance is achieved, many simply focus their attention on other things. But the rules and regulations, including both GDPR and PCI DSS, are constantly evolving, with new controls being introduced on a regular basis, so it's something that all firms need to pay close attention to, to ensure they comply fully at all times."

A breach can cost a business millions of pounds in fines, but for some the negative impact it can have on a company's reputation can be far more damaging. As an example, recent research[iii] has shown that 24% of consumers will switch banks if their personal financial data has been breached and more than a third of consumers will shop elsewhere if their retailer has been breached - this means repercussions that can long outlast initial fines.

Semp added: "Although the issue is a real threat, a viable solution is very much at hand. Our advice to businesses which process card payments is simple - get ahead of the game, make yourself aware of the forthcoming changes and speak to an expert who can help you to ensure you remain compliant."

TeleWare has been accepted into the Microsoft Enterprise Cloud Alliance (ECA) network, giving it early access to new Microsoft software and plans.

As a member, TeleWare will also benefit from a closer working relationship with Microsoft's Cloud and Enterprise engineers.

TeleWare's new cloud comms solution TeleWare Communication Manager (TCM) is an example of the innovation in using Azure Services in a hybrid fashion that the ECA applauds.

TeleWare CEO Steve Haworth said: "We look forward to realising the benefit for both TeleWare and Microsoft customers as we develop our cloud and enterprise product offerings, and look to extend and integrate Microsoft enterprise and cloud solutions."

Aurora has bolstered its mobile billing credentials with the launch of Virtual Service Provider (VSP), an exclusive mobile service that gives customers direct access to the Vodafone and 02 networks (subject to approval) using their Affinity billing platform.

Aurora MD Derek Watson said: "Aurora has worked closely with the main networks for many years and VSP is a service which helps our customers' stand out in a crowded marketplace.

"The advantage of VSP is that you don't need to be a mobile billing expert, Affinity does all the work."

The system enables users to proactively manage customers, highlight usage issues, recommend tariffs and provides straightforward customer management tools.

"The benefits of becoming a VSP also include establishing a new service proposition," added Watson. "With flexible contract agreements, and 30 day terms that allow the best fit between the network tariff and a customer's profile.

"Customer churn is also an issue when selling mobile, but VSP can reduce this by shifting the emphasis to mobile management rather than competing on price.

"It is also important to stress that in order for any customer to become a VSP partner they must use the Affinity billing platform and there are pre-requisites that must be met before agreement from the network.

"However, customers using this service do benefit from genuine mobile margins that they wouldn't have been able to make without the buying power of the VSP channel."

Exertis has added more technical knowhow and broadened its AV solution portfolio with the acquisition of distributor Medium which provides projectors, flat panel displays, interactive systems and digital signage.

Exertis MD Gerry O'Keeffe said: "Medium has built strong customer and vendor relationships and its technical expertise will strengthen our ability to implement a full suite of professional AV solutions into the B2B market."

Medium employs 40 staff, has a turnover of £32m and transacts with over 800 AV resellers in the UK. It also provides training and education programmes for both its employees and customers, and is a member of InfoComm International.

Ian Sempers, MD, Medium, added: "The continued convergence of the IT and AV market means we will be in a great position to service a sector that extends beyond traditional AV solutions."

Neil Haining has joined Pragma as Operations Director responsible for technical support, cloud infrastructure, warehouse, inventory, billing, provisioning and order management.

His previous experience includes senior roles at distributors Westcon and Crane.

Pragma MD Tim Brooks commented: "The business has grown rapidly over the past few years and 2016 was no exception with 30% growth year on year. Recruiting Neil means we can continue to build and scale the business and keep delivering the service which our partners value and trust."

Haining added: "It is a great team at Pragma and working closely with the Ericsson-LG team in South Korea enables us to keep innovating and supporting our partners."

Stephen McIntyre has joined Nimans as Group Chief Marketing Officer. He brings 32 years experience as a senior marketer working in a number of strategic roles and will leverage his knowhow across various disciplines such as digital and print-based communications.

He moved from Ultraframe, one of Europe's leading manufacturers of conservatory roofs and extension systems.

"I'm looking forward to helping Nimans enhance its reputation in a variety of high profile ways, working with key trading partners as well as the reseller community," stated McIntyre.

Nimans has extended its Radius headset range with a new two-in-one device that provides the freedom to switch from monaural to binaural versions in a few seconds.

The Radius Aero is designed to adapt to an individual's work environment and is wideband enabled with a two year warranty.

Nimans has also launched the Radius 2400 professional office headset that boasts a ratchet style boom arm with noise cancelling microphone.

Jason Welsh, Nimans' Headset Business Manager, says both models represent new ways for resellers to maximise margin opportunities.

"Providing users with the freedom to switch from single to dual ear - with a simple click of the boom module - enables resellers to target the complete range of work environments," he said.