Articles by Robert Dutt

About Robert Dutt
Robert Dutt is the founder and head blogger at ChannelBuzz.ca. He has been covering the Canadian solution provider channel community for a variety of publications and Web sites since 1997.
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The Buzz: Dell unveils AI-Powered Partner Platform and expands the AI Factory

May 18, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on The Buzz: Dell unveils AI-Powered Partner Platform and expands the AI Factory
Live from Dell Technologies World, Dell announces its “Modern Partner Platform” featuring AI demand signals, a new Focus Accounts incentive, and the launch of a DeskSide Agentic AI sandbox designed to slash token costs.

In The Channel

Lenovo’s two Taylors on simplifying the channel, the services shift, and life after Accelerate

May 15, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Lenovo’s two Taylors on simplifying the channel, the services shift, and life after Accelerate
Fresh off Lenovo 360 Accelerate in Austin, we sat down with Jeff Taylor, global head of partner ecosystems and programs, and Craig Taylor, Canada channel chief, to dig into sweeping changes to Lenovo 360 – including a 92 per cent reduction in active incentives – and what they mean for Canadian partners navigating a services-led future.

Podcasts

The Buzz: HPE unifies global distribution, N-able appoints Chief AI Officer, and HYCU turns backup into security intelligence

May 15, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on The Buzz: HPE unifies global distribution, N-able appoints Chief AI Officer, and HYCU turns backup into security intelligence
Today’s channel news includes Hewlett Packard Enterprise naming Ingram Micro and TD SYNNEX as global distributors, N-able appointing a Chief AI Officer, and HYCU’s launch of an AI-native security intelligence tool built on backup data.

In The Channel

Threat briefings, not statistical talks: ESET’s Cameron Tousley and Pedro Kertzman on making CTI work for MSPs

May 14, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Threat briefings, not statistical talks: ESET’s Cameron Tousley and Pedro Kertzman on making CTI work for MSPs
Cyber threat intelligence has long been framed as an enterprise discipline – but the threat landscape doesn’t respect that boundary anymore. Cameron Tousley and Pedro Kertzman of ESET make the case for why CTI belongs in the MSP practice, and what getting started actually looks like.

Podcasts

The Buzz: Acronis launches IaaS for MSPs, Citrix rethinks secure access, and Upwind brings agents to cloud security

May 14, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on The Buzz: Acronis launches IaaS for MSPs, Citrix rethinks secure access, and Upwind brings agents to cloud security
Acronis debuts a new IaaS platform for MSPs, Citrix rethinks secure application access, and Upwind adds agentic AI to cloud security. Plus: Nerdio’s AI warning, a Boomi and Red Hat collaboration, the Canvas ransomware probe, and Plurilock’s latest contract wins.

In The Channel

Beyond the Hype: Bridging the AI Governance Gap with Auvik’s Steve Petryschuk

May 13, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Beyond the Hype: Bridging the AI Governance Gap with Auvik’s Steve Petryschuk
In this episode of In The Channel, Auvik’s Steve Petryschuk joins Robert Dutt to discuss the findings of the 2026 IT Trends Report. They dig into the “Maturity Mirage,” the rise of Shadow AI, and why the path to AI readiness actually starts with better documentation and visibility.

Podcasts

The Buzz: SonicWall extends Gen 8 to the cloud, Huntress ties security posture to insurance terms, and Intruder tracks the remediation gap

May 13, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on The Buzz: SonicWall extends Gen 8 to the cloud, Huntress ties security posture to insurance terms, and Intruder tracks the remediation gap
SonicWall launches a subscription virtual firewall for MSPs and MSSPs, Huntress and Acrisure team up on cyber insurance, and Intruder’s 2026 ASM Index finds midmarket orgs average 56 days to close exposures. Plus ThreatDown ITDR, Cycode AI dev security, an AYCE Capital acquisition, and MSPAlliance’s updated Cyber Verify program.

In The Channel

Top Down Ventures closes oversubscribed C$38M Founders Fund I, with a 5.3x agentic AI exit already in the books

May 12, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Top Down Ventures closes oversubscribed C$38M Founders Fund I, with a 5.3x agentic AI exit already in the books
Top Down Ventures has closed Founders Fund I at C$38 million, oversubscribed, as the first institutional VC fund focused exclusively on early-stage MSP software and AI. Managing partner Joel Abramson joined In The Channel on announcement day to unpack the thesis, the zofiQ exit, and the market shift that has the fund bullish on the decade ahead.

Podcasts

The Buzz: Canada ranks second globally for ransomware, Top Down closes $38M MSP fund, and Barracuda maps the new email threat landscape

May 12, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on The Buzz: Canada ranks second globally for ransomware, Top Down closes $38M MSP fund, and Barracuda maps the new email threat landscape
Canada moves to second globally in ransomware attacks per Fortinet, Top Down Ventures closes its oversubscribed Founders Fund I at $38M Canadian, and Barracuda’s analysis of 3.1 billion emails maps where the threat is heading next.

In The Channel

On site at ServiceNow Knowledge: What building Canada’s first ServiceNow elite partner teaches you about what’s coming next

May 11, 2026 Robert Dutt Comments Off on On site at ServiceNow Knowledge: What building Canada’s first ServiceNow elite partner teaches you about what’s coming next
In the final episode of our Knowledge 2026 series, we sit down with Steven Kiss of EY Canada – the founder of SuMO IT Solutions, Canada’s first ServiceNow elite partner, now running EY’s national ServiceNow practice – for a practitioner’s view of where the channel is actually headed.