The ITAM Roundup: 6/2/24
Lenovo claims Dell has run off the VxRails and can't sell hyperconverged VMware
Lenovo alleges that Dell's split with VMware under Broadcom's ownership has left Dell unable to sell jointly engineered systems, particularly hyperconverged VMware products like VxRail. This claim suggests a significant shift in Dell's ability to offer VMware-based solutions, which were once tightly integrated. Meanwhile, Nutanix, a competitor to VxRail, reported strong revenue growth but returned to a loss, indicating a complex competitive landscape in the hyperconverged infrastructure market.
Simon Sharwood
Zscaler chief exec rebuffs Broadcom acquisition rumors
Zscaler CEO Jay Chaudhry refutes rumors of a potential acquisition by Broadcom, dismissing claims that the company is in discussions for a deal valued at $38 billion. Despite initial speculation sparked by a Substack account, Chaudhry asserts on LinkedIn that neither he nor the Zscaler board of directors are seeking or considering acquisition offers at present. The potential acquisition, if realized, would be the latest major deal for Broadcom following its VMware purchase, although the company has faced challenges in overhauling VMware's offerings since the deal closed in October 2023.
Ross Kelly
Microsoft and Broadcom to support license portability for VMware Cloud Foundation on Azure VMware Solution
Microsoft and Broadcom are expanding their partnership to support VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) subscriptions on Azure VMware Solution, enabling customers to use their licenses on Azure VMware Solution and their own data centers. Azure VMware Solution, operated and supported by Microsoft, offers a fully managed VMware environment for migrating workloads to Azure with minimal refactoring, providing access to Azure's scalable infrastructure and over 200 cloud services. Improved license portability allows customers to purchase VMware Cloud Foundation subscriptions and transfer them between on-premises environments and Azure VMware Solution, with additional benefits such as price protection, savings for Windows Server and SQL Server, migration support, and Azure credits.
Fernando Mejia
Tech giants form AI group to counter Nvidia with new interconnect standard
Several major tech companies, including Google, Intel, Microsoft, and Meta, have formed the Ultra Accelerator Link (UALink) Promoter Group to develop a new interconnect standard for AI accelerator chips, aiming to provide an alternative to Nvidia's NVLink technology. UALink aims to improve data transfer and communication between GPUs in data centers, potentially reducing dependency on Nvidia's proprietary ecosystem. The consortium plans to release UALink 1.0, capable of connecting up to 1,024 GPUs within a single computing "pod," with subsequent versions planned to enhance bandwidth and performance.
Benj Edwards
OpenText Acquires Pillr
OpenText has acquired Pillr, a security operations software provider from Wichita, Kansas, previously a subsidiary of Novacoast. The financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. This move aims to enhance Managed Detection and Response (MDR) capabilities within OpenText's cybersecurity offerings, combining Pillr's advanced technologies with OpenText's solutions and global distribution network, providing MSPs with a comprehensive cybersecurity solution.
FinSMEs
How to Negotiate with Microsoft: A Comprehensive Guide
Negotiating with Microsoft demands thorough preparation and understanding, with key strategies ranging from establishing trust to exploring alternatives and being prepared to walk away. The negotiation process involves understanding Microsoft's internal dynamics, setting clear goals, and utilizing effective communication and negotiation techniques.
Check out the article below, which includes video summaries of negotiation tactics with Erik and Floris from LicenseQ.
Erik Hollander
Faultless with serverless: Cloud best practices for optimized returns
The article explores modern approaches to serverless computing, emphasizing the need for robust architectural patterns and operational best practices to meet the growing needs of Enterprises and SMEs. It discusses key aspects such as separation of concerns, cost optimization tools, asynchronous processing, and monitoring and observability, essential for building highly available, resilient, and cost-effective serverless applications at scale.
Yash Mehta
Hereās How You Can Use Intune For Asset Management And Inventory
The article discusses leveraging Microsoft Intune for Mobile Device Management (MDM) and application security in IT Asset Management (ITAM) but highlights its limitations in comprehensive asset tracking. It suggests integrating Intune with specialized ITAM software to enhance asset tracking capabilities, streamline management processes, and improve operational efficiency and security. The integration facilitates real-time updates, automated data synchronization, and advanced reporting, enabling organizations to gain a comprehensive view of all managed assets and enforce compliance policies effectively.
Kimberly YƔnez
What does data quality mean in license management and SAM tools?
Data quality in license management and SAM tools is critical for accurate procurement, operation, and compliance assessment. SAM tools rely on precise asset and license data, making it essential to ensure completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of the information. Establishing SAM governance, automating data validation, and actively managing tool data quality are necessary steps to maximize business value, mitigate risks, and improve overall effectiveness in license management.
Helmut Franz
Federal agency warns critical Linux vulnerability being actively exploited
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warns of an actively exploited critical Linux vulnerability (CVE-2024-1086), with a severity rating of 7.8 out of 10, allowing attackers to escalate system privileges. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions 5.14 through 6.6 and resides in NF_tables, posing risks for various network operations. CISA urges affected users to update their systems promptly, with a deadline set for June 20 for federal agencies under its authority.
Dan Goodin
