An Italian IT distributor that sees “technology freedom” as core to its philosophy has signed its third UK vendor.
Having recently expanded into the UK, CoreTech is now an official distributor for a trio of vendors here in the form of MailStore, TSplus Software and – as of now – Linux security patching specialist TuxCare.
The latter relationship came courtesy of a pan-EMEA partnership inked last week.
TuxCare focuses on the security and patching of various Linux distributions like CentOS and Ubuntu. Additionally, it ensures a reduction in the number of reboots with its Live Patching solution, significantly increasing server uptime through solutions designed to automate and apply vulnerability patches.
“We stand for technology freedom”
Talking to IT Channel Oxygen, CoreTech’s UK Country Manager Marino Vigliotti said the addition of TuxCare ties in with CoreTech’s commitment to the principle of technology freedom.
TuxCare can help MSPs and software developers navigate the withdrawal of support for CentOS 7, a freely available, community-supported Linux distribution which IBM-owned Red Hat moved to end of life on 30 June 2024.
“IBM bought Red Hat and they stopped support for CentOS. It was the third biggest Linux distribution, so people are pretty much stuck and cannot migrate,” Vigliotti said.
“TuxCare is able to extend the patching. What we’re trying to do is extend the life for CentOS.”
CoreTech is a member of non-profit trade association Cloud Infrastructure Providers in Europe (CISPE), Vigliotti stressed.
“One of the things we stand for is technology freedom. We hate that you can be locked in by something,” he said.
“Coretech’s CEO Roberto Beneduci sits on CISPE, fighting for Microsoft licensing to be transferred from on-prem to cloud. It’s not just about money; it’s about principle.”
“We definitely want more vendors”
Founded in 2000, Milan-based CoreTech turns over around €5m, serving more than 1,000 Italian partners, Vigliotti said.
As well as acting as a distributor for various vendors including N-Able, GFI Software, TSplus and MailStore, it also has its own white-label cloud infrastructure proposition.
Although the UK business initially focused on the latter, CoreTech is now ramping up its distribution activities here, Vigliotti said.
“I was recruited four years ago because of my knowledge of the UK market,” he explained.
“Roberto said ‘we need to go to the UK because it’s more of an advanced market’. Mainland Europe is often seen as more of a traditional market, and lags a couple of years behind.
“Our offer for the cloud is quite advanced and we struggle to explain to partners what we do in terms of cloud, but in the UK it’s a natural progression. We started with the cloud, and last year we added two vendors to the distribution business.”
TuxCare potentially has the broadest reach of all three UK vendors because it touches the operating system, Vigliotti said, adding that the plan is to recruit around 20 UK partners over the next year.
TuxCare also offers Linux live patching, Vigliotti emphasised.
The search for prospective partners is already underway, with MSPs and software developers – particularly those targeting the sub-500 installs space – the preferred target.
“One of the advantages we are able to give partners, not just for TuxCare, is to add value through our own cloud. It’s significantly better than going to a hyperscaler,” Vigliotti said.
What is the long-term vision for CoreTech’s UK business?
“We definitely want more vendors. We are in final negotiation for the fourth vendor and that will significantly expand the customer base from the start,” Vigliotti responded.
This article was produced in association with CoreTech and is classified as partner content. What is partner content? See more here.
Doug Woodburn is editor of IT Channel Oxygen
