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Partnerships

Cisco, Microsoft Team Up For Data Center Virtualization Solutions

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Cisco has announced that is partnering with Microsoft to deliver data center virtualization solutions designed to provide improved scalability and operational control of Microsoft Windows Server “8” virtual environments.

The Cisco Nexus 1000V distributed virtual switch and the Cisco Unified Computing System with Virtual Machine Fabric Extender (VM-FEX) capabilities will work with the Windows Server Hyper-V hypervisor to provide customers with Cisco networking features that are constant across both virtual and physical networks while supporting customers’ existing IT management processes.

The Cisco Nexus 1000V distributed virtual switch adds the dynamic provisioning and management capabilities of Cisco NX-OS Software to Windows Server Hyper-V to simplify the operations of virtual networking infrastructures as extensions of physical networks.

It also provides full VM-level visibility, security controls in a virtualized environment that are consistent with their Cisco physical network.

By working with Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) management tools, the Cisco Nexus 1000V will help network, virtualization and server administrators gain efficiency in collaboratively managing multi-tenant and mobile virtual environments. It also helps them to obtain real-time data for troubleshooting of virtual environments.

The Cisco Nexus 1000V and VM-FEX solutions for Hyper-V will be available when Windows 8 Server is released to the market.

Proofpoint To Provide Security And Compliance Solutions For VMware Zimbra

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Proofpoint, a provider of cloud-based security and compliance solutions for enterprise messaging and collaboration, today announced a collaboration with VMware to provide security and compliance solutions for the VMware Zimbra platform.

The integration of Proofpoint Enterprise Protection and Proofpoint Enterprise Privacy with VMware Zimbra provides customers with advanced regulatory compliance, email encryption, anti-phishing, data privacy and data loss prevention capabilities

VMware Zimbra is a collaboration hub for email, contacts, calendars, documents, file sharing, tasks, social media and enterprise applications. VMware Zimbra supports Firefox, Chrome, Safari or Internet Explorer on any desktop or device, and works with Windows, Mac and Linux desktops.

Proofpoint has worked with VMware Zimbra to custom-engineer the integration of its solutions with the VMware Zimbra platform to provide users with maximum protection
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The VMware Zimbra Platform has open APIs to add new end user functionality called “Zimlets.” This partnership introduces a new Zimlet: the secure-send Zimlet which allows users to send encrypted messages using Proofpoint Encryption.

Moreover, Proofpoint has introduced functionality to automatically quarantine spam by learning from actions taken by the user.

Qualified trial users of the Zimbra collaboration server virtual appliance can download a fully functional, 60-day trial version of Proofpoint Enterprise. Qualified trial users that purchase a license for Zimbra collaboration server can have the trial period for Proofpoint Enterprise Protection extended for another 12 months.

AppSense Establishes Certified Specialist Program

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AppSense, provider of user virtualization technology, today announced the AppSense Certified Specialist program with computer-based testing for information technology provider Pearson Vue.

As the second tier of its three-tier global certification program, the specialist certification program is designed to increase and benchmark competency while validating an IT professional’s ability to implement, configure, and administer the AppSense User Virtualization Platform (UVP).

The AppSense UVP decouples the user layer from any native PC or virtual desktop, capturing this user-specific ‘digital personality’ into a centralized management framework. The UVP then delivers this personality, along with related IT-defined policies, on-demand to any point on an organization’s desktop and application delivery infrastructure – physical and virtual.

Okta Teams up With Cloud Sherpas To Accelerate Adoption Of Cloud Computing In Enterprises

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Today, Okta, an on-demand identity and access management service provider, and Cloud Sherpas, a Google Apps cloud service provider, announced a new partnership with the goal of accelerating enterprise adoption of cloud computing.

This partnership between Okta and Cloud Sherpas will help organizations of all sizes adopt Google Apps and streamline initial set-up and reduce IT expenses, as well as increase productivity for employees and administrators.

Cloud Sherpas is a reseller and solutions provider, simplifying the process of ‘going Google,’ and says it has helped more than one million end users from hundreds of companies migrate to Google Apps — the cloud email and collaboration platform for businesses from start-ups to large enterprises.

Okta and Cloud Sherpas have already worked together to bring cloud to a number of companies, including AMAG Pharmaceuticals, using Okta to manage Google Apps and more than 20 other cloud-based applications.

Tech Data Teams Up With VMware To Deliver VMware vSphere 5

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Tech Data Corporation has announced that it has partnered with VMware to deliver VMware vSphere 5 to its channel of over 60,000 resellers in the United States.

VMware vSphere 5 is available for live, remote, or virtual demos at Tech Data’s onsite VMware Transformation Center, providing resellers with expert-led sales and technical training to differentiate and optimize their businesses through offering virtualization and cloud computing solutions based on VMware technologies.

“VMware vSphere® 5 presents an immediate opportunity for VMware partners to capitalize on the growing interest in cloud computing by building secure, private clouds for their customers”
“We are excited to add VMware vSphere® 5 to our virtualization offering in Tech Data’s Advance Infrastructure Systems (AIS) group,” said Amy Belcher, Vice President of Virtualization and Storage Product Marketing at Tech Data. “VMware vSphere 5 is one of the industry’s most complete platforms and will enable our resellers to provide their customers with an efficient, simplified virtualization opportunity. We are also pleased to offer the VMware Transformation Center as a resource for both our resellers and their customers to experience the latest technology from VMware and other leading IT vendors.”

The VMware vSphere 5 virtualization and cloud infrastructure platform creates increased efficiency through utilization and automation, lower capital and operating costs, and quick responses to business needs without sacrificing security or control. VMware vSphere 5 and the company’s cloud infrastructure suite are supported by more than 25,000 partners, including technology partners, independent software vendors (ISVs), solution providers, service providers, and systems integrators, as well as every major global hardware manufacturer, helping users effectively respond to the growing needs of their business and gain confidence in their IT transformation.

“VMware vSphere® 5 presents an immediate opportunity for VMware partners to capitalize on the growing interest in cloud computing by building secure, private clouds for their customers,” said Doug Smith, Vice President of Global Partner Strategy and Operations at VMware. “In the VMware Transformation Center, Tech Data is showing resellers how VMware technologies can deliver cloud computing solutions for existing data centers, helping to dramatically increase efficiencies and business agility.”

The VMware Transformation Center is housed in Tech Data’s onsite Solutions Center, offering resellers the opportunity to demonstrate products and services from over 120 manufacturers and software publishers. Located in Tech Data’s corporate headquarters in Clearwater, Fla., the Solutions Center features a 6,000 square-foot proof-of-concept IT solutions lab with over $5 million in IT products. Hosting over 300 visitors each month, the Solutions Center also offers technology seminars, hands-on training, and classroom instruction.

VMware product demonstrations currently available in Tech Data’s Solutions Center include VMware vSphere and VMware vCenter™ Server, VMware View™, Trend Micro Deep Security and VMware vShield™ Endpoint, Cisco Nexus 1000v Distributed Switch, VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager™, VMware vCenter CapacityIQ™, VMware vCloud® Director, VMware vCenter Chargeback™ and VMware Zimbra®. Demonstration of the EMC VNXe series, an ideal fit for small- to medium-sized businesses, is also available through the Solutions Center. The EMC VNXe series serves as the virtual storage platform for VMware vSphere 5 and integrates with VMware vCenter Server.

Virtual Computer Debuts New Release Of NxTop 4

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Virtual Computer today announced the availability of NxTop 4.

With this new release, IT departments are equipped for the first time with a desktop virtualization solution that offers both centralized and distributed storage options for virtual machines while still utilizing the enormous computing power at the PC end-point.

By combining network-based storage with a stateless client-side hypervisor, Virtual Computer’s customers can now keep all their data in the data center, but deliver a high-fidelity desktop experience at a fraction of the cost of server-hosted VDI.

The underpinnings of this technology were first introduced to the market in 2009 by Lenovo, which is now working with Virtual Computer to extend the solution and deliver it on NxTop.

As part of the collaboration, Lenovo provided core technology and patents that bring this technology to a broad set of Lenovo computers and PCs powered by 2nd generation Intel Core vPro processors.

NxTop 4 offers the highest performance, lowest cost desktop virtualization platform and is available immediately via Virtual Computer’s global channel partners or through Lenovo customer factory install.