Products and Services
MSP360’s New Feature Lets End Users Perform Item-Level Restorations
MSP360, a provider of backup and IT management solutions for MSPs, has added Online Access 2.0 to MSP360 Managed Backup. Designed to reduce an MSP’s IT support tickets, the new capability allows end users to autonomously navigate through their backups using MSP360 Managed Backup and perform item-level restorations without requiring direct help from an MSP. It streamlines the process for end users, letting them download the necessary file(s) directly to their computers.
“Considering the increasingly complex IT threat landscape, MSPs can’t afford to use their scarce resources on monotonous tasks,” said Brian Helwig, CEO of MSP360, in a press statement. “By enabling MSPs to offer this option to end users, they can concentrate more on critical functions like threat prevention, detection, and remediation, as well as strategic planning and services that drive revenue. Furthermore, this feature not only streamlines operations for MSPs but also enhances the end-user experience, fostering a more proactive and self-sufficient approach to data management.”
TD SYNNEX Adds Microsoft 365 Copilot Training And Resources To Its AI Enablement Program
TD SYNNEX has added the Enablement Journey for Microsoft 365 Copilot to its Destination AI program, an aggregation of the distributor’s AI services, solutions, and resources. First launched in North America, select features of Destination AI are now also available globally, including Microsoft 365 Copilot. By adding Copilot enablement to Destination AI, customers can access enablement as well as a wide range of AI applications and services that run on Microsoft 365 and Azure, such as computer vision, natural language processing, and data analytics.
The TD SYNNEX Enablement Journey for Microsoft 365 Copilot comprises resources such as the Copilot Practice Builder, Customer CloudLabs Experiences, and the “Get Ready for Copilot Workshop.” Partners who complete the training can earn a badge to demonstrate their competencies around Copilot adoption.
“TD SYNNEX is committed to empowering our customers’ AI and cloud journey and helping them navigate these emerging technologies securely and efficiently. With the Enablement Journey for Microsoft 365 Copilot, we provide a holistic and tailored approach that addresses the specific needs and challenges of each customer,” said Sergio Farache, chief strategy officer, TD SYNNEX, in a press statement.
ESET Launches Marketing As A Service For Its Channel Partners
Cybersecurity vendor ESET added marketing as a service (MaaS) to its partner program. The service delivers full funnel marketing campaigns for ESET channel partners—focusing on delivering new leads, nurturing existing relationships, and improving brand awareness. Run in six-month campaigns, MaaS is part of ESET’s marketing development fund (MDF) program.
“We are dedicated to supporting partners at all levels—ensuring they have custom solutions required to improve profits and productivity,” said Hope McCluskey, director of channel marketing for ESET North America, in a press statement. “We designed MaaS to help our partners target the right prospects, nurture relationships, achieve long-term engagement, and maximize ROI.”
Veeam Integrates With Microsoft 365 Backup Storage
Data protection and ransomware recovery provider Veeam Software has integrated its Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) for Microsoft 365 with Microsoft 365 Backup Storage.
Customers can now choose several ways to utilize Veeam and manage Microsoft 365:
- New Cirrus by Veeam: Delivers a SaaS experience, without having to manage the infrastructure or storage within Microsoft 365 Backup Storage.
- Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365: Deploy Veeam’s existing software solutions for Microsoft 365 data protection and manage the infrastructure.
- A backup service from a Veeam Cloud & Service Provider (VCSP) partner: Built on top of the Veeam platform, with value-added services unique to the provider’s area of expertise.
General availability of the updated Veeam offering is expected within 90 days of the Microsoft 365 Backup Storage being available.
Want To Know If Something Is A Scam? Bitdefender’s New Scamio AI Chatbot Provides a Second Opinion
Bitdefender unveiled Scamio, a complimentary scam detection service designed to help users verify fraudulent online schemes delivered by email, embedded links, text, social media, and instant messaging through collaboration with a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence.
Users can drop questionable content into the Scamio chatbot and describe how it was received. Scamio provides a verdict in seconds along with recommendations on further action (“delete” and/or “block contact,” for example) and preventative measures.
Scamio supports any device or operating system and is accessed via web browser or through Facebook Messenger after a Bitdefender account set-up. It incorporates advanced natural language processing to understand and interpret user conversations (even language nuances and subtleties typically used in scams) accurately. Scamio is free and requires no downloading or previous access to a Bitdefender product.
Nfina Technologies Releases Four Rapid Recovery DR Solutions
Nfina, an IT infrastructure platform provider, rolled out four new server systems engineered for disaster recovery, hybrid cloud, and virtualized environments, all with a 5-year warranty and U.S.-based support.
Nfina’s new server systems (2U rackmount, tower, and 1U rackmount) come in a variety of solution-based configurations. Nfina-View monitoring and management software, included with most system solutions, allows customers to monitor systems with a GUI and create HA clustering. The systems offer on/off-site data protection, unlimited snapshots and clones, geo-redundant immutable backup, failover testing, and data recovery in minutes. The new Nfina systems are available now through Nfina’s partner network.
Collaborations
AI Leaders and the Cloud Security Alliance Launch the AI Safety Initiative
The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) launched the AI Safety Initiative in partnership with Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. This group is joined by a broad coalition of experts from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), other governments, academia, and across a wide swath of industries. A landing page for this initiative is available here and will be continuously updated during its initial stages.
The AI Safety Initiative is dedicated to crafting and openly sharing reliable guidelines for AI safety and security, initially concentrating on generative AI. It aims to equip customers, regardless of their size, with the tools, templates, and know-how for deploying AI in a safe, ethical, and compliant manner. The AI Safety Initiative is actively developing practical safeguards for today’s generative AI, structured in a way to help prepare for the future of much more powerful AI systems. Its goal is to reduce risks and amplify the positive impact of AI across all sectors.
The AI Safety Initiative will provide updates at two upcoming events:
- The CSA Virtual AI Summit (January 17-18, 2024)
- The CSA AI Summit at the RSA Conference (May 6, 2024; San Francisco)
Microsoft and AFL-CIO Are Talking About AI and the Future of Work
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and Microsoft are partnering to create an open dialogue to discuss how artificial intelligence must anticipate the needs of workers and include their voices in its development and implementation. This partnership has goals around education, worker input, and the shaping of public policy.
Action steps include:
- Educational sessions for labor leaders and workers, facilitated by Microsoft AI experts, will take place during the winter of 2024. On the AI curriculum front, LinkedIn Generative AI content will be tailored to specific sectors most impacted by AI, and Microsoft and the AFL-CIO’s Technology Institute will jointly develop and implement new content and professional learning opportunities to prepare workers for the future workplace.
- Microsoft will host labor summits in 2024 that bring labor leaders and workers together with Microsoft’s key AI product developers, researchers, and business leaders for discussions intended to co-design and develop “worker-centered technology.”
- AFL-CIO and Microsoft will join forces to propose and support policies that will equip workers with the essential skills, knowledge, and economic support needed to thrive in an AI-powered economy. The two organizations will support the expansion of registered apprenticeships, particularly in nontraditional tech occupations, and advocate for funding for Career and Technical Education.
Stats
New Research From Apple Finds 2.6 Billion Personal Records Were Compromised By Data Breaches In The Past 2 Years
A study commissioned by Apple and conducted by MIT professor Dr. Stuart Madnick shows that threats to consumer data stored in the cloud have grown dramatically since the last report was published in December 2022. The total number of data breaches more than tripled between 2013 and 2022—exposing 2.6 billion personal records in the past two years alone—and has continued to get worse in 2023. The report also shows that even when consumers take all the right steps to secure their sensitive data, it’s still at risk of being compromised by hackers if it’s stored in a readable form by organizations they entrust it with. The findings underscore that strong protections against data breaches in the cloud, like end-to-end encryption, have only grown more essential.
What’s Your Word Of The Year?
“Authentic” is Merriam-Webster’s 2023 Word of the Year. The top lookup was driven by interest in AI, celebrity culture, identity, and social media, according to the publisher. Other top lookups were “rizz,” internet slang for romantic appeal or charm; “deepfake,” and “coronation.”
Dictionary.com chose “hallucinate” (relating to AI) as its 2023 Word of the Year, defined as “to produce false information contrary to the intent of the user and present it as if true and factual.” Its five short-listed terms were “strike,” “wokeism,” “indicted,” “wildfire,” and “rizz.”
