5 Companies That Came To Win This Week

The Week Ending Aug. 7

Both vendors and solution providers alike were bringing their "A" game to the channel this week. This week's roundup of companies that came to win includes Cisco's reorganized cloud and managed services organization; Accenture's continued push into security; a new round of funding for storage company Tintri; skyrocketing earnings for CDW; and the official launch of Optiv Security.

Here's this week's list of companies who came to win. For those who didn't do as well, take a look at CRN's roundup of 5 Companies That Had A Rough Week.

Cisco Cloud Reorganization

On Friday, Cisco revealed plans to reorganize its Cloud and Managed Services Organization. The move puts the focus on generating end user demand for Cisco's cloud services instead of building cloud capacity supply. Under the leadership of new global channel chief Wendy Bahr (pictured), partners will get access to exclusive hybrid cloud bundles, which will be based on both Cisco and third-party applications. This will be a win for partners, the company said, as it opens the door to more Intercloud sales and will bring more SaaS-focused partners into the Cisco fold.

Officially Optiv

After six months of successful integrations and rebranding efforts, the merger of Accuvant and FishNet Security is officially complete. The new company, known as Optiv Security, is a $1.5 billion security solution provider superstar. Under the leadership of CEO Dan Burns, the company has taken advantage of the opportunity to also relaunch its go-to-market strategy and transform itself from more traditional VAR roots to one focused on solutions sales and managed services.

Tintri Lands New Funding

Tintri hit a big milestone this week, landing a $125 million round of Series F funding that pushed its valuation to $1 billion. The company, which specializes in the development of virtual machine-aware storage solutions featuring both flash and hard-disk capacity, said it will put the funding toward growing its deal-registration bonus for partners, increasing marketing development funds, and investing in its future IPO, which the company expects to make within the next 12 to 18 months.

"This round will allow Tintri to grow, scale and invest in the future," John Schwan, the company's vice president of Americas channels, said in an interview with CRN at the time.

Accenture Bets Big On Security

Accenture is expanding its security portfolio, picking up small security firm FusionX this week to add more capabilities around attack simulation, threat modeling and risk advisory services. As breach after breach continues to hit businesses, the acquisition adds an important capability to practice their defense against threats by subjecting them to unscheduled, simulated attacks, similar to how one might prepare for a fire with an unannounced fire drill. The systems integrator said this will be just one of many acquisitions it will make around security.

CDW Double Win

CDW announced skyrocketing earnings this week, with a 25 percent year-over-year jump in second-quarter net income to $108.2 million. Sales were also up, rising 6.7 percent to $3.31 billion. The company saw particular strength in its government and corporate businesses, with slight gains in health care.

At the same time, the Vernon Hills, Ill.-based company announced the acquisition of the remainder of Kelway, a U.K.-based solution provider that CDW took a 35 percent stake in in November. The move builds on the success CDW already has seen working with Kelway, CEO Thomas Richards said on the earnings call, which greatly expands the company's global capabilities.