News and Partner Program Updates
Intel leads the headlines for this week, but there’s also a lot of interesting news from all over the industry. Ready for a quick rundown of this week’s MSP news and partner program updates? Scroll on down!
Intel Accelerates AI at the Edge Through an Open Ecosystem
Intel empowers partners to seamlessly integrate AI into existing infrastructure with its new Intel AI Edge Systems, Edge AI Suites and Open Edge Platform software.
Key details from the news release:
- Intel AI Edge Systems: Intel’s edge systems speed up AI deployment at the edge. Builders – original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original design manufacturers (ODMs) – have access to standardized blueprints, benchmarks and verification tools optimized for edge AI use cases. These resources enable customers and solution providers to easily configure systems to meet the performance needs of use cases like vision AI or generative AI (GenAI). With a range of power levels, sizes and performance options, these solutions ensure optimal integration of hardware and software.
- Edge AI Suites: Edge AI Suites are open, industry-specific AI software development kits (SDKs) for independent software vendors (ISVs), system integrators and solutions builders. These suites simplify the creation of custom AI solutions for various industries by providing curated reference applications, sample code and benchmarks to accelerate application development. Currently, Intel offers four suites, optimized for retail, manufacturing, smart cities, and media and entertainment.
- Open Edge Platform: The Open Edge Platform is a modular, open source platform that simplifies the development, deployment and management of edge and AI applications at scale. With cloud-like simplicity, this platform allows ISVs, solution builders and operating system vendors to integrate software components efficiently and leverage performance optimizations from Intel’s latest software advancements. Partners can easily deploy containerized workloads on remote edge devices — without the need for on-site visits — and manage these deployments with tools like Intel vPro®/Intel® Active Management Technology, enabling collaboration and innovation across the software ecosystem.
N-able Extends Ecoverse Vision with Rewst and Cove Data Protection Integration to Boost Backup Operational Efficiency
New collaboration delivers powerful automation to streamline workflows and enhance backup orchestration.
Key quote from the news release:
“Rewst’s partnership with N-able exemplifies our commitment to reducing complexity for IT providers by fostering an open, connected ecosystem. By integrating with N-able’s tools, including N-central, N-sight, and now Cove Data Protection, we’re empowering MSPs to optimize their operations with seamless automation across their entire tech stack. This integration is just one step in our ongoing mission to help our partners scale efficiently and focus on delivering exceptional service to their customers.” — Aharon Chernin, CEO, Rewst
Auvik’s New Innovations Transform IT Automation and Network Visibility for IT Teams and Users
Automation and observability capabilities bring enterprise-grade solutions to mid-market and MSPs for frictionless IT.
Key additions from the news release:
- SaaS Automation and SaaS License Optimization capabilities are within the Auvik SaaS Management solution.
- Endpoint Network Monitoring allows IT teams to support end users regardless of where and how employees are working, empowering distributed and hybrid workforces.
- Expanded Server Monitoring capabilities provide deeper visibility into Windows server environments.
Hitachi Vantara Announces Hitachi iQ for Trusted Data Infrastructure Solutions for Modern AI Systems with NVIDIA HGX Platform
Hitachi iQ certified solutions and reference architectures — built on NVIDIA accelerated computing and AI software — enhance ease of deployment, operations, and maintenance of AI systems.
Key quote from the news release:
“Our customers are looking for advanced solutions to meet the ever-evolving demands of AI, and the Hitachi iQ offering with NVIDIA HGX is the latest example of how we are at the forefront of AI innovation. As one of the only vendors to offer a complete, end-to-end AI infrastructure solution, we marry world-class technology with deep industry expertise for a powerful, one-stop shop experience.” — Jason Hardy, chief technology officer for artificial intelligence, Hitachi Vantara
RED CANARY REPORT: Threat Researchers Detect 4x More Identity-enabled Attacks as Infostealers Surge
None of the nearly 93,000 threats analyzed in this report were prevented by customers’ expansive security controls, including all leading endpoint protection (EPP) and IAM platforms.
Key findings from the report:
- Click, Paste, Compromised: One of the most successful new initial access techniques observed this year was paste and run, also known as “ClickFix” and “fakeCAPTCHA.” In this attack, adversaries socially engineer users into executing malicious scripts under the pretense that doing so will fix something, like providing access to a video or document.
- VPN Abuse Is Rampant and Difficult to Detect: Adversaries constantly use virtual private networks (VPNs) to conceal their location and bypass network controls, but employees also rely on them for legitimate activity. Strikingly, organizations in the educational services sector accounted for 63% of all VPN use – a disproportionately high share given their smaller presence among Red Canary’s data. This highlights that environments from organizations in this sector are a potential hotspot for VPN-related security risks.
- RMM Exploitation Is on the Rise: The use of remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools for command and control and lateral movement is growing, enabling adversaries to drop malicious payloads including ransomware. This year, Red Canary saw malicious use of NetSupport Manager break its yearly top 10, highlighting the popularity of RMM tools amongst adversaries.
- The Not-so-helpful IT Desk: Phishing remains prevalent in many forms. Email, QR code (aka “quishing”), SMS, and voice phishing attacks all increased in 2024. Often, adversaries posed as IT personnel, asking victims to download malicious or remote control software. In 2024, Black Basta paired email bombing with social engineering, posing as IT personnel “helping” with the issue to gain access and install RMM tools.
GoTo Introduces GoTo Connect AI Receptionist: The Ultimate Practical Tool for Smarter Business Communications
AI Receptionist, the first of the new GoTo Connect Digital Workforce solutions, transforms SMB customer service with an always-on digital front desk, ensuring that businesses never miss an opportunity.
Key quote from the news release:
“GoTo Connect AI Receptionist isn’t just a tool — it’s a revolution for SMBs challenged to do more with less. With generative AI at its core, this solution doesn’t just answer calls. It provides businesses with an always-on, intelligent virtual receptionist that delivers immediate value to the existing workforce by handling peaks in call volume, supporting agents during off hours, and tackling mundane tasks to leave employees free to focus on the most valuable work. AI Receptionist is just the start of our GoTo Connect Digital Workforce capabilities. Pairing AI features with employee skills is the future of customer communication and a win-win for businesses and customers alike.” — Olga Lagunova, chief product and technology officer, GoTo
Barracuda Threat Spotlight: 1M Phishing-as-a-service Attacks in 2 Months Highlight a Fast-evolving Threat
The first few months of 2025 saw a massive spike in phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) attacks targeting organizations around the world, with more than 1 million attacks detected by Barracuda systems in January and February.
Key quote from the blog post:
“The platforms that power phishing-as-a-service are increasingly complex and evasive, making phishing attacks both harder for traditional security tools to detect and more powerful in terms of the damage they can do. An advanced, multilayered defense strategy with AI/ML-enabled detection, combined with a strong security culture and consistent security access and authentication policies, will help to protect organizations and employees against PhaaS-based attacks.” — Deerendra Prasad, associate threat analyst in the threat analyst team, Barracuda Networks
XTIUM Debuts as Unified Brand of ATSG and Evolve IP to Support Growing Demands of Modern Managed IT Services
XTIUM, a modern MSP, ushers in a new era of security, AI-powered efficiency, and elite support, empowering businesses to focus on innovation and growth.
Key quote from the news release:
“XTIUM has been created to meet the new demands of a changing IT landscape. By embedding directly with our clients as a trusted partner, offering flexible, high-touch support backed by advanced security and AI-driven operational intelligence, XTIUM is helping organizations stay ahead of risks and opportunities.” — Russ Reeder, president and CEO, XTIUM
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Cytex Unveils AICenturion: The Industry’s First LLM Firewall with Integrated DLP Securing the Use of AI for Public and Private Sector Entities
GenAI’s risks intensify as LLMs prevent enterprises from directly controlling their processes and data handling.
Key quote from the news release:
“With the explosive adoption of LLMs, we’re seeing a new frontier of risk emerge: the exfiltration of sensitive data uploaded into LLMs, data leaks, prompt injections, and model theft. AICenturion isn’t just a tool; it’s a strategic enabler. It allows businesses to leverage AI while maintaining defense against threats that traditional security solutions simply can’t see. Our mission is to make AI a trusted partner, not a liability.” — Andrew Surwilo, CEO, Cytex
HP Turbocharges Partner Growth to Drive the Future of Work
HP introduces new partner compensation booster, expands Amplify AI program and exceeds sustainability targets.
Key details from the news release:
- The launch of the Amplify SuperPower Booster, an upgraded compensation structure that rewards portfolio-wide HP sales and supports flexible technology solutions.
- Expansion of the HP Amplify AI program with new resources and use cases to help partners accelerate adoption, including the HP NVIDIA Technical Sales Strategy AI Workstation MasterClass for advanced AI knowledge, as well as a new tailored and condensed training path for partner executives, and more.
- A two-year roadmap aimed at transforming the HP Partner Portal into a more comprehensive digital platform that leverages AI technologies, including plans to launch a Partner AI Assistant.
- HP exceeded its goal of enrolling 50% of Amplify partners in the HP Amplify Impact program – the IT industry’s first sustainability program for channel partners – by 2025. The HP Amplify Impact program offers assessments, resources, and training to support partners on their sustainability journey, and notably participating partners have seen a 70% increase win rate, leading to a twofold increase in sustainable sales year over year.
SonicWall Partner Focus Drives Key Business Momentum in Transformational Year
SonicWall’s wide-ranging platform of cybersecurity solutions and growth with managed security services providers (MSSPs) underpin portfolio and business transformation.
Key quote from the news release:
“SonicWall’s inside-out approach, kicked off almost three years ago, has uniquely positioned us to anticipate and meet the evolving needs of our partners and customers more effectively than ever. By listening and acting on partner feedback, expanding our world-class cybersecurity offerings, and bringing to market solutions designed specifically for MSPs we are ensuring that our partners have the support they need to thrive, and empower them to keep their customers safe. Together, we are not just keeping pace with industry demands; we are setting the standard for success in cybersecurity.” — Bob VanKirk, CEO and president, SonicWall
>>>Read more about SonicWall’s 2025 priorities in ChannelPro’s interview with Bob VanKirk.<<<
MENLO SECURITY REPORT: 130% Increase in Zero-Hour Phishing Attacks and Nearly 600 Incidents of GenAI Fraud Found
Threat actors are increasingly using AI-powered attacks to exploit browser vulnerabilities, harvest user credentials, and employ evasion tactics to bypass traditional security defenses.
Key findings from the State of Browser Security Report include:
- Cybercriminals created nearly 1 million new phishing sites each month, a 700% increase since 2020.
- Nearly 51% of browser-based phishing attempts involved some form of brand impersonation.
- 75% of phishing links are hosted on good, trusted websites, with up to six days as the average window of exposure before legacy security tools begin blocking pages from zero-hour phishing attacks.
- Phishing attacks hosted on subdomain providers increased by 51%, representing 24% of all phishing attacks.
- Four of the top five hosting providers used by bad actors to host phishing attacks were based in the U.S. This potentially reflects the country’s economic and political significance, increased digital transformation and remote work, and the growing reliance on U.S.-based cloud services and SaaS platforms housing critical data and financial information.
- Instances of attackers exploiting cloud services to host malicious content including phishing sites and ransomware is on the rise. AWS and CloudFlare accounted for nearly 50% of all instances of abused cloud hosting instances in 2024.
Luware launches Luware Nimbus Power, delivering the next-generation of Teams-integrated Contact Centers
Powered by new Microsoft Teams Phone extensibility, Luware Nimbus Power seamlessly integrates Teams’ telephony with Azure Communication Services (ACS) for enhanced communication.
Key quote from the news release:
“Being one of the first adopters of Microsoft Teams Phone extensibility shows our commitment to delivering cutting-edge contact center solutions, and Luware Nimbus Power represents a major milestone in this journey. … We’re providing businesses with greater flexibility, reliability, and the ability to future-proof their customer communication strategies.” — Markus Weisbrod, Luware Nimbus product manager, Luware
CyVent Announces Premium Cybersecurity Services for Managed Service Providers
Bespoke cybersecurity offerings deliver a true SaaS model that enables MSPs to mitigate the frequency and sophistication of cyber threats.
Key quote from the news release:
“MSPs are finding that they can grow their businesses and bolster their clients’ security postures by deploying the Haven all-in-one cybersecurity solution. It’s a true SaaS model, with a 90-day exit clause. We facilitate a risk-free partnership to support the growth of our MSPs customers.” — Yuda Saydun, president and CEO, CyVent
Pax8 Unveils Bold New Brand Exemplifying Vision and Global Presence
The company aligns its brand style to more closely reflect its innovative, forward-looking vision and partner-first approach.
Key quote from the news release:
“The new brand brings to the forefront who we’ve always been and our relentless focus on making cloud technology work for small businesses globally. It’s also a bold, forward-thinking statement: the evolution of what this community and the industry as a whole can become. The pace of change isn’t slowing down, and neither are we. We’re here to help our partners navigate what’s next — with the tools, tech and expertise to turn every challenge into an opportunity.” — Jennifer Bodell, corporate vice president of marketing, Pax8
Blue Mantis Expands Network and Carrier Services with Strategic Triple Acquisition
TELigence Partners, Brevin Systems and Calkins Networks expand the organization’s customer reach across the Northeastern U.S.
Key quote from the news release:
“The addition … unlocks an underserved, but growing market in major business hubs such as Albany, Buffalo, Burlington and Rochester, allowing Blue Mantis to further expand into the healthcare and higher education sectors. All three companies stood out for their customer-first attitudes, technical acumen and long-tenured client relationships. Blue Mantis’ clients, prospects and partners will benefit greatly from the exceptional value of the acquired firms’ expertise.” — Josh Dinneen, CEO, Blue Mantis
SlashNext Launches Advanced URL Analysis Tool to Expose Hidden Threats in Real Time
New capability performs live, in-depth scanning and analysis of unknown URLs, tracking requests and following redirection to track the original link to its final destination.
Key quote from the news release:
“SlashNext’s URL analysis tool cuts through any confusion caused by relying on third-party sources to determine URL safety, by revealing the entire sequence of events. This level of detail doesn’t just help you stop a single attack. It helps you understand the methods attackers use so you can train your team and refine your defenses against future threats.” — Patrick Harr, CEO, SlashNext
Images: Intel, GoTo, Barracuda, Pax8
