>>Market Outlook
Forrester Predicts Tech Spend To Grow 5.4% In North America In 2024
As economic conditions continue to improve, Forrester is predicting global tech spend will grow 5.3% in 2024, up from 3.5% in 2023, according to the firm’s Global Tech Market Forecast, 2023 to 2027. The analyst firm says two factors are contributing to this growth: increased spending on software and IT services, including generative AI, cloud, security, and digital; and economic growth in Asia Pacific.
In North America, Forrester projects 5.4% growth, with software and IT services capturing 60% of U.S. tech spend by 2027, up from 53% in 2018. Forrester says financial services and healthcare will see the fastest growth this year.
>>Product News
AI Startup Nine Minds Aims To Streamline Workflow For MSPs With New Chat Interface
Nine Minds’ upcoming Alga Pro is a chat interface to Alga, an AI-based ticketing automation tool. With Alga Pro, helpdesk techs can access insights from all their historical tickets, eliminating manual sifting and enabling Alga to recommend company-specific best practices. Alga Pro was developed with an emphasis on data privacy, according to the company, which was founded by ConnectWise alum Robert Isaacs, with funding from Bellini Capital.
With Alga Pro, users can get data about ticket status and priority; find related tickets based on ticket number, keyword, or phrase; search by subject, agent, customer, company, and more; obtain KPIs for better performance analysis; identify which tickets are assigned, unassigned, or have been recently updated; and determine the busiest day for ticket creation and ticket due dates.
Alga Pro is launching on January 24. The company is offering MSPs a 14-day free trial, available for the first user admin plus up to four additional users.
Additionally, Nine Minds is actively working to expand beyond its ConnectWise integration to integrate Alga Pro with Autotask and other PSA platforms.
N-able Adds Managed Detection and Response To Its Security Suite
N-able, an RMM and security platform provider, has added N-able Managed Detection and Response (MDR) to its security suite. The new offering combines a security operations platform with human expert services.
N-able MDR offers real-time visibility and collaboration between MSPs, end-user organizations, and when needed, expert security analysts, as security events unfold. The solution integrates with and ingests data from existing security and IT tools. Its artificial intelligence helps surface threats that otherwise go unnoticed. N-able MDR comprises threat hunting, vulnerability management, darknet monitoring, and compliance support.
N-able MDR is available immediately for partners located in North America.
>>Cybersecurity Stats
Veeam Report Finds Ransomware The Top Threat to Business Continuity
Data from the just released 5th annual Veeam Data Protection Trends Report found that cyberattacks, specifically ransomware, were the most common and most impactful causes of business outages across organizations. In the past 12 months, 76% of organizations were attacked at least once, which is down from 85% in 2023. However, 26% reported being attacked at least four times this past year. Notably, only 13% said they can successfully orchestrate recovery during a DR situation.
The good news for MSPs? Data protection budgets are expected to grow by 6.6% in 2024, outpacing IT spending growth. Overall, 92% of organizations expect to spend more on data protection in 2024.
>>Partner Programs
Keepit Continues March Toward a ‘Partner Only’ Strategy With Keepit Partner Network
Keepit, a provider of cloud backup and recovery solutions, has launched the Keepit Partner Network for VARs, MSPs, and distributors. Partners are classified into “registered,” “select,” and “elite” categories based on their value to Keepit and how invested they are in growing their business with Keepit and in strengthening their technical understanding of the products. The partner program includes dedicated sales and marketing support, collaboration with dedicated regional partner managers, and online and in-person technical training.
“The launch of the Keepit Partner Network is a pivotal moment for us. It not only mirrors our commitment to growth but underlines our new ‘partner only’ strategy. Our recent achievements, including new funding and expanded offices, set the stage for a thriving partnership ecosystem,” said Craig Bumpus, CRO at Keepit, in a press statement.
Veeam Enhances Global ProPartner Network
Data protection and ransomware recovery provider Veeam Software announced several enhancements to its Veeam ProPartner Network program. The program updates, according to the company, include improvements in partner margin on the front end, expanded deal registration eligibility, new price protection for incumbent partners along with select discounts on maintenance and renewals, enhanced sales and technical training aligned to competencies, and increased marketing support.
>>Movers and Shakers
Kaseya Promotes Joe Smolarski To President And Chief Customer Officer
Kaseya announced the expansion of its C-suite with the promotion of Joe Smolarski to president and chief customer officer. Over the last five years, Smolarski has led various departments across Kaseya and most recently served as Kaseya’s COO. He will bring to this role a customer-first approach and will be focused on helping enhance and better the customer’s partner experience.
GoTo Appoints A New CEO As Outgoing CEO Heads to DigitalOcean
Business communications and remote IT support provider GoTo (formerly LogMeIn) announced that Rich Veldran, its chief financial officer, is the new CEO, taking over for Paddy Srinivasan, who is moving to DigitalOcean as CEO.
Veldran, who joined GoTo as CFO more than three years ago, will lead GoTo while continuing to oversee its global finance organization. Prior to joining GoTo, Veldran was a senior advisor and executive coach with Boston Consulting Group.
Srinivasan will join DigitalOcean, a cloud hosting service for builders, on February 12. While at GoTo, his roles included CEO, chief product and technology officer; SVP products and general manager; and VP products and engineering. Prior to GoTo, Srinivasan was GM for data, machine learning platform services, Alexa AI, at Amazon.
LastPass Names Esther Flammer Chief Marketing Officer
LastPass, a password and identity management solutions provider, has named Esther Flammer CMO. She will oversee the global marketing organization and strategy, including corporate marketing and communications, product marketing, demand generation, digital and growth marketing, and marketing operations and analytics. Prior to joining LastPass, Flammer served as CMO at Wrike, a work management platform that Citrix acquired in 2021 and transitioned into a standalone entity in 2023.
CyberArk Appoints Eduarda Camacho as Chief Operating Officer
CyberArk, an identity security company, has appointed Eduarda Camacho as COO. She will lead CyberArk’s go-to-market strategy and field execution, including executive leadership over the entire customer journey—sales, channel, and customer success teams worldwide. Camacho most recently served as chief customer officer and senior vice president of customer success at BMC Software.
