Digital Soup News
Digital Soup helps WatchGuard Introduce WSP-MSS Program to Help VARs Implement Managed Security Offerings for Their Customers
Program offers partners the opportunity for a predictable and profitable revenue stream using Firebox X UTM products and WatchGuard System Manager
Seattle, WA - December 11, 2006. WatchGuard Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of Unified Threat Management (UTM) solutions, announced a new program, WSP-MSS, to provide its WatchGuard Secure Partners (WSPs) with a flexible, low cost of entry managed security program based on WatchGuard's powerful line of Firebox X UTM appliances.
"The task of protecting any size organization from an ever expanding threat environment is a difficult task. It takes the right combination of people, processes, services, and products", said Charles Kolodgy, research director at IDC. "By teaming with WatchGuard, local VARs can service their customers by providing security expertise and strong products. This is the sort of support that many companies want from their security suppliers."
WatchGuard System Manager allows partner administrators to access, monitor and configure any appliance under management from one console. This interactive monitoring provides instant and deep visibility to any connected device, ensuring the partner can provide their customers with real-time service. Reliable logging and comprehensive reporting further simplify management and billing.
"Many of our customers don't have the time or expertise to stay on top of their network security requirements, yet they are in healthcare or finance and must protect sensitive data," said Todd Martin, president of West Virginia-based partner Digital Soup, a pilot partner for the new program. "With a managed security service, we can fill that role of security expert for them - monitoring network activity and making adjustments when necessary. WatchGuard's products and services provide the framework that enables us to do so, simply and profitably."
In addition to WatchGuard's powerful UTM appliances and the tools and resources available to implement their managed security offering, partners will have the knowledge, expertise and guidance of WatchGuard's LiveSecurity team. WatchGuard's ground-breaking LiveSecurity Service includes support from a panel of experts, consultants, and engineers who monitor the network security landscape constantly and provide ongoing education. WatchGuard helps its partners become network security experts in their own right with training, user forums, Web chats, editorials, and by keeping them abreast of emerging threats with timely email alerts. Pre-packaged teaching tools such as SecurityWise, provide easy-to-understand network security training sessions which partners can deliver to their customers.
"The managed services business model offers attractive benefits to innovative resellers looking to expand revenue and build closer relationships with their customers," said Tim Helming, Product Manager for MSS at WatchGuard. "The challenge for our partners is finding a security vendor that can offer a program that is easy to implement backed by products with the required capabilities. With WSP-MSS we meet these needs. We've customized this offering to provide maximum flexibility so partners can deploy our UTM products to their customers and administer them according to customer need. This new program also gives WatchGuard better visibility into how our partners use our products, which in turn helps us to continually provide superior products and services."
Availability
WSP-MSS is available immediately; interested resellers should contact
WatchGuard at 1-800-734-9905, or they can email salespartners@watchguard.com.
WSP-MSS is separate and distinct from WatchGuard's existing MSS program
designed for larger service providers.
About WatchGuard
WatchGuard provides network security. The company's Firebox X family
of upgradeable appliances delivers the performance, functionality and
security strength to meet the needs of organizations of varying sizes.
WatchGuard's Intelligent Layered Security protects against emerging threats
and provides the platform to integrate additional services offered by
the company. All WatchGuard products include a LiveSecurity Service subscription
for vulnerability alerts, software updates, expert security instruction,
as well as individualized and self-help customer care. WatchGuard is headquartered
in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe,
Asia, and Latin America. For more information, please visit www.watchguard.com.
WatchGuard, LiveSecurity and Firebox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.