Tag Archives: SMB

AVG

AVG Technologies Previews New Identity-as-a-Service “CloudCare SSO” at Cloud Summit

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AMSTERDAM and SAN FRANCISCO –  22 October, 2014 – AVG Technologies N.V. (NYSE: AVG), the online security company for devices, data and people, today unveiled a preview of its new Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) services to partners attending its Cloud Summit in Phoenix, Arizona.   Managed services provider (MSP) partners at the Summit had an exclusive first-look at how AVG’s full Cloud-security and remote monitoring & management (RMM) services portfolio can help MSPs deliver secure sign-on (SSO) for easy, one-click security and control over their customers’ cloud applications and mobile data.  Partners will soon be able to experience the breakthrough integration of Multi Factor Authentication, Secure Sign-On, Mobile Device Management and Mobile Application Management all managed through Active Directory to ease complexity and simplify management.

“The aim of today’s game changing advance in the expansion of AVG CloudCare’s cloud-based security and mobile management capabilities is to help MSPs grow their businesses further by enhancing the levels of protection and control built in to their customer services,” said Mike Foreman, AVG’s General Manager, SMB. “We know that with the rapid adoption of mobile, BYOD and Cloud applications customers will require additional expertise from partners to help control and manage all their users’ applications and data.  We are listening. That’s why, for the first time in this space, AVG is combining Centrify’s IDaaS capability with our existing RMM platform to provide a single, secure access layer to all our Cloud services as well as more than 2,500 of the most popular Cloud-based business apps for partners and their business customers.”

Underlying technology for AVG’s new IDaaS capability is driven by Centrify, a leader in unified identity management across cloud, mobile and data center environments.  Management of multiple passwords is a major headache for businesses, especially as they adopt more and more mobile and cloud-based applications.   Figures show up to 80 percent of end user breaches are password related. Furthermore, industry events like the Heartbleed bug have raised popular consciousness of the need for stronger password protection, especially in sectors like financial services or health where tight data security and privacy requirements are mandatory.

“IDaaS is solving real problems for the enterprise and thanks to the initiative of market-savvy companies like AVG the technology will soon be giving AVG partners and their businesses the same benefits in a format they can afford,” said Shreyas Sadalgi, Centrify’s SVP of Business Development for Centrify. “We are thrilled to be working closely with AVG, a globally respected security brand with one of the largest active partner bases in the industry.

An exclusive preview of the Centrify IDaaS solution is available to resellers and MSPs attending AVG’s inaugural Cloud Summit for partners taking place from October 20th-22nd 2014 at The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort in Chandler, Arizona.

For more information or to contact sales for a free, not for resale account, please email [email protected]

AVG’s business security portfolio is supported by a worldwide network of more than 10,000 partners.  Its pedigree in this area makes it ideally positioned to help smaller IT companies and MSPs harness low cost, cloud-based tools so they can transition into fully-fledged managed services businesses.

In October 2012 AVG introduced AVG CloudCare™, a cloud-based administration platform offering resellers a new way to implement and manage services such as antivirus, content filtering, online backup and email security services for their business customers. In June 2013 it added AVG Managed Workplace, an open eco-system Remote Management & Monitoring (RMM) tool. AVG‘s vision is to make the lives of MSPs and their business customers as easy as possible, regardless of whether staff are in the office, at home, or on the road.

About Centrify

Centrify provides unified identity management across data center, cloud and mobile — resulting in one single login for users and one unified identity infrastructure for IT. Centrify’s software and cloud services let organizations securely leverage their existing identity infrastructure to centrally manage authentication, access control, privilege management, policy enforcement and compliance across on-premise and cloud resources. More than 5,000 customers have deployed Centrify across millions of servers, workstations, and applications. With Centrify, organizations are reducing their costs associated with identity lifecycle management and compliance by over 50 percent.

About AVG Technologies (NYSE: AVG)

AVG is the online security company providing leading software and services to secure devices, data and people.  AVG has over 182 million active users, as of June 30, 2014, using AVG’s products and services including Internet security, performance optimization, and personal privacy and identity protection. By choosing AVG’s products, users become part of a trusted global community that engages directly with AVG to provide feedback and offer mutual support to other customers.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

AVG

70 Percent of MSPs Must Adapt Services to Capitalize on Internet of Things, AVG Study Reveals

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AMSTERDAM and SAN FRANCISCO – October 22, 2014 – Roughly 1-in-4 (26 percent) small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and managed services providers (MSPs) expect the Internet of Things (IoT) including multiple devices, wearables and Cloud-based services in general to generate more money for them than any of the other current big IT trends, according to a new survey announced today by AVG Technologies N.V. (NYSE: AVG), the online security company for devices, data and people. Almost three out of five (57 percent) SMBs agreed that IoT will help boost their revenues, a sentiment that was echoed by around two-thirds (67 percent) of MSP respondents. However just 18 percent of SMB respondents thought their IT provider was ahead of the curve regarding IoT management while 70 per cent of MSPs themselves admitted the need to adapt their services to meet customer expectations in this regard.

“Our MSP partners are telling us that the ‘Internet of Things’ is the one IT trend making an immediate difference to their bottom line and the business customers that they serve. A massive 7 out of 10 stated they need to amend their offerings to enable business growth.”  said Mike Foreman, AVG’s general manager, SMB

The study*, which interviewed 1,770 small businesses and MSPs in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia, also revealed more than half (55 percent) of MSP respondents say customers are demanding Internet of Things related services and over three quarters (77 percent) are planning to expand their service/product portfolio. However, they had better adapt quickly. Of those SMBs with an IT provider, 68% feel that their provider could improve their service with regard to Internet of Things offerings and understanding.

“The study shows clearly that as businesses grow to rely more and more on the Internet of Things and Cloud-based services to help generate revenue most MSPs are still some way short of being ready to help customers’ manage this,” continued Mike Foreman. “The research strongly indicates that MSPs need to significantly up their game and demonstrate enhanced levels of protection and control over their customers’ ever changing data and device needs.”

A summary of the other key findings in the study were:

SMBs

Almost half (46%) of SMBs think that the Internet of Things will be the IT trend that has the greatest impact on their organization over the next five years. An even higher proportion -around seven in ten (71%) – say that due to the Internet of Things their organization will need to take extra steps to secure and protect their data

  • Around three fifths (62%) of SMB respondents report that their organization has budget specifically assigned over the next 12 months for the development of Internet of Things solutions. 49% have a moderate or substantial budget assigned for these solutions.
  • Only 18% of SMB respondents say that their IT provider is completely ahead of the curve with regard to the Internet of Things and the potential for their business. Of those with an IT provider, 68% feel that their provider could improve their service with regard to Internet of Things offerings and understanding.
  • The majority (84%) of SMB respondents say that their organization has purchased mobile devices within the last year, spending an average of over $6,500 on these devices. Of those who have purchased mobile devices within the last 12 months, SMB respondents estimate that their organization spends an average of around $4,500 in hidden costs annually.

MSPs

  • Over half (55%) of MSP respondents state that customers are demanding Internet of Things related services and seven in ten (70% but only 56% Germany) say that they will amend their services based on the wants of the customer.
  • However, less than two fifths (38%) of MSPs say that their organization currently has an integrated remote monitoring and management platform.
  • Around three fifths (58%) of MSP respondents say that they will need to join up with cutting edge partners in order to successfully offer Internet of Things-related services. Currently only 38% of MSP respondents feel that the vendors they work with are cutting edge.
  • Furthermore around three in ten MSP respondents feel that their current vendor helps make efficiency savings (31%) or productive gains (25%) for their customers.

* AVG commissioned independent technology market research specialist Vanson Bourne to undertake this research.  1770 interviews were carried out during September 2014 with IT and marketing decision-makers of organizations with of 1 – 500 employees with and 85/15 per cent split between SMBs and MSPs. Interviews were performed across five countries: UK, US, Canada, Germany and Australia. Respondents to this research came from a range of industry sectors, with only the public sector excluded.

For more information, please see our video on the survey findings:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/70-percent-of-msps-must-adapt-services-to-capitalize-on-internet-of-things-avg-study-reveals-573155550.html

About AVG Technologies (NYSE: AVG)

AVG is the online security company providing leading software and services to secure devices, data and people.  AVG has over 182 million active users, as of June 30, 2014, using AVG’s products and services including Internet security, performance optimization, and personal privacy and identity protection. By choosing AVG’s products, users become part of a trusted global community that engages directly with AVG to provide feedback and offer mutual support to other customers.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

AVG

Entrepreneurs set high standard at The Pitch, UK

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Thursday September 4th , 50 budding small businesses and entrepreneurs from around the UK gathered in London to attend Southern leg of The Pitch boot-camp.

The UK’s largest small businesses competition has reached the midway stage and contestants gathered to receive further mentoring and training from industry experts, including AVG at the 15 Hatfields events venue in London.

Click here for our full gallery

The boot camp was broken down into four separate sessions:

Marketing:

This session was led by Jeffrey Ferrazzo from Constant Contact and focussed on some of the most effective strategies that emerging businesses can use to maximise their limited marketing budget. As you might expect, there was a heavy focus on winning social media strategies and how to define a brand and drive engagement in what is a very crowded environment.

Pitch (24)

 

Overcoming objections:

At some stage in its development, every business will encounter roadblocks and objections from potential clients. This lively workshop session, led by Mike Byrne from AVG, prepared each contestant with techniques for mitigating and overcoming common objections to their product or service during the sales process.

Pitch (36)

 

Financial Planning:

You can have the best product in the world but without the proper financial planning, your business may still struggle to turn a profit. A group of helpful tutors from the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW), also sponsors, were on hand in this session to help the contestants set up clear and sustainable financial numbers to back up their business plans.

Pitch (40)

 

Pitching and Presentation:

Pitching and being able to sell your business idea in as short a time as possible can often make the difference between getting investment or sales and falling short. Contestants at this year’s The Pitch were given mentoring and individual feedback from one of the leading pitch experts in the UK, Annette Kramer.

Pitch (47)

 

 

The Pitching:

After a busy day of thorough training and preparation, all 50 competitors had only 90 seconds to pitch their business, on camera, to the rest of the attendees. The business ideas were as varied as the competitors themselves and there were excellent pitches for everything from lifesaving medical equipment to artisan marshmallows to workplace pension brokers.

Click here for our full gallery

The next phase:

The next step of The Pitch will be the Northern leg of the boot-camp to be held in Manchester later in September. After both boot camps have taken place, the video pitches will be narrowed down from 100 to 30 applicants to proceed to the final where a winner will be chosen by a panel of judges including AVG’s own Judith Bitterli.

The overall winner of The Pitch will win a priceless prize package that includes expert mentoring from business leaders and free access to world leading products and services including free AVG CloudCare services for two years.