Konekt focuses on providing next generation Cloud and XaaS technologies through a wholesale and "master agency" business model.

The new division will further leverage Nuvias UC’s multi-tiered online platform – HUB.

Hub – the advanced commerce platform underpinning Konekt, was built by Nuvias UC from the ground up with the channel in mind. Thanks to intelligent software, billing automation, master agent referrals and fully co-brandable interface, Hub enables partners to introduce, automate and accelerate their own digital offering, leveraging Nuvias' cloud vendors.

Hub lets Konekt say, "You don’t have to be a Cloud or Software reseller to leverage these. Konekt can help you transform your business to a digital and subscription model with ease. We do the hard work for you, so you can start selling cloud solutions immediately."

This XaaS announcement comes just after Nuvias became a European "Master Agent" for Zoom. (Read more here on Zoom's program, The Launch of the Zoom HaaS Program.)

Nuvias UC CEO Steve Harris says, "Konekt is a further commitment to our partners that we will continue to find new ways for them to access additional revenue streams. 

"By creating a dedicated, and independent division and a new master agent business model, we can help our partners embrace digital transformation, supporting them in the Cloud transition."

Konekt's vendors at this point are  *Acronis, Hellosign Dropbox Business* and *Zoom*.

Nuvias Group is a pan-EMEA, high value distribution business, a portfolio with IT solutions in three areas – Cybersecurity (based on the former Wick Hill); Advanced Networking (based on the former Zycko) and Unified Communications (based on the former SIPHON). Nuvias Group has 21 regional offices across EMEA and a turnover in excess of $500 million.

Go Konekt

Go Nuvias 

While the Ingram business remains profitable, the same cannot be said about other HNA assets. After all, HNA Group is a massive conglomerate spanning aviation, real estate, tourism, logistics, construction, marine transport and technology. It is also currently saddled with debt worth no less than $69 billion, at least according to Bloomberg. Thus the reports the Chinese government might simply take the company over and sell off the airline assets in order to meet "financial obligations."

Based in the Netherlands with offices in Eindhoven and Vianen, Ictivity will continue operating independent, if as an Ingram Micro company. Ictivity management and employees should remain in place, with managing director Wilbert van Beek reporting to Ingram Micro VP Eric Segers.

The result is a transition to either a sole distributor or dealer-direct distribution system to better support specific countries.

The previous acquisition deal, announced last month, put the value of Tech Data at $130 per share, or approximately $5.4bn. Now the worth of Tech Data is at $145 per share in cash. As part of the deal agreement, Tech Data says it will also continue to solicit alternative acquisition proposals from 3rd parties during a "go-shop" period until 9 December.

In further Tech Data news, the distributor reports a "solid" fiscal Q3 2020, even if global sales are down by -2% Y-o-Y to $9.12 billion. European sales see a further decline of -6% Y-o-Y to $4.6bn, and overall global profits for the quarter total $310 million.

“Over our 45-year history, Tech Data has grown to become one of the largest and most respected technology distributors in the world. This agreement reflects the significant progress we have made in our strategy of delivering higher value and positions us for continued growth and success,” Tech Data CEO Rich Hume says. “This investment by funds managed by one of the world’s leading global alternative investment managers will afford us additional resources to accelerate our ability to bring to market the technology products and solutions the world needs to connect, grow and advance. The transaction will enable us to build on our success, making Tech Data a growth platform and enabling us to further differentiate and expand our end-to-end solutions and provide our channel partners with unparalleled reach, efficiency and expertise.”

The 1 July 2019 launch of NTT saw it bring together 40000 people from brands including NTT Communications, Dimension Data and NTT Security into one company. The new operating system has the company partner with over 10000 clients around the world, including leading organisations across financial services, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, energy and utilities, manufacturing, automotive and technology sectors.

The move from Apollo comes as Tech Data stock is at an all-time highs, amid investor optimism demand from SMBs for Tech Data products will remain strong despite concerns of a cooling US economy. Reuters says Apollo has offered $130 per share in cash for Tech Data, making a sum covering both Tech Data's current market capitalisation and $1.3bn in debt. However, there is no certainty Tech Data will engage in negotiations, never mind any deal taking place.

Developed in partnership with global consulting firm Protiviti, the Accelerator for GDPR uses Smartsheet technology and best practices developed by Protiviti through hundreds of client engagements. As a platform providing a centralised view of the processes involved with GDPR compliance, it includes user friendly dashboards and reporting features.

The survey involves the input of over 400 global respondents. It shows 32% of respondents experienced a security breach over the past 5 years, a slight decrease from the 35% of 2018, with at least 10% saying they were hit by a breach in the last year. As such, it should come to no surprise many SMBs point out automated software patch management as a key area for improvement, with 42% of respondents either automating or planning to automate patch management. Similarly just 42% monitor 3rd party software and apply critical patches within 30 days.

The 2019 also shows a strong correlation between outages and data breaches-- nearly 61% of respondents who had a security breach in 2018 also had 2-4 outages, a 15% increase over 2018, an indication of the faltering progress in improving IT maturity. As such, it should come to no surprise improving security is the top priority for 57% of SMBs, up from 54% in 2018 and 40% in 2017.