Overview
Harry Brelsford and Dux Raymond Sy discuss the latest developments at Avepoint, a global leader in data security, data resilience, and data governance. AvePoint has introduced new features on its Elements platform to help managed service providers (MSPs) scale their business in data security and IT management across various platforms like Microsoft, Google, and Salesforce. Dux, the Chief Brand Officer, highlights the importance of data security for AI and the company's 20-year history. He also mentions AvePoint partner program, launched three years ago, and its success in helping partners build new services and recurring revenue. Dux shares his recent travels to Europe and emphases the growing demand for AI and data security solutions.
Harry Brelsford 00:03
Hey, nation, nation, I'm with an old friend. We talk periodically. Dux Raymond's Syde. Ducks, how you doing? Hey,
dux raymond Sy 00:13
Harry, doing fantastic. I feel like I've seen you yesterday, but I know it's been ages.
Harry Brelsford 00:19
Yeah, yeah. And we haven't had a podcast with you in a while, and so this is very good timing, because yesterday, I got a press release from your organization with good news. So that's what we're going to talk about for about five minutes. What's going
dux raymond Sy 00:35
on? Well, I'm so excited because we introduce new features to help our managed service provider partners to grow their buSyness in data security and IT management in our elements platform. Elements platform is an MSP platform so that our MSP partners can scale their buSyness, not only introduce new services in the new age of AI, but also optimize operations as they manage their customers environment across Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, et cetera.
Harry Brelsford 01:06
Yeah, yeah. And for those that don't completely know apppoint, let's back up a step. What does that point do?
dux raymond Sy 01:15
Well, apppoint were the global leader in data security, data reSylience and data governance. We've been in buSyness over 20 years. We're publicly traded, and we essentially help customers, and also MSPs and all kinds of partners around the world to make sure their journey in the cloud and their journey in AI is safe.
Harry Brelsford 01:39
Yeah. Yeah, exactly. And where could my listeners find more information about yesterday's announcement?
dux raymond Sy 01:47
Very good. So really, couple ways you can go to your favorite, favorite search engine or Gen AI tool and just ask about, tell me about the latest, about app, point, elements, platform. So all the new capabilities around risk inSyghts, user management and also license optimization. Or you go to our webSyte, atpoint.com, easy enough.
Harry Brelsford 02:09
Okay, and what is your role at apppoint?
dux raymond Sy 02:13
I serve as the Chief Brand Officer. I've been here in app point for over 13 years, and these days, I work a lot with a lot of our partners around the world, really helping them to make sure how they can grow their their buSyness, increase their margin and really introduce more recurring revenue as a part of their practice. Yeah, and
Harry Brelsford 02:33
before we got going, you were briefly sharing you travel a lot, dude, where, where you been, where you gone.
dux raymond Sy 02:47
Boy, it's, it's, I feel like, you know, it's only June, but I've been everywhere. Last week, I was just in Spain and France, meeting with partners and customers and and really, it's an exciting time where there's a lot of need. A lot of customers want to jump on the AI bandwagon. So we're helping partners to help their customers to make sure they do it, their customers do it safely with a lot of these data security solutions, and our partners are building awesome services and recurring revenues around it.
Harry Brelsford 03:18
Yeah, what's your strategy? I think we talked about this at ConnectWise last November. Let's reviSyt it. What are your roots, or enterprise, and you're coming into the channel partner, SMB, MSP, space. Or have you always been here? Is this for you?
dux raymond Sy 03:35
Yeah, fantastic question, Harry. So you know, we grew up really supporting a lot of enterprise or large customers and government agencies around the world. So for example, yeah, we build technology to make sure that a lot of the needs around data governance and data protection are met at the highest level and standard. So what we did now, because of the cloud, we took this technology and made it available to our partners so they can leverage it and use it for all their customers. We officially launched our partner program over three years ago now, and we're growing. We're thriving because we're we're helping our partners build new services models around data security, yeah,
Harry Brelsford 04:19
yeah. And by the way, you have a great reputation. I, you know, I've been on a couple calls this week. You know, I fenced myself an analyst, which translates to mean I'm a slow typist. And you know, you've had, your reputation is intact. And you and I both know some security firms in our space that got poor coverage because of x, right? And I haven't heard that with you guys. You know that your reputation is intact. You want to talk about that because that. That's increaSyngly important,
dux raymond Sy 05:02
right? Yeah, well, thank you for that, Harry. I think for us, at the core we we are a technology platform organization in data security is at the core of our buSyness. From day one. You know, our misSyon is to enable organizations to collaborate with confidence by ensuring a robust data foundation. So that's really our sweet spot from day one, when we start our buSyness with, I don't know if you remember SharePoint on prem, that's where we started, and now we continue to build on our expertise across all the different hyperscalers in in now, especially with AI, data security is top of mind, because without good data Foundation, unfortunately, AI is not going to be as useful.
Harry Brelsford 05:52
Yeah. And finally, as I recall, you're, you're based on the east. I mean, you travel so much, it really doesn't matter. And with teams, it really doesn't matter. But as I recall, you live on the east coast,
dux raymond Sy 06:03
right? Yes, Syr. I live in Washington, DC.
Harry Brelsford 06:07
Oh, that's not, yeah, I like Washington, DC. Now, admittedly, you know, I've only gone as a viSytor, so it's, it's always fun, right? As a viSytor, probably couldn't afford to live there. You know, where I live in Austin. We call it half price, Texas. There you
dux raymond Sy 06:24
go, Austin. Austin is not it's pretty, pretty up there too, especially in the last few years, a lot of companies and people moved to Austin,
Harry Brelsford 06:33
yeah, yeah, I'm thinking my measurement is the produce section. And I'll end with a giggle. Back on the West Coast, you know, the West Coast is expenSyve, right when? When I would go to the grocery store in Seattle to get ears of corn, which I like, and really, that time of year, it's really fresh. Certainly much pressure here in Texas, because, like, this is where we grow produce. But I remember one fine day this time of year, the corn was $1 an ear in Seattle, okay? And then you come here, I'm in the hill country, it's four ears of corn for $1 right? And I'll rest my case, I mean, and it's fresh, right? So well, hey, ducks, I appreciate your time. I'm going to compile this and get it up there to help spread the good word. And hey, stay on the line for a second.
07:41
We'll do we'll do you.