www.technologyreseller.uk THE MAGAZINE & ONLINE CHANNEL NEWS & RESOURCE FOR MSPS, IT RESELLERS & SUPPORT PROVIDERS PAGE 24 Shortlists announced for all categories PARTNER PROGRAMMES PAGE 32 HP enhances Amplify partner programme to turbocharge partner growth 60 SECONDS PAGE 34 With Nick O’Donovan, Regional Director, EMEA at Huntress Securing IoT Deployments: The Case for Private Networks Dominic Norton Sales Director, Spitfire Network Services Ltd See page 18 TECHNOLOGY RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 IN PRINT ONLINE SINCE 2016 IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 TECHNOLOGY RESELLER AWARDS
The PrintIT Reseller and Technology Reseller Golf Society is open to everyone; Resellers, Dealers, VARs, System Integrators and Vendors – the maximum number of players being 72 at each event. The cost per event is £107 per player or £428 per four ball + VAT. Includes breakfast and dinner. At each event there will be a prize for Overall Highest Score for the Day, Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin. Not sure about running your own golf day? No problem, bring customers along to this friendly industry relevant event. This year’s events: & The Golf Society is open to everyone no matter what your handicap is... so don’t be shy. Come and join us. 2025 2 0 2 5 First round: Blundell Hill Golf Club 8th May Second round: Hearsall Golf Club 5th June Third round: Walmley Golf Club 10th July Final round: Pavenham Park Golf Club 18th September Sponsors Merchandise Sponsor If you would like to join us at any of the events please email [email protected] or call Paul on 07887 944433 SPONSORSHIP If you would like to discuss the opportunities available, please call Paul on 07887 944433, email [email protected] www.binfo.co.uk/ golf-society.php
TECHNOLOGY RESELLER MAGAZINE IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 IN PRINT ONLINE SINCE 2016 IN PRINT & ONLINE SINCE 2016 03 CONTENTS technologyreseller.co.uk ISSN 2632-9301 (Print) ISSN 2632-931X (Online) Technology Reseller is published by Kingswood Media Ltd., 7 Amherst House, 22 London Road, Sevenoaks TN13 2BT • Tel: 01732 759725 Email: [email protected] www.technologyreseller.co.uk No part of Technology Reseller can be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. © 2025 Kingswood Media Ltd. Editor: James Goulding 07803 087228 · [email protected] Publishing Director, Social Media and Web Editor: Neil Trim 01732 759725 · [email protected] Advertising Director: Ethan White 01732 759725 · [email protected] Events & Commercial activities: Paul Johnson 01732 759725 · [email protected] Account Manager: Jeff Root 01732 759725 · [email protected] Designer: Brian Cloke 07484 288189 · [email protected] If you no longer wish to receive Technology Reseller magazine, please email your details to [email protected] Register online To receive your regular FREE printed copy of Technology Reseller Magazine simply fill in our online registration form at www.technologyreseller.uk/register Read Technology Reseller online, on tablets and smart phones www.technologyreseller.uk Join us : Follow us technology-reseller-magazine technologyreseller.co.uk 04 Distribution News European distribution market ready to rebound after two years of stagnation and decline 08 Marketplaces Giacom reduces partners’ billing workload with introduction of new Managed Services and adds refurbished smartphones to Cloud Market 10 Reseller News Avanade to unveil AI-powered garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, plus the latest mergers and acquisitions 16 Compliance David Tulip joins Egnyte to lead the intelligent content platform provider’s channel expansion in EMEA 17 Compliance Mike Graham, Head of Partnerships at compliance specialist ISMS.online, explains what MSPs must do to capitalise on the opportunities in compliance 20 Q&A With Tim Whiteley, Co-founder of Inevidesk 28 Call Centres How AI is shaping the customer experience and what it means for the future of contact centres 31 AI How NFON is bringing AI into its telephony solutions 32 Partner Programmes HP enhances Amplify partner programme to turbocharge partner growth 34 60 seconds With Nick O’Donovan, Regional Director, EMEA at cybersecurity platform Huntress 36 Tech Digest A round-up of the latest developments from established and emerging technology vendors 39 Communications Vodafone launches battery backup for digital lines 40 People New faces, new places Page 10
01732 759725 DISTRIBUTOR NEWS 04 e92plus and ThreatLocker aiming to make Zero Trust more affordable In a new partnership between the two companies, cybersecurity VAD e92plus has added Threatlocker’s Zero Trust endpoint protection solutions to its product portfolio in the UK, Ireland and Benelux. Unlike traditional cybersecurity solutions that rely on detecting and responding to known threats, ThreatLocker’s ‘deny-by-default’ approach, built on Zero Trust principles, proactively prevents unauthorised applications and processes from executing. ‘Application allowlisting’ ensures only approved software can run on protected systems, significantly reducing the attack surface and mitigating risks associated with malware and ransomware. Mukesh Gupta, CEO of e92plus, says that While Zero Trust has seen significant growth as a way for IT teams to move away from traditional defences, such a big change does come with costs and complexities that to date have largely limited it to enterprises, adding that ThreatLocker has the potential to make it affordable for businesses of all sizes. He said: “The Zero Trust concept has proven popular with large enterprises, but historically has been too complex for many organisations to embrace at scale and velocity. We’re very excited to be partnering with ThreatLocker as their unique disruptive approach presents a huge opportunity for our channel community and enables them to differentiate themselves from competitors offering legacy solutions.” At Zero Trust World, ThreatLocker expanded its offering to encompass threat intelligence, patch management and protection for Microsoft 365 alongside its existing endpoint, EDR and MDR solutions, making it easier for partners to further consolidate their technology stack. www.e92plus.com … Faster financing decisions promised by TD SYNNEX TD SYNNEX is making it easier for partners to offer flexible payment options across all deal sizes by bringing all its financial services together under its TD SYNNEX Capital financing arm. This includes the initiative formerly known as Tech-as-a-Service (TAAS), which allows partners to offer any combination of hardware, software and services – including those provided by the partner itself – as part of a single contract. Finance solutions start from £1,000, with flexible terms (12 to 60 months), monthly, quarterly or annual payment options and no upper limit on contract values. Transactions under £250,000 can be handled automatically through TD SYNNEX’s InTouch e-commerce platform. For larger or more complex deals, TD SYNNEX’s team of experts is available to provide guidance and structure bespoke financing solutions. The distributor says that financing of all leases and subscriptions by TD SYNNEX Capital will result in faster approvals, fewer rejections and the seamless ordering, shipping and funding of IT solutions as continued... European IT distribution ready to rebound Global market intelligence firm CONTEXT is forecasting a resurgence in European IT distribution sales, with yearon-year growth of 3.6% in 2025, following two years of stagnation and decline. CONTEXT Research Director Anthony Frot said: “After a tough period, the European IT distribution market is regaining strength. The PC refresh cycle, AI-led infrastructure demand and a more stable macroeconomic environment are setting the stage for sustainable growth. While challenges persist, the signs for 2025 are encouraging.” The Q1 2025 CONTEXT Forecasting Report predicts recovery across the IT distribution sector, with growth expected to accelerate in the latter half of the year, fuelled by four key growth drivers: 1 PC Refresh Cycle Acceleration – The end of Windows 10 support is expected to drive corporate and consumer upgrades, particularly in mobile PCs. Mobile computing unit sales are forecast to grow 2.1% YoY in Q1 2025 and 4.7% over the full year, with most growth occurring in H2 2025. Desktop sales are predicted to rise by 4% YoY in Q1 and 5.1% for the year, while revenue is set to grow 5.8% YoY. 2 AI Investment Surge – Increased spending on AI-ready servers and storage solutions is fuelling on-premises infrastructure growth. 3 Public Sector Stimulus – Government-led digital transformation initiatives, such as Spain’s Digital Kit program, will boost distribution revenues. 4 Resilient Software & Services Growth – Strong software sales continue to outperform expectations, reinforcing distributors’ critical role in the supply chain. Frot added: “The second half of 2025 is likely to be stronger as businesses resume infrastructure investments and governments push digital adoption. However, the market remains sensitive to political and economic volatility.” These include geopolitical uncertainties in Europe, potential trade conflicts and fluctuating exchange rates. https://www.contextworld.com/g/forecasting Anthony Frot Elevate Wholesale launches Women in Channel community Elevate Wholesale, a provider of secure, intelligent connectivity and managed network services to hundreds of channel partners across the UK, will be formally launching a new Women in Channel community on June 19 at Balfour Winery in Kent. Women in Channel has been set up to provide a community where women in the channel can share experiences, mentor, support and generate business opportunities. Teigan Kemp, Partner Account Manager at Elevate Wholesale, said: “We know that there are certain trials and tribulations that come with working in such a traditionally male-dominated sector. And we also know that, together, we can move our industry forward in a way that gives more women more opportunities to succeed.” According to the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), women make up less than one fifth of the nation’s telecoms workforce. Emmeline Spann, Partner Account Manager at Elevate Wholesale, added: “I’ve spent nearly nine years working in a predominantly male industry, and I’m very proud of the impact I’ve made. Women make our channel offer and our wider business a success every day, and seeing this first hand has made me very passionate about proactively ensuring women who want to work in telecoms, and in the channel specifically, get the resources they need.” elevate.uk/wholesale Mukesh Gupta
Infinite possibilities Migrate your base with Giacom Easy Switching, exclusively with Sky Business Wholesale Broadband Giacom Easy Switching features include minimal downtime, no router configuration and reduced costs apply only to like-for-like transitions available with Sky Business Wholesale broadband. Cloud Market portal order journey, project management and migration planning are available with Giacom’s All-IP Managed Services. Scan to find out more. With Giacom Easy Switching, you benefit from: • Minimal customer downtime • No router configuration • Reduced costs • Expert support via Giacom’s All-IP Managed Service
DISTRIBUTOR NEWS ...continued 01732 759725 06 financing is integrated directly into the procurement process. Sophia Haywood-Atkinson, Services Director, UK and Ireland at TD SYNNEX, said: “TD SYNNEX Capital is all about optimising flexible spending solutions for partners – letting our money work for them and providing solutions that will enable customers to make IT investments. With all our financial options now offered through and fully funded by TD SYNNEX Capital, there is absolute clarity for partners, and with the newly automated online processes, it’s now easier than ever for them to access our financial services.” https://uk.tdsynnex.com/ … Westcon-Comstor and Vectra AI target MSSPs with new initiatives Westcon-Comstor, a global technology provider and specialist distributor, has expanded its partnership with Vectra AI, provider of AI-driven XDR (extended detection and response), with the launch of a new initiative for Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and the addition of Vectra AI to Arrow’s AWS Marketplace. Building on the launch of the Vectra AI Clarity Programme to help MSSPs meet customer demand for XDR solutions and customised cybersecurity services, Westcon-Comstor and Vectra AI are launching a joint support and enablement programme for MSSPs that provide EDR for customers via a 24x7 managed SOC. This gives MSSPs the tools and support needed to scale their XDR capabilities, while enabling them to maintain complete independence, with full licence ownership and no need for deal registrations or upfront quotes. In addition, Vectra AI has joined Westcon-Comstor’s AWS Marketplace programme giving EMEA channel partners the ability to purchase Vectra AI software from Westcon-Comstor’s private listings for sale to their customers in a frictionless, end-to-end process entirely within AWS Marketplace. Forrester has calculated that partners selling in AWS Marketplace can close deals up to 50% faster, with a 234% return on investment. Commenting on these developments, Daniel Hurel, Senior Vice President, Westcon EMEA Cybersecurity & Next-Generation Solutions at Westcon-Comstor, said: “End-user demand for MSSPs is growing and simultaneously we’re seeing a shift towards AWS Marketplace for software procurement due to the ease and speed on offer. By targeting these two growth areas in collaboration with a dynamic, innovative vendor like Vectra AI, we are enabling partners to respond and align to their customers’ changing needs and behaviour.” … Exertis IT advances ‘second life’ strategy with Group 8 acquisition Exertis IT is expanding its circular economy offering with the acquisition of Group 8, an Apple Service Provider (ASP) specialising in the support and repair of Apple products. The specialist distributor already offers circular economy services via its MTR Group subsidiary which specialises in the refurbishment and resale of mobile devices, including Samsung-accredited refurbished handsets. Established for over 20 years, Group 8’s services include the repair of all Apple products, including collection from any UK postcode, and support contracts for macOS/iOS, server infrastructure, day-to-day administration and common application software. Sophia Haywood-Atkinson TD SYNNEX (l-r) Ilan Barda, CEO Radiflow; Hayley Roberts, CEO Distology; David Moss, CCO Radiflow; James Sandrone, Regional Director – UK, Ireland & Benelux Radiflow Distology strengthens OT offering with Radiflow partnership Cybersecurity distributor Distology is strengthening its dedicated Operational Technology (OT) specialism through a new partnership with Radiflow, a global leader in OT security solutions and services for critical sectors such as manufacturing, utilities and transportation. Radiflow solutions include an OT Security and Risk Management Platform, offering a suite of OT security tools, including full asset inventory mapping, risk assessment, inventory management and breach-attack simulation tools; Risk-Driven OT Threat and Anomaly Detection, which enhances a SOC’s ability to monitor and protect critical infrastructure; and a data-driven OT Risk Management platform, which supports fast, accurate decision-making by security teams. Distology CEO Hayley Roberts said: “We have respected Radiflow for a long time, and we’re excited to bring them into our vendor ecosystem. This partnership strengthens our OT offering, allowing us to deliver even greater value and security to our partners in an increasingly complex landscape.” Other vendors in Distology’s OT‑focused portfolio include OPSWAT, Cyolo and Garland Technology. www.distology.com www.radiflow.com Arrow introduces AI Accelerator Program Global technology solutions provider Arrow Electronics is introducing a worldwide AI Accelerator Program to help channel partners kickstart their AI journey. The comprehensive program provides the skills, use cases and knowledge partners need to maximise the potential of AI. Eric Gourmelen, Vice President of Global Cloud and AI for Arrow’s Enterprise Computing Solutions Business, said: “Channel partners that leverage the AI accelerator program can uncover unique ways to amplify their AI skills and discover additional business opportunities that can be driven by AI. AI is changing enterprises at groundbreaking speed and this program is a practical way to help our channel partners to create immediate business impact using an AI‑forward roadmap.” The structured programme leverages the distributor’s existing AI capabilities including its AI Academy, which provides AI training and skills; a suite of AI tools powered by ArrowSphere AI; and Arrow’s AI Factory, which enables channel partners to develop, deploy and implement AI projects. arrow.com Eric Gourmelen Daniel Hurel Westcon-Comstor
DISTRIBUTOR NEWS technologyreseller.co.uk 07 Tim Griffin, CEO of Exertis IT, said: “Group 8’s principles and business approach not only significantly add value to the capabilities we’re proud to offer our new and existing customers, but having them on board also aligns with the execution of our ‘second life’ strategy and our wider sustainability efforts. I look forward to a successful partnership.” www.exertis.co.uk … Climb and Unframe sign global distribution partnership Climb Channel Solutions UK, an international specialty technology distributor and wholly owned subsidiary of Climb Global Solutions, Inc., has signed a new global distribution agreement with Unframe, the all-in-one turnkey AI platform. Unframe enables businesses to bring enterprise-grade AI solutions to life in hours, without the typical barriers of complexity, cost or risk. The platform integrates securely with any SaaS, API, database or file and operates within a company’s existing environment, ensuring full compliance and control. With outcome-based pricing and zero lock-in, organisations can experience and evolve AI solutions risk-free and at speed. Following a recent funding round, which raised £40 million to support platform innovation, sales growth and global expansion, Unframe’s partnership with Climb will give the distributor’s global partner network, including resellers in the UK&I, access to the company’s platform, strengthening its focus on AI. Gerard Brophy, CRO of Climb Channel Solutions UK, said: “We are very excited to welcome Unframe to our growing roster of innovative technology companies with a focus on AI. What makes Unframe so unique is the way its platform opens a huge number of opportunities by enabling organisations to solve all their AI use cases in one platform. We firmly believe this can be a gamechanger for our partners.” In addition to a growing AI vendor portfolio, including VAST, GigIO, Cloudian, HCL Software, Canonical and now Unframe, Climb is helping partners capitalise on the opportunities in AI through a new partner programme built around a six-step framework. The Skyward Project supports partners at every stage, from education and training to identifying use cases and go-to-market execution, with a focus on enablement, collaboration, and real-world impact. Climb will be hosting its Climb Partner Summit in the UK on 7th May in London. www.climbcs.com/uk Synaxon helps raise £555 for Sponsored Breaks Synaxon UK, the channel services company for resellers, MSPs, retailers, web stores and office products dealers, has raised £555 for Sponsored Breaks at a recent partner event at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton. The local charity provides campervan holidays for families from the armed forces and emergency services. Mike Barron, Managing Director of SYNAXON UK, said: “Thank you to everyone who donated a prize or purchased a ticket for the raffle held at the Molineux event. We managed to raise a fantastic £555, which is enough to send a deserving family on a nice weekend break in the campervan.” Midwich Ignite invests in AV innovators Midwich Ignite, the corporate venture capital arm of the Midwich Group, is advancing its mission to foster innovation in the AV industry with investment in two ground-breaking companies: NetSpeek, creator of a generative AI platform for operating multi-vendor networks of unified communications and pro-AV technologies; and IDUN audio, a Danish company pioneering cutting-edge advancements in spatial audio technology. Using generative AI’s autonomy and reasoning capabilities, NetSpeek’s Lena platform reduces the time and effort required to setup and configure complex AV and UC installations with step-by-step guidance and improves operation and troubleshooting by detecting and addressing potential issues before they escalate. Alex Kemanes, Managing Director at Midwich Ignite, said: “Investing in NetSpeek represents an exciting step for Midwich Ignite as we continue to back technologies that drive real innovation. NetSpeek is revolutionising network maintenance with its intelligent, real-time diagnostics and proactive alerts helping AV and IT customers minimise downtime while giving end users peace of mind. Through Midwich’s extensive network with market-leading AV manufacturers and systems integrators, we see significant opportunities for NetSpeek to scale and integrate across a wide range of professional AV environments.” IDUN audio, based in Copenhagen, is a manufacturer of audio software for headsets. Its technology provides more natural three-dimensional sound through dynamic spatial audio software that improves speech intelligibility, reduces listener fatigue and optimises performance in diverse applications including professional AV settings, where sound quality is critical to effective communication and engagement. Will Fenby, Investment Manager at Midwich Ignite, said: “We are delighted to be investing in IDUN audio, whose patented technology represents the next major revolution in audio. With IDUN’s decades of research-led spatial audio development and Midwich’s global leadership position in professional audio, we believe this partnership is perfectly positioned to drive innovation and adoption of this unique technology.” https://www.midwichignite.com/ Altnets partners with CommScope Altnets is looking to accelerate the rollout of fibre across the UK through a partnership with network infrastructure solutions provider CommScope. The Brighton-based FTTX distributor will use its market position and logistical expertise to offer CommScope’s central office fibre optic and broadband solutions throughout the UK, giving network operators and ISPs access to the scalable, high-quality infrastructure needed to satisfy increasing demand for ultra-fast broadband connectivity. This includes advanced fibre networks with GPON, XGS-PON and high-density fibre solutions, alongside high-capacity 5G and wireless deployments for fronthaul, backhaul and small cells. Altnets says CommScope products will help network operators roll out FTTX networks and expand into high-processing Central Offices needed to accommodate the growing demand for data consumption. Paul Britnell, Co-Founder of Altnets, said: “We’re incredibly excited to support CommScope’s initiative to further support the UK telecoms sector, helping ISPs build faster and more resilient networks for the digital future. We are delivering high-density fibre connectivity solutions that are instrumental in FttX networks. Altnets is proud to play a key role in advancing the UK’s digital infrastructure.” www.altnets.co.uk (l-r) Simon Love, Sponsored Breaks and Mike Barron, SYNAXON UK outside Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton
01732 759725 MARKETPLACES Giacom’s billing software can process all rateable communications and connectivity services as well as service charges, subscriptions and IT services, consolidating everything into a single, easyto-understand customer bill. With voluntary accreditation under Ofcom’s TMBS scheme, Giacom is committed to maintaining the highest standards in billing compliance, accuracy and efficiency. Giacom’s Managed Services include: Assist – a cost-effective way for partners to ensure billing accuracy while reducing the burden of system administration, Assist delegates essential billing tasks to Giacom, including billing configuration management, supplier file management, comprehensive billing reports and bill run checks; Premium Assist – for partners who need more comprehensive billing and system administration, Premium Assist offers all the features of Assist, plus new customer creation and in-life customer management, detailed financial reporting, smarter buying suggestions, two Retail Price Index (RPI) increases per year, four migrations or database consolidations and a dedicated Billing Consultant; RPI Increase – a specialist standalone service designed to simplify and implement annual Retail Price Index adjustments across all relevant customer accounts and billing structures. Giacom’s team manages the entire process, ensuring price updates are accurately applied in line with partner requirements. By handling the complexities of pricing adjustments, this service provides an efficient way for Giacom partners to ensure their pricing remains aligned with market conditions; and Consultancy services – to help partners improve system maintenance and optimise efficiency. Ant Molloy, Managing Director of Cloud Market Tools at Giacom, said: “Our Managed Services are a gamechanger for our partners’ billing processes. This service underpins their entire billing profit and optimisation strategy and, collectively, we have the best billing specialists out there. Having this level of expertise and scale in‑house is difficult to replicate, so it makes total sense to utilise our TMBS-accredited team to improve billing efficiencies.” Giacom.com Giacom, the 100% channel-focused specialist marketplace and software provider, has announced a ‘gamechanging’ range of services designed to help partners reduce their in-house billing workload, improve accuracy and free up time to focus on strategic business growth. Available exclusively to partners that use Giacom’s software solutions to manage their billing, its new Managed Services allow partners to outsource key elements of the time-consuming billing process and system maintenance to Giacom’s expert team, which has over 100 years of combined billing experience and annually processes £2.5 billion of retail billing. Giacom is helping partners reduce in-house billing workloads with the introduction of new Managed Services, supported by a comprehensive service wrap Billing made easy 08 Giacom is expanding its mobile phone offering for partners with the launch of a new range of Grade A refurbished smartphones developed in collaboration with sustainability specialists iGo Life. Available exclusively through Giacom’s Cloud Market, ReNew smartphones give partners an eco‑conscious and economical alternative to brand new devices. They look and perform like new and come with a 12-month warranty, but typically have a 20% to 30% lower price tag. Andrew Wilford, Managing Director – Mobile at Giacom, said: “ReNew is more than just a new product, it’s a reflection of Giacom’s commitment to both partner success and environmental responsibility. With ReNew, we’re helping our partners provide affordable, high-quality devices that also contribute to global sustainability goals. This is a great selling point and a potential differentiator for partners, as SMBs are increasingly prioritising environmental impact when considering their technology solutions.” Giacom’s Cloud Market platform gives its UK-wide network of more than 6,000 local technology providers and MSPs a single portal where they can access cloud, comms and hardware products and services from leading vendors and carriers, enabling them to create multi-vendor technology solutions for their business customers. As well as providing a unified experience across its entire product portfolio, Giacom supports partners in all aspects of running a successful technology solutions business, from guidance on product selection, training and enablement to advice on accelerating business growth and support in resolving technical issues. Giacom expands mobile device offering with ReNew range of refurbished smartphones As good as new Ant Molloy, Managing Director of Cloud Market Tools Andrew Wilford, Managing Director – Mobile
technologyreseller.co.uk 09 IT support, and parcel handling more efficiently than ever before, all while reducing operational costs and enhancing user experience. A New Era of Smart Storage “As the pioneers in smart locker solutions, LapSafe® has always been at the forefront of innovation,” said Mark Exley, Director at LapSafe®. “With ONARKEN®AI, we are delivering an unparalleled level of intelligence, security, and efficiency to help organisations transform their workflows and automate critical processes. This is the next evolution of smart storage.” Experience the Future Today LapSafe® is inviting businesses, universities, and IT service providers to experience ONARKEN®AI in action. For more information or to book a demo, visit www.lapsafe.com or contact 0800 130 3456 Email: [email protected] access logs, remote monitoring, and AI confidence thresholds. Seamless Integration – Connects with existing IT service management (ITSM) tools. World-First Innovation – The only smart locker system powered by AI for ultimate efficiency. LapSafe®’s pioneering technology means organisations can now manage assets, LapSafe®, the industry leader in smart locker solutions, has launched ONARKEN®AI*, the world’s first AIpowered smart locker system, marking a new era in intelligent storage, asset management, and automation. ONARKEN®AI introduces cutting-edge AI-driven content verification, ensuring that every asset, IT device, or parcel is correctly stored, loaned, and returned – without manual intervention. This gamechanging innovation eliminates human error, enhances security, and streamlines workflows for businesses, educational institutions, and organisations worldwide. Redefining Smart Lockers with AI Intelligence Designed to seamlessly integrate with IT service management (ITSM) tools, ONARKEN®AI takes automation, security, and efficiency to the next level. Key features include: AI-Driven Asset Verification – Ensures the correct items are dropped off, loaned, or collected. Intelligent Automation – Accurately processes returns, reducing errors and manual admin. Unrivalled Security – Real-time Revolutionising Asset Management, IT Services, and Secure Storage with Game-Changing AI Technology LapSafe® Unveils The World’s First AI-Powered Smart Locker BUSINESS BRIEFING *Patent Pending with UKIPO About LapSafe® LapSafe® is the UK’s leading provider of intelligent charging solutions and smart lockers, delivering innovative, secure, and efficient asset management solutions for over 25 years. Trusted by over 85% of UK universities, LapSafe® continues to drive the future of automated smart storage and IT service management.
10 01732 759725 RESELLER NEWS ZDL Group acquired by Cyberfort Cybersecurity services specialist Cyberfort has acquired ZDL Group as part of a buy-and-build strategy to become one of the largest independent UK-based cybersecurity providers within three years. With a team of 40 skilled cybersecurity professionals, ZDL provides a comprehensive range of cybersecurity services to 120 UK and international clients, including managed security services, penetration testing, ethical hacking and bespoke cybersecurity training. Cyberfort CEO Glen Williams said: “ZDL is a great fit for Cyberfort as it has a very strong pedigree for delivering agile, responsive security services, including Penetration Testing, Information Security Reviews and Supply Chain Risk Management through its Vendoor platform. It also has an impressive customer base. ZDL will integrate very easily with our existing business.” https://cyberfortgroup.com/ As safe as houses UK Connect, a provider of tailored connectivity and communication solutions to construction companies such as Crest Nicholson, Taylor Wimpey, CALA Homes and Kier Group, is offering clients enhanced cyber protection through a new partnership with BlueFort. The combination of UK Connect’s connectivity solutions and BlueFort’s cybersecurity expertise creates a digital security framework including comprehensive threat mitigation strategies, proactive protection against emerging digital risks specific to the construction sector and compliance with industry standards including NIST, ISO 27001 and CyberEssentials+. Joe Budnar-Hunt, Chief Technology Officer of UK Connect, said: “Our collaboration with BlueFort transforms how construction companies approach digital security, providing them with peace of mind and advanced protection. As a customer of BlueFort, UK Connect has experienced first-hand how they can expertly simplify cybersecurity, enhancing an organisation’s security posture through an array of solutions.” … Southampton office opened by Mercury Power Mercury Power, a leading provider of critical solutions to the data centre industry, is strengthening its presence in the South of England with the opening of a state-of-theart office at Ocean Village in Southampton, in addition its existing operations in Surrey, Burnley and Amsterdam. Mercury Power provides clients in the UK and EMEA with a range of services including the design, build, optimisation, ongoing management and support of missioncritical infrastructure such as mechanical & electrical systems, server rooms, communications rooms and data centres. The opening of its new office builds on a 250% increase in revenue since celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023. www.mercurypower.net continued... Avanade to unveil AI-powered garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show Avanade, the world’s leading Microsoft expert, is celebrating its 25th anniversary at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on May 20-24 with the unveiling of an intelligent garden that blends sensors, analytics and AI to support the survival and growth of trees in challenging city environments. While trees can reduce city temperatures by up to 5°C, cut air pollution and reduce flood risk by absorbing stormwater, it takes up to 16 years for a newly planted urban tree to become carbon neutral and 50 years for it to reach its ecological peak. Yet, 50% of urban trees die within 10 years and up to 30% within the first year, according to the Forestry Commission. RHS Chelsea will serve as the first public showcase of the Avanade Intelligent Garden designed by RHS Chelsea Gold Medal-winning duo Tom Massey and Je Ahn. As well as sensors that monitor tree health, soil conditions and environmental factors in real time, the garden boasts a website where visitors can have one-on-one conversations with trees and learn about their needs and wellbeing via an AI-powered ‘TreeTalk’ feature. The technology will allow the trees to proactively alert their custodians if they anticipate problems such as over- or under-watering. Other ecological features of the Avanade Intelligent Garden include a mycelium-clad pavilion made from biodegradable materials sourced from trees cut down due to Ash Dieback; a planted swale that aids stormwater management and reduces urban flooding risks; and forest-garden planting that emphasises biodiversity, climate resilience and edible plant species. www.avanade.com Redsquid strengthens cybersecurity capabilities with CST acquisition Redsquid, the fast-growing MSP, is strengthening its cybersecurity capabilities with the acquisition of Computer Security Technology (CST) – its first acquisition this year and its fourth in the last 12 months. The City of London-based MSP specialises in advanced cyber security solutions, providing managed services and consultancy to protect businesses from digital threats and vulnerabilities. Its 15-strong team boasts a range of capabilities including assessors of CE, CE+ and ISO certifications and extensive experience in threat detection, risk management and incident response. In addition to these skills, Redsquid gains a large customer base of central London-based enterprises and a Liverpool Street office – Redsquid’s fifth permanent location, in addition to its Borehamwood HQ and offices in Aberdeen, Pinewood Studios and Warner Brother Studios. Sohin Raithatha, CEO of Redsquid, said: “With an increased threat level, we have more security conversations than ever before. CST brings an experienced team and technologies into the organisation and allows us to bring the best security solutions to our customers at pace.” CST Founder Nigel Lewis added: “CST’s customers will benefit from an enhanced portfolio and skill set that has broader technology appeal beyond pure-play cyber, such as Microsoft, managed services and communications. In such volatile times, customers expect comprehensive portfolios, the resource to support them and optimum ROI.” www.redsquid.co.uk
A NEW CHOICE IS COMING Launching 22nd May 2025 Scan the QR Code to find out more or visit: www.voiceworks.co.uk
RESELLER NEWS 12 01732 759725 Orange Cyberdefense eyes growth with investment in UK Cybersecurity services provider Orange Cyberdefense is aiming to boost its UK market share with the opening of a new office in the City of London and the appointment of Ajay Bhardwaj as UK Managing Director. Bhardwaj joins Orange Cyberdefense from Secureworks, where he spent 10 years leading EMEA and global teams responsible for managed security services, incident response, security & risk consulting and threat intelligence. Prior to this, he held VP and Director positions at Intel Security and McAfee, working mainly with professional services firms. Bhardwaj said: “Orange Cyberdefense has a significant presence here, a worldclass SOC and an established cybersecurity incident response team (CSIRT) already providing valuable insights into the UK threat landscape. I’m looking forward to collaborating with our leadership team to build on this world-class foundation, reinvigorate our purpose and approach, and gather momentum to expand our solutions portfolio and customer base.” To this end, Orange Cyberdefense’s new office at 80 Cannon Street, London EC4 will house a Cyber Experience Centre (CEC) to engage clients with simulations that prompt them to think about their cyber-readiness and anticipate and respond to security incidents with confidence. … Workflo acquires long-time competitor Workflo Solutions, the West Lothianheadquartered MSP specialising in digital transformation, managed print, managed IT and unified communications, has acquired long-time competitor Incovo. This is the latest in a series of acquisitions, including those of Pyramid IT, TRM, Redwax and MacD IT, that has increased the MSP’s turnover to almost £5 million. The full integration of Incovo assets and operations expands Workflo’s customer base and brings in new vendor partnerships across hardware, cloud and hosted communications that will enable Workflo to offer new products and services to its 1,000+ clients. Managing Director Michael Field said: “The acquisition of Incovo is a significant step in strengthening Workflo Solutions’ ability to provide innovative and comprehensive services. This strategic move aligns with our vision for growth, allowing us to enhance our offerings and deliver even greater value to our clients. We’re excited about the opportunities this brings and the positive impact it will have on our customers.” www.workflo-solutions.co.uk … AlphaLogix acquired by Pinnacle Pinnacle has reinforced its position as a leader in cloud accounting, ERP and managed IT services with the acquisition of Chepstow-based AlphaLogix Ltd, a provider of Managed IT solutions with extensive expertise in Sage 50, Sage 200, Sage Intacct and CRM solutions. Pinnacle’s first acquisition since becoming the Technology Solutions division of K3 Capital Group enhances its technical expertise and customer support capabilities, expands its customer base to more than 2,000 and boosts its presence in Wales and the South-West of England. Rachel Tindle, Managing Director of Pinnacle, said: “This deal demonstrates our unwavering commitment to growth, innovation and strengthening our Sage and Managed IT services offering. We are thrilled to welcome the talented team from AlphaLogix to the Pinnacle family, as well as our new customers. The AlphaLogix team brings exceptional expertise and a shared dedication to customer success, making them a natural fit for Pinnacle.” As part of the acquisition, AlphaLogix’s team will join Pinnacle’s 180-strong workforce, ensuring seamless support and professional services for customers. K3 Advantage, a fellow company within the K3 Capital Group, supported Pinnacle’s acquisition of AlphaLogix by undertaking comprehensive financial and tax due diligence, leveraging data analytics tools and the team’s combined commercial M&A experience. … CompTIA skills boost Managed services provider Claranet is enhancing the skill levels of its cybersecurity workforce by integrating CompTIA’s industryrecognised certification programmes into its training and development initiatives. The partnership will give Claranet employees access to certifications such as CompTIA Network+, CySA+, Security+, ...continued Flotek strengthens board of directors as acquisitions continue Managed IT and communications services provider Flotek Group has strengthened its board of directors with the addition of new shareholder Wayne Jones as Group Sales Director and expanded its presence in London and Cambridge with the acquisition of Simpology UK Limited. Wayne Jones was previously Managing Director of North Wales-based managed IT, cybersecurity, managed print and web development company Office Equipment Systems Limited (OES), in which Flotek took a majority stake in February 2024. His investment in Flotek and elevation to its Board of Directors follows Flotek’s acquisition of the remaining equity in OES, which will rebrand as Flotek Group later this year and power the Group’s expansion into the North and the roll-out of managed print to its UK customer base. Since Flotek’s initial investment, OES has increased recurring revenue by closely adhering to the group’s vision and introducing telecoms to its existing customers. Jones said: “We’ve adapted the Flotek model since the investment and seen huge growth levels and service improvements by investing in our team and technology stack. This has focused us on working with customers who see real value in a partnership.” Flotek Group CEO Jay Ball added: “Wayne Jones becoming Group Sales Director allows me to step back from the sales team and focus on future acquisitions while Wayne focuses solely on delivering our ambitious growth plans to achieve £20m revenue by the end of 2025.” Flotek has taken a significant step towards this goal with the acquisition of Simpology, a Microsoft Cloud Partner focused on SMEs and multi-site companies in London, Cambridge and surrounding areas. Ball said: “This acquisition brings over 50 new managed support customers, plus more than 50 customers under the IT4Hair retail-focused sub‑brand, as well as an additional £1 million in revenue, taking our total to 120 employees and £17 million in revenue.” Established in 2003 by Managing Director Lee Frankham and Technical Director Mark Balaam, Simpology shares several key partners with Flotek, including Microsoft, N-able Cove and ZEN Internet. Wayne Jones and Jay Ball Ajay Bhardwaj Orange Cyberdefense Michael Field Workflo Solutions
RESELLER NEWS technologyreseller.co.uk 13 VirtualDCS ready to scale with new leadership team Cloud, disaster recovery and backup specialist virtualDCS has announced a new senior leadership team, after Manchester-based private equity firm MonacoSol acquired a majority stake in the Leeds-based business. Alex Wilmot, who has previously held senior leadership roles at Ingram Micro, Redcentric and Daisy, has been named CEO, replacing company founder Richard May who is now Product Development Director. Co-founder Dan Nichols returns as CTO after more than a decade leading technology teams at Sleek Networks, Secura Hosting and WebContractor; former CTO (and co-founder) John Murray transitions to Solutions Director; and new recruit Kieran Brady, who has had sales leadership roles at BT, Capita, Deutsche Telekom, Gamma and Redcentric, joins as CRO. Following MonacoSol’s investment, virtualDCS has moved its headquarters from The Waterscape in Kirkstall to larger offices at Wellington Place in Leeds city centre to accommodate future growth. Founded in 2008, virtualDCS currently has 22 staff, including developers, system analysts, network engineers and cyber security specialists, and expects to add another dozen over the next 12 months. With annual turnover of £2.8 million, it sells cloud services that enable companies to protect their data and enhance their cyber resilience and security direct to customers and through channel partners, including Phoenix Software, CCS Media and Vapour Cloud. Wilmot said: “With MonacoSol’s backing, we’re building on an already exceptional proposition while accelerating our ability to scale. As Richard and John move into their new roles, we’re able to retain their invaluable industry expertise, providing continuity as we move forward at pace.” www.virtualdcs.co.uk PenTest+, and the advanced CompTIA SecurityX (formerly known as CASP+). David Schorah, Head of Learning, Development and Capability at Claranet, said: “Partnering with CompTIA is a strategic move to strengthen our cybersecurity capabilities and attract skilled professionals. The demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals is higher than ever and by offering CompTIA’s vendorneutral certifications we are ensuring our team is well-prepared to protect our clients’ digital estates.” To date more than 800,000 business and technology professionals globally have been awarded a total of 3.6 million CompTIA certifications. https://www.claranet.com/uk/ https://www.comptia.org/ … Kyndryl to create 1,000 AI jobs in Liverpool Kyndryl, the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, plans to create up to 1,000 software engineering and AI-related jobs in and around Liverpool over the next three years following the establishment of a new technology hub in the city to support the digital transformation of UK and global customers. Led by Kyndryl Consult, the new technology hub will offer advisory services to help businesses adopt and implement AI, software and platform engineering solutions and includes a designer-led cocreation studio where customers can tackle complex, real-world business challenges. As part of the initiative, Kyndryl is entering a multi-year agreement with The Very Group to enhance and accelerate the retailer’s end-to-end digital capabilities with comprehensive software and platform engineering support. John Chambers, Kyndryl United Kingdom & Ireland President, said: “Liverpool’s growing reputation as a hub for digital excellence, reinforced by the success of last year’s International AI Summit, underscores our decision to invest in the region’s exceptional talent. This step, as well as Kyndryl’s expansion of our relationship with The Very Group, reflects Kyndryl’s commitment to nurturing the skills needed to accelerate AI adoption, advance digital transformation and drive meaningful economic growth across the UK.” www.kyndryl.com … NSSL Global to sponsor RNRL NSSLGlobal, provider of mission-critical connectivity to the Armed Forces, has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the Royal Navy Rugby League (RNRL). The sponsorship will provide funding for the RNRL’s Seniors, Women’s and Academy squads, covering playing schedules, kits and medical support. Adam Carter, Programme Director at NSSLGlobal, said: “We have a 45-year track record of work with the MOD and a 42-year partnership specifically with the Royal Navy. It’s fantastic for that to extend further with sponsorship of the RNRL, which is doing so much for increasing participation in sport among the Armed Forces.” The RNRL has more than 70 male and 25 female players. The Seniors team won the Inter Service Championships in 2022 and 2023 with the Academy securing a hat trick of Inter Services titles in 2022, 2023 and 2024. www.nsslglobal.com (l-r) The virtualDCS senior leadership team: John Murray, Kieran Brady, Alex Wilmot, Dan Nicols, Richard May Reformed IT makes its mark Nottingham-based Reformed IT has been featured in the FT 1000, the Financial Times’ annual ranking of Europe’s fastestgrowing companies compiled in collaboration with Statista. The IT services provider has been included after achieving an absolute growth rate of 193.9% and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43.2% between 2020 and 2023. In that time, its revenue surged from £456,000 in 2020 to £1,384,000 in 2023 and its headcount almost doubled from six to 11 employees. www.reformed-it.co.uk Reformed IT founders: Joe Burns, Scott Lynham and Joe Miller
RESELLER NEWS ...continued 14 01732 759725 Ancoris and Sundown Solutions join forces to create Telana Ancoris and Sundown Solutions have joined forces to provide end-to-end, business outcome-focused solutions based on in-depth expertise in AI, data, software development and cloud engineering. Telana, born out of Ancoris’s acquisition of Sundown, combines the former’s expertise in AI, data, analytics and application development with the latter’s capabilities in security, managed services and highly-regulated cloud infrastructure. Telana CEO Andre Azevedo said: “This is a significant milestone for both businesses. By combining our strengths, we are creating a unique provider that can deliver unparalleled value to our customers and increasingly exciting growth opportunities for our people. The services market has evolved to become more business-case driven, and customers need partners who can deliver outcomes across different technology stacks with both innovative and foundational capabilities. Telana is setting the standard on this front.” Telana holds top tier partnerships with the two leading AI and cloud companies in the world – Microsoft and Google Cloud – which validates its extensive capabilities to deliver unparalleled expertise and support across both platforms. New owner for AlexSys Ferdinand De Lisser, who sold an IT support company six years ago, is returning to the sector with the acquisition of Chewton Mendip-based MSP AlexSys, a provider of ICT advice and turnkey services to businesses across the UK. The company’s sale was facilitated by KBS Corporate, which was instructed to find a buyer when Founder and Managing Director Bridget Squance took the decision to retire. De Lisser is planning to grow AlexSys through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions, with a focus on the company’s cybersecurity offering. www.kbscorporate.com … Fundraising success PXC, the trading name of TalkTalk communications, has raised £330,000 for the Ambitious About Autism charity at its 16th annual Night of Ambition event hosted by actor Christopher Eccleston. The event run in partnership with headline sponsor CGI, the independent IT and business consulting business, attracted 350 people to Raffles London at the OWO in Whitehall, London. Other sponsors included Tech Mahindra, Pega, Openreach, CityFibre, MDS Global & NICE. Money raised at the event will go towards Ambitious about Autism’s Assistive Technology initiative which aims to give autistic children and young people assistive technology to improve their access to learning and to help them realise their potential and increase their independence. www.PXC.co.uk Maven investment to fuel KubeNet buy and build strategy Private Equity firm Maven Capital Partners has completed a £2.25 million investment in Kube Networks Limited, a Glasgow-based technology solutions provider specialising in managed IT & infrastructure services, cloud solutions, connectivity, voice and cybersecurity. The funding provided through Maven Investor Partners, Maven’s private equity co-investment network, will support KubeNet’s growth plans, which include a targeted buy-and-build strategy as well as organic growth that has fuelled a 27% increase in revenue over the last two years. Founded in 2012, KubeNet, an accredited partner of Cisco, Datto and Microsoft, offers a comprehensive suite of IT & Infrastructure Managed Services, including owning and operating an advanced Next Generation Network offering clients high speed internet services. Andrew Muirhead, Senior Investment Manager at Maven, said: “We are delighted to have secured this off-market opportunity for our investors, backing a well-established, profitable business with increasing levels of contracted revenues and operating in a market that is forecast for long-term growth. We have been impressed by management’s plans for scaling the business, which include a strong acquisition pipeline of highly complementary businesses that will expand its service capabilities, achieve operational efficiencies and ultimately accelerate growth.” www.mavencp.com www.kubenet.net KubeNet Directors Julie Inglis and Fraser Ferguson Communicate on track to almost triple annual turnover Cybersecurity and IT network solutions provider Communicate has acquired Blaze Networks, a managed service provider with expertise in multi-site SDWAN and advanced networking solutions. Communicate’s fifth acquisition and second since securing private equity investment from Rockpool puts the company on track to increase turnover by almost 300% from £6 million at the time of Rockpool’s investment in June last year to a projected £17 million in 2025. The acquisition of Blaze expands Communicate’s services portfolio and enables it to support organisations that require high-performance, secure connectivity across distributed environments with a fully integrated suite of services, including SD-WAN, SASE, cloud, backup and disaster recovery. Tony Snaith, CEO of Communicate Technology, said: “Bringing Blaze Networks into the Communicate group significantly strengthens our ability to offer cutting-edge, secure IT solutions. Their expertise in SD-WAN and SASE complements our existing capabilities, allowing us to provide businesses with seamless, scalable and highly secure network architectures.” Macclesfield-based Blaze Networks will continue to operate under Managing Director Ben Brassington. He said: “Joining Communicate presents a fantastic opportunity for Blaze Networks to accelerate its growth while continuing to deliver the high-quality solutions our customers rely on. By integrating with Communicate, we can offer an even more comprehensive service, while also providing our team with exciting new career development opportunities. Having re-invested in the group, I am fully committed to this next phase of expansion.” Founded in 2011, Communicate operates its own fibre network infrastructure and provides comprehensive cyber security and IT managed services, with a Network Operations Centre in Teesside and a 24/7/365 Security Operations Centre in Leeds. (l-r) Chris Mullen, CTO, Communicate; Tony Snaith, CEO, Communicate; Ben Brassington, Managing Director, Blaze Networks; James Blackburn, Director of Growth, Communicate; and Konrad Rutkowski, CFO, Communicate
binfo.co.ukRkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDUxNDM=