CRN -- Current Threats News for VARs and Technology Integrators

9 Cool New PCs In Dell's Commercial Lineup *
Google Continues Cloud Momentum In Q1 As Internet Giant Lands More Enterprise Customers *
AWS Introduces Security Accreditation Exam, Touts Upcoming Industrial Software Partner Program *
Channel Icon Vitagliano Steps Aside At Computex *
AT&T Channel Chief: 'It's All About Enablement Of The Channel' *
Lenovo Names Rob Cato As New Channel Chief *
Dell And HPE Battle For Cloud Infrastructure Supremacy As Public Cloud Drives $12.8B In Q4 Spending *
CRN Exclusive: OpsRamp, An IT Operations Management Startup, Brings On Chief Revenue Officer With Channel-Building Knowhow *

Current Threats

5 Security Promises Made By Intel In The Wake Of The Meltdown, Spectre Vulnerabilities

From updating CPUs to greater transparency on patching and performance to more funding for security threat research, here are five security-related commitments Intel has made to its partners and customers this week.
Red Hat Researchers: Spectre Chip Vulnerability Likely Worse For VMs Than Containers

"Now people are seriously paying attention to something they should have been paying attention to a long time ago—the implementation of security on processors," a Red Hat engineer told CRN.
7 Things To Know About Spectre And Meltdown Patch-Related Performance Hits

While some solution providers have reported minimal or no performance effects related to recently deployed software and OS patches, some customers and technology professionals have experienced noticeable CPU usage increase and blue-screening.
Spectre, Meltdown Update: Microsoft Customers Reporting 'Unbootable' AMD PCs After Installing Windows Security Patch

Microsoft said some AMD chips do not align with documentation previously provided by AMD. The exact spectrum of affected AMD processors has not been disclosed, but a spokesperson said the errors affect a subset of its "older" processors.
Partners: Intel's New Internal Security Group Needs To Put Safeguards On The Same Level As Speed

"When you have a group that's ordained with some amount of power, that's probably more influential than just some engineers that look at security also," said Daniel Daninger, vice president of engineering at Nor-Tech.
Intel CEO Addresses Chip Vulnerabilities

Intel will update 90 percent of processors from the last five years within the next week.
CRN Exclusive: Optiv Forms New C-Suite Role Overseeing Product Management, Vendors, Delivery

Optiv promotes services guru Stu Solomon to the newly created chief technology and strategy officer role, where he will be responsible for determining what Optiv sells and how it delivers it.
Red Hat Warned Partners Of Computing, Cloud Performance Loss Stemming From Protecting Against Chip Vulnerabilities

The leading distributor of open-source server and cloud operating systems said all its major infrastructure products are affected by Meltdown and Spectre.
Industry Mourns Loss Of Passionate, Jovial Channel Chief Matt Ireland

Ireland, a channel chief and soccer coach revered by colleagues and peers for his infectious personality and eagerness to listen, died last week.
9 Steps Intel Recommends To Sidestep Spectre And Meltdown

Intel has sent a white paper to its partners outlining the top mitigation steps, resources and technologies that they can use to avoid the Spectre and Meltdown exploits.
NetApp Says Its Storage Systems Not Impacted By Spectre, Meltdown Thanks To Its OnTap OS

NetApp says that because its OnTap storage operating system does not allow the running of third-party applications or malicious software, attackers cannot use its hardware or software to access privileged information.
Cyxtera Goes On Offensive Against Bad Actors With Proposed Buy Of Vulnerability Assessment Firm Immunity

The security analytics vendor says Immunity's focus on offense-oriented techniques and technologies distinguishes it from those that only attempt to address defensive security postures in their service or product lines.
Processor Security Flaw: MSPs Emphasize Careful Patch Testing, Disciplined Approach In Addressing Spectre And Meltdown Threats

No known instances of malware exploiting have yet affected processors in PCs or servers in the field, according to Intel, but MSPs are still pushing to deploy their patches sooner rather than later.
Here's How 17 Security Vendors Are Handling The Meltdown And Spectre Vulnerabilities

The Microsoft patch for the Meltdown and Spectre microprocessor exploits wasn't compatible with several anti-virus products. This is how endpoint security vendors are confronting the issue and helping their customers get patched.
Processor Security Issue: Intel Says Processors Working As Designed

It's not the processors at fault, but the way attackers could potentially look at privileged information in memory that could cause issues, Intel said.
7 Things You Need To Know About Spectre And Meltdown Security Exploits

Security researchers have discovered exploits that are being referred to as Spectre and Meltdown that chip giant Intel says impacts its own processors as well as those from AMD and ARM. Here are seven things you need to know about Spectre and Meltdown.
Cloud Giants AWS, Google And Microsoft React To Meltdown; Solution Providers Remind Customers To Update, Patch Systems

AWS, Google, and Microsoft revealed updates and patching plans for their popular cloud services in the wake of the Meltdown and Spectre chip-level vulnerabilities revealed this week. Solution providers say regular security patching can better protect customers from wide-reaching security threats.
Solution Providers: Ignore The Meltdown And Spectre Microprocessor Exploits 'At Your Own Peril'

'This is a flaw at the architectural level,' says Michael Knight of Encore Technology Group. 'It doesn't matter what version of software you're running, or your operating system. Everything is equally vulnerable.'
Rising Security Star AlgoSec Lands First-Ever Outside Equity Investment – A $36M Round After 14 Years In Business

AlgoSec CMO Jeffrey Starr said organic growth and outside investment will result in an expanded sales and marketing force, as well as enhanced technology and R&D capabilities for the company's channel partners.
McAfee Closes Skyhigh Networks Deal, Plans To Drive Cross-Sell Opportunities For Channel Partners

McAfee Americas Channel Chief Ken McCray said the company plans to initially go after partners working with both McAfee and Skyhigh today, such as Optiv and SHI, in an effort to drive more scale with them.

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Slide Shows

	9 Cool New PCs In Dell's Commercial Lineup Dell is launching refreshed models for its Precision mobile workstation, Latitude business laptop and OptiPlex desktop portfolios.
	Dell And HPE Battle For Cloud Infrastructure Supremacy As Public Cloud Drives $12.8B In Q4 Spending Dell, HPE, Cisco and Huawei top IDC's worldwide market share leaderboard for cloud IT infrastructure sales during the fourth quarter of 2017.
	What Does The Next-Generation Solution Provider Look Like? Top Channel Leaders Weigh In Four cloud and telecom channel leaders shared what solution providers should focus on to earn future business, how their own companies are developing the next generation of channel executives, and what their vision for the channel partner of the future will look like.