Intel’s decision to acquire McAfee, announced today, has major implications for managed services providers. The good news: Both Intel and McAfee have successful MSP-centric partner programs. And it’s a safe bet those MSP commitments will continue as Intel digests McAfee. Here’s some more perspective, including the Intel-McAfee implications for Microsoft and Symantec.
In case you missed the official news, Intel is acquiring McAfee for about $7.68 billion in cold hard cash. Now, the unofficial analysis: Intel has focused many of its partner efforts on MSPs in recent months (see http://msp.intel.com). Much of the effort involves Intel’s vPro technology, which makes it easier for MSPs to proactively manage PCs from afar. Also, vPro offers key power management capabilities. True believers include Greg Donovan, CEO of Alpheon, a managed services provider that has successfully promoted vPro offerings into such vertical markets as health care.
Meanwhile, McAfee has a growing following in the managed services market thanks to the MX Logic buyout. MX Logic ranks among the best-known email filtering and spam protection systems. Designed as a SaaS solution, MX Logic successfully recruited hundreds of partners into a recurring revenue model. Key MSP-centric partners include Spam Soap, which has been growing rapidly in recent months.
Sure, McAfee’s partner program has suffered from channel conflict over the years. But more recently, Cisco veteran Alex Thurber has delivered channel credibility within the halls of McAfee. Plus, an Intel-led McAfee may remove any lingering doubts about McAfee’s channel commitment.
Doubting Microsoft, Symantec?
On a side note: I believe Intel’s buyout of McAfee suggests Intel has lost confidence in Microsoft and Symantec on the security front. In recent years, Microsoft has tried to more effectively safeguard Windows, and Symantec has struggled to balance a security and storage strategy ever since acquiring Veritas in 2005.
By acquiring McAfee, Intel essentially tells the world it doesn’t want security concerns to impede IT sales. Instead of relying on Microsoft and Symantec to solve the problem, Intel is addressing the challenge on its own.
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Posted In: Mergers & Acquisions | Software as a Service and Hardware as a Service
Tags: alex thurber | Alpheon | Greg Donovan | Intel Acquires McAfee | Intel Buys McAfee | Intel managed services | Managed Security Service Providers | McAfee Managed Services | MX Logic | Spam Soap
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Take a look at our 
As for McAfee buying MX Logic, what did they really get (value wise)for the 140 Million plus, except for 3rd party OEM from the likes of Symantec and McAfee and other bolt on services?
Nonetheless, we were glad they bought MX Logic, as they were not doing a good job with their services from Postini and we continue to add those clients to our own. We also dropped using Mcafee’s AS/AV suite for our own use after many years, after having another update recently go haywire.
My take on this is that Intel wanted some key things that McAfee has (obvious). One is the global threat intelligence that McAfee has. With the proliferation of mobile devices it’s time to get a threat network in place for mobility. The other side of it is AV integration at the end point. Whether it’s through Intel chips on a PC or a mobile device it’s needed. Intel has been at every MSP show for the last couple years and it’s interesting to note that they have been quiet observers. It’s good to see them jump into the MSP market the way they have. Intel is smart company and I don’t doubt their ability to ensure their viability in the market. If you follow their MSP moves it’s interesting to see what they’re working on and how they do it.
Rob
FrankM@1: So, are you saying you lost faith in McAfee? Any chance you’ll regain the faith once Intel owns McAfee?
Rob@2: Thanks for sharing a key view from a McAfee partner.
Readers: Technology rivals and partners are beginning to share their views about the Intel-McAfee combo. You’ll find compiled vendor views (from Tech Data, Trend Micro and Sophos) in The VAR Guy’s comment area here.
And of course, the coverage continues on MSPmentor as well.
-jp
I also have to imagine that the margins and lower capital requirements for the goods and services that McAfee offer are much more attractive than silicon production these days.
It seems that more and more of these big players are actually starting to do more than just talk about how they love the MSP and/or the SMB market. This particular acquisition will be fun to watch.
Brendan: Feel free to leak anything you hear from your Intel sources
-jp