Corero Launches Partner Program For Cyber-Security Platform

The Hudson, Mass.-based company said Wednesday that it is offering "competitive" margins and marketing development funds to resellers joining SecureWatch. The company is apparently in a position to share margin with partners. Gross profit margin reported this month in full year results for 2011 was 77 percent, according to Web financial news service ShareCast.

Corero entered the cyber-security market a year ago with the purchase of Westboro, Mass.-based Top Layer. The latter company's intellectual property is the foundation of Corero's intrusion prevention system and its technology for defending against denial-of-service attacks.

Corero's legacy is in selling business and finance systems to the education market. That portion of the company grew 45 percent last year and was profitable, while the security portion reported an operating loss. Company executives have said they are committed to growing the security business. Corero, which trades on the London Stock Exchange, garnered more than $7.3 million this year in a conditional placing of 10.6 million shares and said the money would be used to build its network security division.

Signing up partners is an important part of Corero's expansion plans. Its channel benefits include assistance through the sales cycle and a managed partner lead program. The company is also guaranteeing margins to partners who register deals.

SecureWatch also includes a Partner Portal for getting self-serve support, discounts and promotions. The company is providing instructor-led and Web-based technical training and onsite sales training.

"With SecureWatch, we’ve designed a program that cements our dedication to our partners and their success," Marty Meyer, chief executive of Corero, said in a statement.