News in the Channel - issue #40

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Issue #40

Want Better Productivity? Start with Smarter IT

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COMMENT

Keeping data safe Businesses are producing data in ever increasing quantities, which means that it is a growing target for cybercriminals. Cybersecurity is hugely important – but so is how businesses deal with getting rid of data once it has outlived its useful lifespan.

Data is being produced in greater volumes than ever before by businesses across the spectrum. While many are harnessing it to provide business insights they never had before, it also

obviously be hugely problematic. MSPs have long provided cybersecurity for legal firms, but as threats change, so does what they need to provide. Read more on p38. Elsewhere in the issue, we look at something that is becoming increasingly popular among resellers and MSPs –

Dan Parton

means that it needs to be managed properly – and disposed of correctly when it has reached the end of its useful life. And that is where businesses can fall. It isn’t just a case of hitting delete on a file, as some may think – as these can still be found by cybercriminals. What is required is proper destruction of the file, so it is rendered unreadable – the online version of putting a document through a shredder. Resellers can have a vital role

predictive maintenance. This provides benefits for customers in terms of less downtime, but also for MSPs and resellers as it can cut costs and help provide a better service to customers. And, for those who haven’t invested in it yet, it is getting easier than ever to start providing. See p25 for more. We also look at the current trends in the peripherals market.

Demand for peripherals is growing, driven by several factors, which means they present a range of opportunities for resellers to grow sales volumes. Read more on p30. As always, I hope you enjoy the issue. News in the Channel covers the entire channel, so if there is a topic you want to see covered in a future issue, or you have a press release or opinion piece you want to submit for consideration for publication, please drop me an email at dan@newsinthechannel.com. n

to play here as some businesses don’t take the risk of old data getting into the wrong hands seriously enough – and the consequences can be serious – by providing the right advice and solutions to customers. Read more on p44. One sector where there is no shortage of data – much of it confidential and therefore of more value to criminals – is the legal sector. Whether corporate or criminal law, much of what they deal with is no for public consumption, so if any were to fall into the wrong hands it would

See the 2025 WINNERS

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CONTENTS

News You should know p8 Product launches HPE p12 AGON BY AOC p16

Predictive maintenance – p26

Predictive maintenance provides benefits for customers and MSPs and is becoming increasingly popular. As the technology continues to advance and becomes more accessible, it is easier than ever for MSPs to get involved with it.

Peripherals – p30

ASUS Smarter IT p14

Slide Data backup p18 Opengear Connectivity p22

Demand for peripherals is increasing – driven by various trends including hybrid working, a greater focus on ergonomics and a desire to keep employees productive and motivated.

Midwich Barco ClickShare p25

Cybersecurity for legal firms – p38 The number of cyberattacks on legal firms is growing, and resellers and MSPs have a crucial role to play in keeping

Predictive maintenance p26 Peripherals p30

them safe – and there are various ways that this can be done.

Cybersecurity for legal firms p38 UGREEN The humble charger p42

Product launches HPE – p12

Data destruction p44

HPE has expanded its ProLiant portfolio with new products aimed at customers that want to extend AI and mission-critical workloads to harsh environments with confidence.

SYNAXON p50 Ambient intelligence Lenovo Qira p52

AGON by AOC – p16

AGON by AOC has introduced its latest monitor, designed for gamers and creators, bringing upgrades to the previous iteration of the model, with 4th generation QD-OLED technology helping to provide the speed and responsiveness users require.

Stockies winner Laura Pittas p56

People on the move p58

CONTENTS

Slide – p18

Slide is a new name to the UK market, having recently opened its first UK office in Maidenhead, but the company is looking to grow quickly and help managed service providers to keep their customers’ data secure.

Ambient intelligence – p52

Publishing Director Justin Penn 07816 573 186 justin@ newsinthechannel.com Editorial Dan Parton 07941 979 845 dan@ newsinthechannel.com Advertising Sales Martin Jenner-Hall 07824 552 116 martin@ newsinthechannel.com Market Analyst Wickus Bester wickus.bester@ stockinthechannel.com

Simone Larsson, head of enterprise AI, EMEA at Lenovo explains why ambient intelligence will define the next decade of workplace tech and how it will benefit businesses and employees.

Data destruction – p44

Businesses produce more data than ever, but with increasing cyberthreats it is important that when it has outlived its useful life it is effectively destroyed – and this is where resellers can help.

Stockies winner – p56

Opengear – p22

Laura Pittas from Highgate IT was one of the individual winners at the Stock in the Channel Awards – aka The Stockies – showing the value of standing out from the crowd.

Published by: In the Channel Media Ltd Company registration number: 14363401 Registered office address 14-18 Heddon Street,

Opengear recently installed a solution for a global cruise company to give network engineers access to network devices on cruise ships out in the ocean rather waiting for them to get back to shore or dry land – saving them time and money.

Mayfair, London, United Kingdom, W1B 4DA In conjunction with:

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NEWS

KOcycle wins King’s Award for Enterprise

KOcycle has been awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainability, strengthening its position as a key partner for the UK channel as ESG requirements move up the customer agenda. The B Corp-certified IT lifecycle and asset disposition (ITAD) specialist is one of just 185 organisations recognised in 2026 with the award, acknowledging its zero-landfill commitment and digital inclusion initiative, KODI. KOcycle’s services – spanning reuse, refurbishment and secure disposal – are designed to help partners embed circular economy principles into their offerings, enabling customers to reduce environmental impact and total cost of ownership. “This award is recognition of the work the team has put in over the past few years, but it’s also a signal to our partners,” said Oli Mason, founder and managing director at KOcycle. “Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice

to have’. It's becoming a core part of how customers evaluate technology decisions, and partners have a real opportunity to lead that conversation.” The award also highlights a broader shift in how ITAD is viewed within the channel. With AI adoption accelerating and data centre demand driving increased hardware production, pressure is building across global supply chains, particularly around critical materials such as copper, lithium and cobalt. As a result, IT lifecycle services are increasingly seen not just as an end- of-life requirement, but as part of a wider strategy to extend asset value and recover materials that can be reintroduced into the supply chain. KOcycle’s approach combines refurbishment and remarketing with material-level recycling, supporting sustainability goals and long-term resource availability. n

Oli Mason

kocycle.com

Tanium introduces Tanium Atlas

Tanium has announced Tanium Atlas, an autonomous operating system that gives a single IT or security operator the data, guidance and reach to accomplish what once required an entire team – moving from intent to outcome in a single, governed experience. Tanium Atlas is built on an endpoint data foundation that is complete, high- fidelity, real-time and extensible: covering every device in the environment, captured directly from the source, answered in seconds and open to any model, agent or workflow. That data foundation is what sets the new operating standard for IT and security in the age of AI. Unlike traditional consoles built around fixed modules and linear workflows, Tanium Atlas is built around the individual

— not a persona or a role, but the specific user in front of the screen. The Tanium Atlas autonomous operating system dynamically generates pages that surface the most relevant data, visualisations and actions in the moment, while ambient agents operating at the system level observe the environment and surface what matters before the user has to ask. Tanium Atlas runs on a curated ensemble of leading AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others.

tanium.com

The differentiator is Tanium’s data layer. Across more than 36 million

endpoints worldwide, Tanium captures a comprehensive range of endpoint signals at high fidelity, in real time and exposes them through open APIs and MCP so any agent — Tanium’s or a customer’s — can reason and act on it. n

NEWS

Hammer Distribution announces Stormshield partnership Hammer Distribution has announced a new strategic partnership with Stormshield, which will see Hammer serve as a key distributor for Stormshield’s comprehensive range of Next-Generation Firewalls. is rare in the market. This partnership is not just about expanding our product line; it’s about providing our resellers with a competitive edge in the high-growth cybersecurity sector." For Hammer’s network of resellers

As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, the demand for robust, sovereign and flexible security infrastructure has never been higher. By adding Stormshield to its portfolio, Hammer reinforces its commitment to providing the channel with ‘best-of-breed’ security solutions. Stormshield’s Network Security range is uniquely positioned in the market, holding the highest levels of European certification (EU Restricted, NATO Restricted, and ANSSI), making it the ideal choice for organisations with the most stringent data protection requirements. "In an era of evolving digital warfare, our partners need security solutions they can trust implicitly,” said Dominic Ryles at Hammer Distribution. “Stormshield’s pedigree offers a level of assurance and European engineering excellence that

and system integrators, this partnership opens new revenue streams and technical advantages: 👏 Unique market positioning: Channel partners can offer a European alternative to traditional US-based firewall vendors, appealing to clients concerned with data sovereignty and transparency 👏 Comprehensive support: Hammer will provide full technical pre-sales support, proof-of-concept assistance, and specialised training to ensure partners can deploy Stormshield solutions with confidence 👏 Scalable security: From small branches to large industrial infrastructures, Stormshield’s NGFW solutions provide the scalability required to protect diverse environments. n

Dominic Ryles

hammerdistribution.com

stormshield.com

Arrow Electronics signs EMEA-wide distribution agreement with Motorola Solutions Arrow Electronics has signed an EMEA- wide distribution agreement with

resilience and enterprise IT architectures. This collaboration reflects the accelerating evolution of physical security from traditional surveillance into intelligent, software-driven systems that support enterprise IT and cybersecurity environments. By integrating video and access control technologies into broader cybersecurity frameworks, organisations can gain improved visibility, faster incident validation and stronger alignment between physical and digital security operations. Mike Worby, head of strategic alliances at Arrow’s enterprise computing solutions

Motorola Solutions, expanding Arrow’s security portfolio and strengthening it across physical security, cybersecurity and cloud-based intelligent services. Under the agreement, Arrow will distribute Motorola Solutions’ video security and access control technologies, delivered through Motorola Solutions’ subsidiary Avigilon. The portfolio includes advanced video surveillance cameras and AI-powered, cloud-based and hybrid video management platforms designed to support modern security, operational

Mike Worby

arrow.com

CONTINUED

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NEWS

CONTINUED

business in EMEA, said, “This agreement with Motorola Solutions is a strategic step for Arrow. Through Avigilon, Motorola Solutions brings a sophisticated portfolio that moves physical security beyond passive monitoring into intelligent, AI- enabled platforms that integrate naturally with enterprise IT and cybersecurity architectures. By onboarding Motorola Solutions, we are positioning Arrow to

address growing customer demand for integrated physical and digital security capabilities.” Through this agreement, Arrow will support channel organisations with technical enablement, solution design and go-to-market expertise, helping them address emerging use cases where physical security, cybersecurity and cloud services intersect. n

ProVu expands networking portfolio with Zyxel ProVu Communications has announced a new partnership with broadband manufacturer Zyxel Communications. The channel. “Our team has worked hard to onboard

the Zyxel range, ensuring partners can benefit from the same seamless experience they already enjoy through our zero-touch provisioning services. With the addition of our new ACS platform, partners can also remotely manage their deployments anytime, anywhere.” Jeff Pitt, regional director, Service Provider WEU, Zyxel Communications, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with ProVu Communications to expand access to Zyxel’s solutions across the UK. Their strong reseller relationships and expertise in provisioning and device management make them an ideal distribution partner, and we look forward to supporting their partners with reliable, scalable broadband solutions.” n

agreement introduces a new range of networking devices designed specifically for SMB and end user environments to ProVu’s channel partner portfolio. Supported by ProVu’s provisioning and device management services, resellers can benefit from a seamless plug-and- play deployment experience across the Zyxel range, helping to simplify installation and ongoing network management. “I am delighted to announce our new partnership with Zyxel,” said ProVu managing director, Justin Carl. “Over the past year, we’ve seen growing demand from partners for this type of networking solution, and we’re incredibly excited to now bring the Zyxel portfolio to our

Justin Carl

provu.co.uk

zyxel.com

Vertiv acquires Strategic Thermal Labs Vertiv has acquired Strategic Thermal Labs LLC, a specialist in advanced liquid- cooling technologies. The acquisition extends Vertiv’s thermal-chain strategy by strengthening engineering capability

As compute requirements continue to intensify, the interaction between server-side liquid cooling and supporting infrastructure increasingly influences broader system performance, including flow, balance, controls behaviour, serviceability and lifecycle reliability. Strategic Thermal Labs adds proven cold- plate design, server-side liquid cooling, and high-density thermal validation expertise that is expected to strengthen

at the interface between server- side liquid cooling and supporting infrastructure – an increasingly critical factor in high-density, liquid-cooled environments supporting AI and high- performance computing workloads.

strategicthermal.com

NEWS

Vertiv’s ability to simulate and emulate real high-density compute conditions, optimise the interaction between the thermal chain and power train, and support customers across design, integration, commissioning and lifecycle operations. “As AI and high performance computing push power densities to unprecedented levels, understanding and solving heat challenges at the chip level becomes critical to system design, performance and reliability,” said Scott Armul, chief product and technology officer at Vertiv. “STL brings deep expertise and proven capability in addressing some

of the industry’s most demanding chip- level density and thermal problems, strengthening Vertiv’s ability to emulate and validate system-level solutions and enabling customers to improve performance and lifecycle outcomes in liquid-cooled environments.” Vertiv emphasised that the acquisition does not change its commitment to an open ecosystem approach. The company will continue to support interoperable, server and silicon agnostic infrastructure solutions, with the goal of improving system level performance and customer outcomes across diverse compute environments. n

Scott Armul

vertiv.com

BlackBox Hosting delivers sovereign cloud services with Everpure Everpure has announced that it is supporting BlackBox Hosting, a provider

of managed private cloud solutions. The partnership enables BlackBox Hosting to capitalise on the growing demand for sovereign cloud in the UK as businesses look to move data away from foreign providers, with a future-ready solution underpinned by Everpure’s all- flash technology. BlackBox Hosting saw an opportunity to upgrade its legacy infrastructure with Everpure, to deliver the sovereign data management capabilities UK customers need. BlackBox Hosting rapidly and smoothly migrated thousands of customer services to the Everpure platform. Since the transition, BlackBox Hosting has improved storage latency, boosted availability, and dramatically enhanced disaster recovery capabilities, giving it confidence to deliver business-critical sovereign cloud services for its customers without disruption. Additional benefits include: ☁ Stress free migration: Customers experienced zero downtime during the migration process, with future

blackboxhosting.co.uk

everpuredata.com

upgrades guaranteed to be non- disruptive via Everpure’s Evergreen// Forever subscription. ☁ Delivering service excellence: With a 12% performance improvement, storage bottlenecks were eliminated, keeping customers’ critical applications running smoothly. ☁ Total confidence in disaster recovery: Customers enjoy complete peace of mind that their critical data is protected and business continuity is assured. ☁ Meeting sustainability goals: By replacing outdated, legacy disk-based systems, BlackBox Hosting reduced its footprint by 87%, cutting CO₂ emissions by 85%, helping customers reach sustainability goals. n

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PRODUCT LAUNCH HPE PROLIANT COMPUTE EL2000 CHASSIS

Race to the edge HPE has expanded its ProLiant portfolio with new products aimed at customers that want to extend AI and mission-critical workloads to harsh environments with confidence.

Many industries are now embracing the potential of AI, but some traditional IT structures can make this impractical, especially those working in harsh environments such as with extremes of temperature. HPE has recognised this need with the latest expansion of its HPE ProLiant edge portfolio, which is aimed at customers seeking to extend AI and mission-critical workloads to highly distributed and harsh environments. The new HPE ProLiant Compute EL2000 chassis, the foundation for two new Gen12 servers, and the enhanced HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen11 are part of a portfolio of resilient and secure solutions engineered for edge deployments, complex environments and disconnected operations. Additionally, each platform is now available with an Environmental Ruggedization Option Kit ideal for harsh locations, including high- or low- altitudes, extreme temperatures and hazardous transit. “Organisations are pushing towards the edge for AI inferencing, and remote

operations, where traditional IT structures are impractical for many industries,” said Krista Satterthwaite, senior vice president and general manager, Compute, HPE. “HPE ProLiant is engineered with enterprise-grade security, right-sized performance, and a unified approach to managing and automating operations, enabling organisations to easily deploy, manage and scale edge environments with confidence. With these next generation platforms, customers can address the complexities of edge computing more efficiently and with ruggedised performance.” New and enhanced The HPE ProLiant Compute EL2000 chassis is purpose-built for some of the most rugged and size, weight and power (SWaP)-constrained environments in national security, manufacturing, retail and telecommunications. The platform is based on Intel Xeon 6 processors, ideal for demanding edge environments. Supporting up to two HPE ProLiant Compute EL220 Gen12 servers or one EL240 Gen12

Krista Satterthwaite

hpe.com

HPE ProLiant is engineered with enterprise-grade security, right-sized performance, and a unified approach to managing and automating operations... “ ”

PRODUCT LAUNCH HPE PROLIANT COMPUTE EL2000 CHASSIS

for customers deploying Azure services to edge sites and is designed to support Azure Local Disconnected Operations.

Meeting mission-critical standards HPE’s edge compute portfolio now meets extreme environmental standards and can be used in harsh and remote locations for high-consequence deployments where failure could lead to disruptive results. These HPE ProLiant edge platforms offer ruggedisation that adhere to widely recognised industry standards – including: 🌎 US national security standards that validate a server’s survivability against real-world stresses like extreme temperatures and high- or low-altitudes. HPE’s Environmental Ruggedization Option Kit enables systems to meet these requirements across vibration and shock conditions 🌎 US national security standards that test a system for electromagnetic

server, the chassis helps deliver rugged performance and modular flexibility. The new servers, available only with the HPE ProLiant Compute EL2000, features: ❇ Scalability from 8 up to 144 Intel Xeon 6 cores ❇ Support for space-saving CPU Thermal Design Power up to 350 watts to achieve higher performance ❇ Reliable operation in extreme temperatures ranging from -40 degrees Celsius to 55 degrees Celsius, as well as up to 95% humidity ❇ Durability in environments with heavy vibration from aircraft or ground vehicles, environmental contaminants, and electromagnetic interference ❇ Available with NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 or NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs (only on EL240 Gen12 server). HPE is also introducing an enhanced version of the HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen11 server, now powered by the upcoming AMD EPYC 8005 series processors (codename ‘Sorano’), which is designed to support distributed and harsh telco environments. The compact 2U system delivers up to 84 energy-efficient cores, is ideal for quiet deployments from industries such as manufacturing and retail and is also engineered to operate in extreme temperatures – up to 55 degrees Celsius. A version of the HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen11 server was validated as the only purpose-built server for edge AI inferencing, based on NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell Server Edition GPU, in the latest MLPerf Inference v6.0 results. The HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen11 Premier Solution for Azure Local is also available

HPE ProLiant edge systems combine Integrated Lights- out and HPE Compute Ops Management to deliver compliance-ready security and centralised control for those complex and demanding environments.

interference (protection and ensure reliable operation amid electromagnetic interference 🌎 Telecom network equipment

standards that support 5G core and radio access network infrastructure designed for five-nines (99.999%) availability in unattended environments. Built for secure, AI-driven edge operations Edge environments are often widely distributed, lightly staffed and physically exposed. HPE ProLiant edge systems combine Integrated Lights-out and HPE Compute Ops Management to deliver compliance-ready security and centralised control for those complex and demanding environments. HPE's edge solutions differentiate by streamlining deployment, providing real-time visibility and maintaining end-to-end security across distributed edge sites. n

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ASUS BUSINESS

Want Better Productivity? Start with Smarter IT

AI tools are ready to deliver, but without the right IT setup, SMBs risk missing out on their full potential.

Smarter IT, Stronger Results: How SMBs Can Unlock AI’s Full Potential Let’s be honest—AI isn’t just hype anymore. It’s here to stay, and it’s helping SMBs work smarter. According to the ASUS 2025 Future of SMB Report , over 40% of business leaders are already seeing real results from AI tools. Another 45% expect to see benefits within the next year or two. But here’s the thing: adopting AI is just the first step. To really unlock its power, a solid IT foundation is required, because without it, even the smartest tools can fall short. Why IT Is No Longer Just “Support” IT is no longer just backend support, it’s the engine of productivity, innovation, and resilience. According to ASUS’s 2025

Future of SMB Report , nearly 90% of SMB leaders say IT is more critical today than it was a decade ago, and for good reason. It’s driving productivity, enabling innovation, and keeping everything secure. But as technology becomes more essential, managing it has also become more complex. From data security and compliance to system updates and tech integration, SMBs are juggling a growing list of demands. In fact, 56% of SMBs say security is their biggest IT challenge, while nearly half struggle to keep systems up to date. Built for professionals who need dependable performance, the ASUS ExpertBook P3 (PM3606) is advanced with an AMD Ryzen™ AI 7 350 processor, with up to 64 GB DDR5 dual-channel

According to ASUS’s 2025 Future of SMB Report, nearly 90% of SMB

leaders say IT is more critical today than it was a decade ago, and for good reason

memory and up to 3 TB of dual SSD storage for fast, responsive multi-tasking. Designed for hybrid teams and secure remote work, it also features built-in security, remote management capabilities, and long battery life. It’s the perfect fit for SMBs that need reliable, secure performance across distributed teams. Investing in IT Is Investing in Growth Here’s what forward-thinking SMBs are doing: they’re putting IT front and centre. Half say it’s a top priority, and another 40% are planning to invest soon. These businesses understand that proactive IT decisions today pave the way for smoother AI integration, better security, and faster workflows tomorrow. Of course, not every business is moving at the same pace. Some are still figuring it out. But in a world of hybrid work, rising cyber threats, and constant tech evolution, standing still isn’t an option. As AI tools become more deeply embedded in daily operations, SMBs need clearer guidance and flexible solutions to stay protected, agile, and competitive. For SMBs just starting their digital transformation, the ASUS ExpertBook P1 (PM1503) offers a cost-effective entry point. Whatever you need to do, ASUS ExpertBook P1 is primed and ready, featuring all the multitasking power, advanced with an AMD Ryzen™ AI 7 170 processor. It’s lightweight, reliable, and equipped with AI-enhanced performance tuning, ideal for growing teams that need dependable tech without the complexity. What Smarter IT Management Looks Like Modern IT management is about creating a system that evolves with your business. From automated updates that reduce manual upkeep to built-in security that protects data across devices and platforms, modern IT should work quietly in the background while empowering teams to focus on what matters. It’s also about flexibility: the ability

to scale during periods of growth or streamline operations when needed, while ensuring every tech investment supports the business’s long-term goals. Built with that adaptability in mind, the ASUS ExpertCenter P700 Mini Tower (PM700MK) is an AI-powered desktop designed to handle everything from everyday multitasking to demanding AI workloads with ease. Advanced with an AMD Ryzen™ AI 7 350 processor, it delivers the high-performance computing SMBs need today, with the scalability to support future growth. With modular expandability and enterprise-grade reliability, the PM700MK provides a future-ready foundation for productivity. It’s an ideal choice for small businesses and professionals looking for an AI PC that delivers stable, dependable performance without distraction. Built to Support, Designed to Impress Even as IT becomes more powerful, it should still fit seamlessly into the workplace. For SMBs, that means having technology that delivers high performance without compromising the look, feel, or functionality of modern workspaces. The ASUS ExpertCenter P600 AiO (PM640KA) combines sleek, space-saving design with enterprise- grade durability, helping reduce desk clutter while delivering the reliable performance teams need every day. Advanced with an AMD Ryzen™ AI 7 350 processor, the ASUS ExpertCenter P600 AiO redefines desktop computing with up to 50 TOPS of dedicated NPU performance. This enables lightning- fast AI processing for real-time content creation, advanced multitasking, and intelligent workflow automation, giving businesses the power to work smarter and more efficiently. AI might be the spark, but IT is the engine. Discover more about the significance of AI with an optimal IT setup in the ASUS Business white paper. n

Of course, not every business is moving at the same pace. Some are still figuring it out. But in a world of hybrid work, rising cyber threats, and constant tech evolution, standing still isn’t an option.

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PRODUCT LAUNCH AGON PRO AG326UZD2

Step up AGON by AOC has introduced its latest monitor, designed for gamers and creators, bringing upgrades to the previous iteration of the model, with 4th generation QD-OLED technology helping to provide the speed and responsiveness users require.

Combined with a practically infinite contrast ratio and perfect black

levels thanks to QD-OLED

technology, the result is a HDR experience with noticeably more highlight detail and punch.

Gamers are renowned for demanding the highest quality from their monitors, and expectations are ever-increasing. But what is good for gamers is also good for creators and professionals in other sectors who need high quality displays for their work. AGON by AOC is maintaining its reputation for being at the cutting edge with the launch of its latest monitor, an upgrade on an existing model. The AGON PRO AG326UZD2 is the brand's most advanced 32" 4K display to date. Built around a 4th generation QD-OLED panel, the AG326UZD2 pushes the boundaries of what a single monitor can deliver, whether for competitive gaming, console play, content creation or cinematic entertainment. Generational leap Where the original AG326UD introduced gamers to a 31.5" QD-OLED at UHD

resolution with exceptional colour accuracy and a 165Hz refresh rate, the AG326UZD2 represents a significant step forward. The move to 4th generation QD-OLED technology brings a brighter, more refined panel with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits (3% APL) and an upgraded VESA DisplayHDR™ True Black 500 certification, up from True Black 400 on its predecessor. Combined with a practically infinite contrast ratio and perfect black levels thanks to QD-OLED technology, the result is a HDR experience with noticeably more highlight detail and punch. The refresh rate jumps from 165Hz to 240Hz, accompanied by the same lightning- fast 0.03ms GtG response time, making the AG326UZD2 not just a visual showcase but a genuinely competitive 4K gaming monitor. Adaptive-Sync and official NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatibility ensure smooth, tear-free gameplay at any frame rate.

PRODUCT LAUNCH AGON PRO AG326UZD2

Built for creators and cinephiles The AG326UZD2's 10-bit panel displays 1.07 billion colours across a wide colour gamut: 99.7% DCI-P3, 140.7% sRGB and 96.9% Adobe RGB. Whether editing photos, grading video or simply watching films, the colour accuracy and volume on offer here are on par with dedicated professional monitors, while delivering the speed and responsiveness gamers expect. The new AntiReflection 3.0 coating reduces distracting reflections without the haze typically associated with matte finishes, preserving the vivid, punchy image quality that QD-OLED panels are known for. This makes the AG326UZD2 equally suited for bright living rooms and dedicated dark gaming corners. “As a gamer, it’s incredible to witness the evolution of OLED into this new generation,” says César Reyes Acosta, gaming product manager at AGON by AOC. “With 4K at 240Hz, DisplayHDR True Black 500 and improved Anti- Reflection 3.0, the experience is sharper, brighter and more immersive than ever. Add in HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1 and USB-C with KVM, and you have a truly exceptional monitor built for everything,”

and a USB-B upstream connection, while a built-in KVM switch and Multiview (PbP/ PiP) functionality allow users to control and display two sources simultaneously: a practical feature for streamers with a second PC, or professionals juggling a work laptop and a gaming PC. Esports-ready design and ergonomics The AG326UZD2 features the AGON PRO esports base: a low-profile, compact and sturdy stand designed to accommodate various keyboard and mouse placements preferred by competitive players. Full ergonomic adjustability is on board: 150mm height adjustment, tilt (-5°/+23°), swivel (±16°) and pivot (90° portrait), plus 100x100 VESA mount compatibility. Built-in 8 W x 2 speakers round out the multimedia package for casual use. AOC's G-Menu software and on- screen gaming features, including a Frame Counter, customisable Dynamic Dial Point crosshair and multiple Game Modes give players granular control over their experience. As with all AGON PRO OLED monitors, the AG326UZD2 comes with a three-year warranty covering OLED burn-in, ensuring long-term confidence in the investment. n

César Reyes Acosta

aoc.com

As a gamer, it’s incredible to witness the evolution of OLED into this new generation. “ ”

Built for every platform The AG326UZD2 is designed as an all-in-one display. Two HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K at 120Hz on the PS5 and Xbox Series X or S, while the DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR 20) connection unlocks the full 4K at 240Hz for high-end gaming PCs. A USB-C port with 65W power delivery means users

can connect and charge a laptop with a single cable, ideal for switching between a work setup during the day and a gaming or entertainment hub in the evening. The monitor also functions as a USB hub with two USB-A downstream ports

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SLIDE

Sliding in Slide is a new name to the UK market, having recently opened its first UK office in Maidenhead, but the company is looking to grow quickly and help managed service providers to keep their customers’ data secure.

SLIDE

Slide might not be a familiar name in managed service provider (MSPs) circles, but Michael Fass, CEO and co- founder of Slide, wants to change that. The company took its first step into the UK earlier this year with the opening of an office in Maidenhead, and how he is concentrating on getting his company’s message out there about how the company can help. Slide’s mission is to be a backup company. “MSPs backup data that lives in lots of different environments such as on-prem, laptops, desktops and servers,” says Michael. “They protect data that lives in places like Azure cloud, on VMs and in files. Our mission is to be the solution provider to MSPs for all that data they are charged with protecting, wherever it lives. “MSPs all over the world have similar requirements that they're charged with. They have a huge responsibility to protect data on behalf of SMB end clients. IT is becoming increasingly central to their businesses as time goes on and it's becoming more complex and there are more dangers. SMBs are becoming more reliant on MSPs as time goes on, so we see this as an incredible opportunity for us to create leverage and deliver value for MSPs. “Wherever there's MSPs protecting data for SMB end users, we want to be there to support them. Our first product is a business continuity disaster recovery (BCDR) product, and that's because it's the most neglected piece of the stack in this space as it's the most complicated. We wanted to go after the hardest problem first.” MSP focus Slide’s focus on MSPs is deliberate. Unlike some competitors, they are channel-only and won’t go directly to end customers. “We will never circumvent MSPs or go after their customers and cut them out,” emphasises Michael. “I see a lot of that in this industry, and it makes me sick to my

stomach. MSPs don't have to worry about that if they are working with Slide.” Legacy BCDR vendors have underserved MSPs traditionally, Michael adds. “Looking at the landscape right now, there are some monolithic vendors out there that have rolled up a bunch of different companies, and private equity companies that have bought a bunch of different tech stacks and stitched them together with duct tape to deliver platform services to MSPs,” he says. “It seems to me that for many their objective is to extract as much value as possible from MSPs. Our approach is the direct opposite, to infuse as much value into MSPs as possible. Rising tides will lift all ships. That was our strategy in the good old days, as I like to call them, and that's our strategy today, and that ain't going to change.” Long history Michael talks about ‘the good old days’ as his history in this sector – along with that of his Slide co-founder Austin McChord – is long and storied. He took time out after the previous company he was associated with was sold back in 2022. But during his time out, Michael received contact from MSPs around the world that had been customers, saying they were looking elsewhere for services as they missed

Michael Fass

slide.tech

“

We will never circumvent MSPs or go after their customers and cut them out... ...I see a lot of that in this industry,

and it makes me sick to my stomach. ” The Slide UK team

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SLIDE

CONTINUED

they way they did business. “After hearing that enough times, the juices started flowing for us, and we were inspired to set up our own company,” he says. “It was more a sense of obligation. We owe all our success to the MSP community and felt a debt of gratitude to them and the incredible staff that helped build such a virtuous cycle of positivity. “Hearing the din that we did during the year following the sale inspired us to think about how to bring back the magic. That also coincided with a technology revolution that afforded us the opportunity to grab five of the best engineers, all of whom had left their old company. We asked them if they'd be interested in building a next-generation backup company starting with a BCDR product. “We said we’d give them all the resources, people and time they needed, just go ahead and build next generation products for MSP businesses. And that's gosh darn what we did.” Expansion Slide has expanded quickly since the company first launched in Michael’s native USA in 2024. “We wanted to make sure that we could deliver the kind of value that we wanted to MSPs before we branched out,” he says. “It took us about six months to get comfortable. We then launched in Canada last summer, and we launched in EMEA earlier this year. We have lots of partners that live in other parts of the world, and I'm sure we'll be landing on their beaches soon too.” As part of the EMEA expansion, Slide recently opened an office in Maidenhead. “It’s right next to the train station, a 30-minute ride from downtown London, its perfect,” says Michael. “We have friendly faces there from the old days.” Slide also has a data centre up and running in Frankfurt, with a UK one in development, which is in response to UK partners' data sovereignty requirements.

Growth potential As Michael has hinted, his ambitions for Slide are just beginning. “In the short- term, we want to be wherever MSPs are,” he says. “It's incredibly important to respect your partner and your customer. So how do I develop empathy for my partner without being where they reside and where they work. So, with a great deal of humility, we will meet with our friends in MSPland and demonstrate the value of our systems, particularly in the backup and BCDR spaces. We hope that we'll continue to see the same kind of growth over here as we've seen in North America.” Michael is confident about the future for Slide and the MSP community. “I believe the MSP community are unsung heroes,” he says. “They are the only true delivery mechanism for IT to SMBs. As complexity abounds and cybersecurity risks increase with AI, the MSP becomes an increasingly key element of SMBs. “MSPs that are riding the front edge of that wave are going to be successful. Some MSPs are not going to catch the wave and will be consolidated or left behind. So though there will be winners and losers in the SMB MSP channel, as there always has been, the concentration of need for MSPs continues to rise. As a result, we're seeing huge demand for our products and will continue to.” n

Watch the Slide Origin Story

“

I believe the MSP community are unsung heroes... ...They are the only true delivery mechanism for IT to SMBs.

”

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00 21

OPENGEAR

Cruising ahead Opengear recently installed a solution for a global cruise company to give network engineers access to network devices on cruise ships out in the ocean rather waiting for them to get back to shore or dry land – saving them time and money.

OPENGEAR

The value of trade shows for securing new business is well known in the channel – but it also pays to stay to the very end because you never know when you might have a conversation that proves the catalyst for a big contract. Dirk Schuma, sales manager EMEA North at Opengear, knows this only too well. He recounts a story about Opengear’s booth at the 2024 edition of Cisco Live Europe. In the last hour of the last day of the event, the Opengear team were thinking about packing up and heading home when Diogo Almeida, head of network, connectivity and infrastructure at AIDA Cruises (part of Carnival Cruises) stepped onto the stand. “He was looking at our portfolio, which we still had sitting there as a showcase and said, ‘This is what I need.’ I was like ‘Okay’ and we started talking,” says Dirk. Diogo explained that AIDA had 11 cruise ships that needed out-of-band connectivity as when the ships were out on the ocean, the team back on land had no way to access the IT equipment onboard. “On the ships, staff can make repairs if something fails hardware-wise or needs replacing, but they couldn’t do software patches or similar,” says Dirk. “He said it would be great if they could access those devices from their shore locations.” Smart solution Dirk knew that Opengear could provide the right solution. Two weeks after that initial conversation, Opengear sent over some demo equipment, and AIDA downloaded the company’s Lighthouse centralised management platform. Then, following some technical sessions with AIDA’s networking team, within another two weeks Opengear’s Smart Out-of- Band solution was running on a test ship. Tests were first run in dry dock, then on the ocean. “The Smart Out-of-Band solution does what they want,” says Dirk. “They

have two data centres on the boat and various IT rooms in different fire zones where they need to access the network equipment, switches and firewalls they have there. In a normal data centre accessing this equipment is easy via regular connectivity links, but with a ship in the middle of the ocean you need a Starlink connection to them.” Following the successful proof of concept, Dirk says the overall deployment to the whole fleet of 11 ships was completed within nine months of that first conversation. “They are now remotely managing their network equipment, and the AIDA team are super happy because they don’t need to send their network engineers around the world saving them time and money – not to mention the onboard cabins taken up by the AIDA team,” he adds. “They have access to the

Dirk Schuma

opengear.com

Opengear devices and the connected downstream equipment 24/7 and can install software patches and fix issues whenever necessary. They have access to every network and its equipment installed. Now, they are considering enlarging that solution to include the onboard entertainment, production and TV systems, which currently are not managed by Opengear.” To put the scale of the demands into context the smallest ship in the fleet supports nearly 16,000 operational IP devices, plus personal devices used by more than 2,000 passengers and 600 crew members.

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OPENGEAR

CONTINUED

centralised management system like AIDA and many of our customers do, it gives you centralised access to all your Out-of- Band infrastructure and the connected devices behind and helps you in your daily work. “For example, Opengear release a new firmware for the hardware every quarter, plus security patches if needed. When we release new firmware, customers must deploy it to stay compliant and on top of all security requests they have. How do you do that if, as in AIDA’s case, the ships are out on the ocean? With a centralised management system and a 4G/5G cellular or satellite connection, you can do this easily. You just upload this to the Lighthouse server or to the management server once, set a time to roll out those patches, and the system does it for you. It’s not only accessing those devices, but managing and monitoring those devices, which is a huge boost to their efficiency and flexibility.” Speed, flexibility and resilience are the three key factors that customers are looking for in most vertical markets, Dirk adds. “We have customers from

Opengear now provides reliable remote access to over 64,000 network devices across AIDA’s fIeet, even if a ship’s primary network is offline. The Opengear solution has also brought costs savings for AIDA. “AIDA’s headquarters are in Rostock in Northern Germany, but their cruise ships go around the world,” explains Dirk. “If something happened to the network equipment or to a switch or firewall, before, somebody had to jump on a plane, fly to that location, stay onboard to replace the hardware and test it, and that cost alone is more than buying one of the Opengear console server devices and putting it on a ship. My take is that if you save just one trip, especially for a network manager or network administrator, the whole solution is paid off.” Out of Band advantages While this is an extreme example, it shows what Out of Band Management can do for customers of all sizes. “If a customer has a distributed network infrastructure regardless of size, their central IT team want to be able to securely access and manage the network to make it more resilient,” says Dirk. “From core data centres, edge sites like branch offices, production sites around the country, continent or globe. A Smart out-of-band solution is perfect because it gives the ability to securely access, manage and monitor all this network equipment from wherever you are. “If you’re using our Lighthouse

“

We have customers from almost every vertical market, and the general objective of our customers is how easy and fast and resilient manage

almost every vertical market, who could be managing a few sites to

my network equipment.

global deployments with thousands of devices and the general objective of our customers is the same – to find a solution that is easy, fast and resilient, to help me manage my network equipment,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a governmental organisation, a bank, insurance company, retail or transportation company. They have a distributed network that they want to remotely manage and control securely; the approach from all these organisations is the same. The bottom line is, everybody

”

is looking for a secure remote and resilient way to give their network

administrators a better way to manage the network, and that’s what we do. This is why our customers and partners rely on our Smart Out-of-Band solutions and trust Opengear.” n

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