Knowledge Vault Launches Channel Program, Targets Partners In Office 365 Market

Cloud computing makes some IT management tasks, such as auditing and controlling data and other content, a significant challenge.

Startup Knowledge Vault is looking to make some of those chores a little easier with its new cloud-based analytics, auditing, reporting and management tools for Microsoft's Office 365 cloud applications.

Knowledge Vault made its cloud software generally available this week after selling it on a limited basis in late 2014. The company has also launched a channel partner program and is recruiting solution providers to resell the service or use it themselves to manage customers' Office 365 deployments.

[Related: Microsoft Beefs Up Office 365 Content Management With New 'Boards' Feature]

id
unit-1659132512259
type
Sponsored post

The lack of visibility and control over cloud content and processes is a problem for CIOs, CTOs, and those charged with managing IT security, risk and compliance.

"There is a need for organizations to audit, document and analyze activities, enforce processes and oversee risk across cloud-based collaboration and content-sharing technologies," said Knowledge Vault co-founder and CEO Christian Ehrenthal.

The Knowledge Vault platform provides a way for IT to discover and inventory cloud content, identify sensitive data, audit and report on data usage, and manage and enforce data use policies. Such capabilities are needed for Office 365 user migrations, enforcing security and compliance policies, and monitoring data use for application licensing and chargeback tasks, Ehrenthal said.

Knowledge Vault is initially offering its toolset for Microsoft's Azure cloud platform with cloud content flow connectors for Office 365 and on-premise Microsoft Exchange. The company is a Microsoft Gold application development partner.

Later this quarter the company will provide connectors for Box and Dropbox, with support for Google Drive, Microsoft's OneDrive, Exchange Online and Salesforce to follow.

Ehrenthal said Knowledge Vault is targeting its new channel program at VARs, IT consulting firms, systems integrators and MSPs. Partners can white-label and resell the service. MSPs and consulting partners are using Knowledge Vault to add value to the services they provide their customers, the CEO said.

The new partner program includes two tiers, one for resellers and distributors and the other for MSPs and IT consulting firms. The programs include 24x7 support for partners and their customers.

Ehrenthal said the company has begun working with potential channel partners and is already working with several partners and a large distribution chain that he declined to name. "We're just getting started with [the program], but there's lots of interest from the partner community," he told CRN in an interview.

PUBLISHED FEB. 27, 2015