5 Companies That Came To Win This Week

The Week Ending Feb. 3

Topping this week's roundup of companies that came to win is Datto for its Open Mesh acquisition that upsets the status quo in the SMB networking arena.

Also making the list are Hewlett Packard Enterprise Aruba for its Niara acquisition that extends its network security lineup, Green Cloud for expanding its cloud services footprint by acquiring Cirrity, TierPoint for winning a much-coveted channel designation from Microsoft, and Cisco Systems for being a moving force behind a new IoT Blockchain consortium.

Not everyone in the IT industry was making smart moves this week, of course. For a rundown of companies that were unfortunate, unsuccessful or just didn't make good decisions, check out this week's 5 Companies That Had A Rough Week roundup.

Datto's Open Mesh Acquisition Reshapes SMB Networking Landscape

Datto, the disaster recovery and business continuity technology company, shook up the IT networking industry this week when it disclosed that it had acquired Open Mesh, a provider of cloud-managed Ethernet switching and wireless access point services.

The move puts Datto and its new Datto Networking product line in direct competition with SMB networking products such as Cisco Meraki, and vendors SonicWall and Ubiquiti Networks.

Datto has a significant presence in the business disaster recovery market with its managed services offerings. The managed networking services market is estimated to be three times bigger and, with its new networking offerings, Datto has a huge opportunity to cross-sell to its existing MSP customers.

HPE Acquires Niara To Expand Aruba's Network Security Portfolio

Staying on the topic of savvy acquisitions, Hewlett Packard Enterprise this week struck a deal to buy startup Niara, a security analytics and network platform developer. The move will allow HPE to enhance the Aruba ClearPass network security portfolio for wired and wireless network infrastructure.

Niara develops next-generation behavior analytics software that Aruba executives plan to combine with Aruba's ClearPass network security product portfolio.

HPE partners said the Niara acquisition is a direct competitive shot at Cisco at the edge of intelligent networks where they see Cisco as most vulnerable, competitively.

Green Cloud Buys Cirrity Creating Largest Independent Channel-Only Cloud Provider

And the last of this week's acquisition trifecta, rapidly growing Green Cloud Technologies said it acquired cloud service provider Cirrity in a move that creates the largest 100 percent channel-focused independent cloud services provider.

Green Cloud provides custom wholesale and white-label cloud solutions to a network of 400 reseller partners. With the Cirrity acquisition, Green Cloud picks up an additional 80 partners and will now have a footprint of six data centers throughout the Southeast, Midwest and West.

Solution providers who work with either company will now have more solutions and services to offer their customers, as well as having access to a larger and more secure data center footprint.

TierPoint Nabs Exclusive Microsoft Azure Indirect Cloud Solution Provider Status

Cloud and managed services provider TierPoint scored big this week when it gained the exclusive status of Microsoft Azure Authorized Indirect Cloud Solutions Provider. The highly coveted designation means more opportunities for TierPoint's solution provider partners to sell – and profit from – Azure services.

As an Authorized Indirect Cloud Solution Provider for Azure services, TierPoint will be able to pass on more financial incentives to its partners, according to the company.

There are fewer than a dozen U.S.-based managed hosting and cloud providers that have achieved this designation. TierPoint's tighter relationship with Microsoft builds on its earlier relationship as a direct partner within the Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider program.

Cisco Is Key Player In New Blockchain Consortium

A new consortium of companies is working to develop a shared blockchain protocol for Internet of Things applications, a move that could help improve security for IoT networks and accelerate IoT adoption.

Cisco is a leading company behind the formation of the consortium, along with consumer appliance maker Bosch and digital security company Gemalto. The companies plan to work with Fortune 500 companies and startups to define and implement standard protocols across blockchain systems for use within IoT systems.

Observers have raised concerns about the security of IoT networks made up of large numbers of unsecured or poorly secured devices. Blockchain, which gained notoriety through its relationship with cryptocurrency Bitcoin, could be used to secure interoperability between multiple vendors' hardware and enable more secure applications such as supply chain and logistics management.