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Sourcefire is making subtle changes to its channel program, reaching out to MSPs and other partners with new certifications to help them sell additional support and management services.
The Columbia, Md.-based network security appliance maker said its program is designed to train sales engineers and other professional services employees on deployment, implementation and ongoing management of the Sourcefire appliance. Classes and certification programs build value for both Sourcefire and the partner, giving partners the opportunity to sell their own support and maintenance services, said Sourcefire channel chief Chris Peterson. Individuals are awarded points based on the training they take, and the partner receives increased compensation.
"By having certified resources, the opportunity is there for additional margin for the partner," said Peterson, who serves as senior vice president of worldwide channels, services and support.
[Related: 9 Unified Threat Management Security Appliances To Watch In 2013]
Sourcefire launched its Security Channel Program in 2010 and since then the channel has grown to account for 99 percent of the company's sales. Sourcefire found partners for the few direct accounts it had been maintaining, Peterson said.
Many of the changes Sourcefire has made to its program over the past year are the result of ongoing discussions with partners, Peterson said. The company further discounted some of its products to be more price-aggressive and help partners win deals. Sourcefire is also working with channel partners to identify net new customer accounts, Peterson said. Quarterly reviews and account mapping sessions with partners have been added to help identify good candidates for the vendor. Any net new accounts registered by the partner will receive additional margins under the program.
Sourcefire competes with Check Point Software Technologies, Fortinet, Juniper Networks and Palo Alto Networks in the network security space. The company has been aggressively pushing its Advanced Malware Protection IPS appliance built on its FirePower platform for next-generation firewall capabilities. In addition to blocking and continuous file analysis, an alerting feature notifies users of malicious files entering their environment even when they previously were classified as safe. The appliance can be licensed to function with Sourcefire's IPS and next-generation firewall devices and includes 100 seats of its cloud-based FireAMP endpoint malware protection.
NEXT: Marketing, Incentives For New Accounts
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