MSPmentor has compiled a list of the top cloud computing stories that managed service providers (MSPs) need to know about for the week of Dec. 4.

This week’s edition features cloud computing news from Dimension Data, iomart Group, iland, Ingram Micro (IM) and Netwrix.

Dimension Data to Offer Blue Coat Secure Web Gateway to Partners

Dimension Data, which ranked first on this year’s MSPmentor 501, will begin offering Blue Coat Systems‘ Cloud Generation Web Gateway to its worldwide partner ecosystem beginning in the first quarter of next year. “The new offering provides our clients with a comprehensive, risk-reduced route to cloud web security, and is a significant addition to Dimension Data’s comprehensive suite of managed and cloud services for security,” Matthew Gyde, Dimension Data’s group executive for security, said in a prepared statement. 

iomart Acquires Managed Hosting Company United Hosting

iomart has added a managed hosting company to its portfolio. The UK-based cloud computing company has acquired United Hosting for approximately $16.4 million, and iomart CEO Angus MacSween noted United Hosting could be “a valuable addition” for his company. 

iland Introduces Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service with Veeam Cloud Connect

iland is now offering disaster recovery-as-a-service (DRaaS) with Veeam Cloud Connect, enabling service providers to deliver hosted backup repositories. “Veeam is extending this technology to make it possible to execute a complete or partial fail-over into the cloud, and again, iland is at the front of the line, supporting this capability globally,” iland Chief Technology Officer Justin Giardina said in a prepared statement.

Ingram Micro Acquires Odin Service Automation Platform

Ingram Micro has acquired the Parallels Odin Service Automation platform for an undisclosed sum. Alain Monié, Ingram Micro’s CEO, said the Odin Service Automation platform “will play a significant role in how businesses consume technology” going forward.

Security Concerns and Lack of Visibility Hinder Cloud Adoption Say 65% of IT Pros

A new Netwrix survey of IT professionals from 611 companies revealed 65 percent of companies are concerned with security and 40 percent worry about their loss of physical control over data in the cloud. The survey also showed security is getting more attention from cloud technology and service providers, but the lack of visibility into the external storage of sensitive data continues to raise concerns that are still holding back wider cloud adoption.

What do you think of this week’s cloud stories for MSPs? Share your thoughts about this story in the Comments section below, via Twitter @dkobialka or email me at [email protected].