5 Companies That Came To Win This Week

The Week Ending Sept. 29

Topping this week's roundup of companies that came to win is Sirius Computer Solutions, which inked a deal to acquire solution provider Forsythe Technology in a move that will create the 20th largest solution provider in North America.

Also making the list are Google for launching the public beta of its Cloud IoT Core technology, Accenture for hiring away from rival Deloitte a recognized industry visionary to be its new marketing and communications chief, and 128 Technology and Comodo for launching new partner programs.

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.

Sirius Makes Blockbuster Deal To Acquire Forsythe, Become A $3.26 Billion Solution Provider

Sirius Computer Solutions, which has been on an acquisition spree in recent years, made a bold move this week when it struck a deal to acquire Forsythe Technology, potentially creating the 20th largest solution provider in North America with $3.26 billion in revenue and 3,000 employees.

The acquisition combines Sirius, No. 26 on the CRN Solution Provider 500, with Forsythe, No. 37 on the SP 500 list. The move also strengthens Sirius' hand in the all-important security arena given that Forsythe is one of the biggest security integrators in North America.

In January Sirius acquired solution provider Continuum Worldwide to expand its security and Splunk technology capabilities. That followed last year's acquisition of Force 3, a federal network security solution provider. Sirius was itself acquired by private equity firm Kelso & Co. in 2015.

Google Debuts Public Beta Of Its Cloud IoT Core Technology

Google this week launched the public beta release of its Cloud IoT Core, the next step for the Internet of Things managed service that's designed to manage connected edge devices ingesting data.

Given Google's position as a key supplier of cloud services, the company's entry into the red-hot IoT market is bound to be a game-changer for customers and solution provider partners.

Google provided a private beta of the IoT service back in May. The public beta includes improved device connectivity security and new features for manageability at scale.

Google also made a savvy acquisition this week when it acquired identity management startup Bitium, a move that will give partners another tool in their tool boxes to secure applications running in Google's cloud.

Accenture Snags Deloitte Visionary To Be Next Chief Marketing And Communications Officer

Systems integration giant Accenture made a savvy executive hire this week when it recruited Amy Fuller away from rival Deloitte to be Accenture's new chief marketing and communications officer.

Fuller has worked at Deloitte for nearly five years as senior managing director of global brand for London-based Deloitte. She is taking over the marketing and communications officer role from Roxanne Taylor who is retiring next year.

Hiring Fuller is a coup for Accenture. Fuller has a reputation for being a visionary: Before joining Deloitte she worked at Mastercard for seven years where she spearheaded the global rollout of the iconic "Priceless" consumer brand marketing campaign.

Networking Startup 128 Technology Launches Inaugural Partner Program

Fresh off its $21.5 million funding round, networking startup 128 Technology unveiled its first partner program this week, planning a global recruitment effort that seeks "next-generation" networking channel partners.

128 Technology develops a software-based, distributed routing and network services system, the 128T Networking Platform, that's sold as a monthly subscription and targets businesses and organizations with complex networks.

The vendor is recruiting partners through the new 128 Technology Solution Partner Program to sell 128 Technology's networking services and provide high-value consulting, professional and implementation services, along with Tier 1 and Tier 2 support. Brian Norris, 128 Technology's vice president of solution partners, said the new program provides "an opportunity for partners to generate significant, sustained and high-margin revenue streams."

Comodo Doubles Down On IoT With New Partner Program, IoT PKI Security Platform

Comodo wins applause for two moves the security technology developer made this week: unveiling a new Internet of Things security platform for better securing connected devices and for launching a new partner program to help solution providers sell the new product.

The new IoT security system provides a public key infrastructure (PKI) platform for IoT devices and networks that will allow device manufacturers and network service providers to issue and manage PKI and SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates for private IoT ecosystems.

Comodo is extending the utility and completeness of its IoT certificate technology through the new partner program. The vendor, for example, said it had already teamed up with Device Authority, an IoT security company whose services include automated provisioning and management of PKI certificates.