A Herculean Effort: Citadel Announces Channel Program

Hercules works in tandem with vulnerability assessment tools, importing and mapping any discovered vulnerability to an automated remedy, said Jack Doxey, vice president of marketing at Citadel, Dallas. "What would take weeks to accomplish takes about three days with Hercules," he said.

Citadel has been partnering with vulnerability assessment tools vendors for about two years but never had any type of channel program until now. Reseller interest spurred creation of the program, Doxey said.

"Solution providers are familiar with the pain [of discovering and fixing vulnerabilities] and were interested in becoming resellers of Hercules," he said. "That was a major catalyst. The other was we truly understand and know the value of having feet on the street."

Citadel is looking for solution providers that are selling or using vulnerability assessment tools and have a security services practice, Doxey said. "There are thousands of solution providers out there doing security, but few are doing the specific niche we're looking for."

As part of the channel program, Citadel plans to provide sales and technical training, both via Web conferencing and in the field. The company also plans to offer myriad materials including technical studies, white papers, ROI calculators and field support.

Channel partners will receive a 25 percent discount off Hercules' list price, and partners who reach Platinum status,those with $100,000 in sales for the quarter,will receive an additional 10 percent retroactive discount for all sales from the beginning of the year, Doxey said.

Trinity Integrated Networks, a Sacramento-based reseller that works in the government space, is a charter partner of Citadel's program. Trinity CTO Scott Millis said Hercules is a good fit for his company's niche. "There is a huge amount of interest [in the government space] for this type of product," he said.