Channel News
Rick Whiting
For the week ending Nov. 3, CRN takes a look at the companies that brought their ‘A’ game to the channel including AMD, Microsoft, IBM, Palo Alto Networks and Proofpoint.
The Week Ending Nov. 3
Topping this week’s Came to Win list is AMD for unveiling new laptop CPUs that combine two different processing cores, a move the company says provides greater design flexibility for both premium and entry-level laptop CPUs.
Microsoft is here for announcing the general availability of its Microsoft 365 Copilot generative AI software. Cybersecurity companies Palo Alto Networks and Proofpoint both make this week’s list for savvy acquisitions that will extend their technology portfolios. And IBM wins applause for an acquisition in the ERP application consulting space.
AMD Reveals Ryzen 7040 CPUs With Two Core Types, Says Approach Bests Intel’s
AMD’s innovative prowess was on display this week when it debuted Ryzen 7040 laptop CPUs that combine two processing core types – a move the chip maker said is better than rival Intel’s hybrid architecture approach for PC chips.
The two new processors in the Ryzen 7040 series combine two kinds of high-performance cores: the Zen 4 cores found in existing 7040 CPUs and the Zen 4c cores initially used for AMD’s cloud-optimized EPYC 97X4 server processors.
A company marketer said the use of two core types will give AMD greater design flexibility for both premium and entry-level CPUs for laptops. Using two core types in this manner, according to the company, allows AMD to make entry-level processors with higher core counts at lower price points.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Goes GA, Bringing Gen AI To Enterprise Customers
Microsoft’s 365 Copilot, the software giant’s highly anticipated generative AI software, became generally available through public clouds this week. The move means that Microsoft partners can finally quote the product for customers and usher in more access to the vendor’s generative AI tools.
To help ensure a smooth rollout of Copilot, Microsoft is making it available to Enterprise and SMC-Corporate customers first. The vendor said that way it can provide additional support as customers begin to integrate it into their business operations and fully utilize the software.
Solution providers can help customers buy Copilot through Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, EA Subscription and Microsoft Customer Agreement deals.
“With copilots, we’re making the age of AI real for people and businesses everywhere,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said on a call. “We are rapidly infusing AI across every layer of the tech stack and for every role of business process to drive productivity gains for our customers.”
Palo Alto Networks To Acquire Dig Security To Enable Cloud Data Shift
Palo Alto Networks struck a deal this week to acquire Dig Security, a cloud data security startup, in a move that will allow Palo Alto Networks to expand into the realm of data security posture management (DSPM).
The acquisition will be the company’s 15th under CEO Nikesh Arora. The cost of the acquisition was not disclosed although a source told CRN that the acquisition price was $400 million.
Palo Alto Networks said Dig’s DSPM technology will be incorporated into its Prisma Cloud platform.
Proofpoint To Acquire Email Security Company Tessian
Staying on the topic of strategic acquisitions in the cybersecurity space, Proofpoint this week announced a deal to buy email security tech developer Tessian.
Proofpoint will incorporate Tessian’s AI-driven email security platform into its email data loss prevention (DLP) offering. That will boost Proofpoint’s ability to help customers protect against threats from malicious insiders as well as accidental data loss.
The addition of Tessian’s products—Guardian, Enforcer and Defender—will bring in “powerful layers of AI-powered defense that address risky user behaviors,” Proofpoint said in a news release.
Terms of the acquisition, which is expected to close either later this year or in early 2024, were not disclosed.
IBM Boosts ERP Consulting Capabilities With Acquisition
And completing a trifecta of acquisition deals this week, IBM is buying Equine Global, an Indonesian ERP and cloud consulting services firm, in a move that will boosts IBM Consulting’s capabilities in the enterprise resource planning application arena.
Equine, founded in 2009, is made of multiple operating companies that work on ERP implementation, application development, data management and analytics, according to IBM.
Equine’s partners include SAP, Oracle, Amazon Web Services, Salesforce, Tableau, Informatica, Automation Anywhere, Fortinet, Trend Micro, Dell and, of course, IBM.
IBM will use Equine Global “to help clients in Indonesia modernize their core businesses while advancing the company’s hybrid cloud and AI strategy in the region,” according to a statement.
This is IBM’s first Indonesia-headquartered acquisition. IBM’s statement did not disclose financial terms, but the vendor said it plans to close the deal in the fourth quarter of 2023.
