For the second consecutive year, Symantec won the overall Channel Champions distinction in the Client Security Software category. This year, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company beat Kaspersky Lab, Trend Micro, AVG, RSA, McAfee and Microsoft. Symantec's highest rating was in technical satisfaction, followed by support satisfaction and financial factors. The vendor led the pack in all three subcategories, but its overall rating was roughly three points lower than last year. Trailing Symantec by only a point in the overall rating was Kaspersky, which rose from fifth place last year to get ahead of Trend Micro, which fell from second to third this year.
"Symantec is proud to have earned the Channel Champion awards for both Client Security and Backup and Recovery Software," said John Eldh, vice president of Americas channel sales, Symantec. "These awards show that our partners recognize our ability to deliver relevant, market-leading solutions and superior value for their customers. Our partner-centric focus also ensures that our partners have every opportunity to increase and accelerate revenue, and differentiate themselves from the competition."
Jonathan Dambrot, managing director of sales and marketing at Symantec partner Prevalent Networks, said Symantec has been gradually improving its channel program. "Symantec over the last several years has worked very hard to make sure that they've got the best channel program available to support partners, as they help develop security solutions around Symantec technology," Dambrot said. "Obviously, partners and CRN are seeing that and I believe the award is well-deserved."
Symantec, which reported $6.2 billion in revenue last year, does less than 20 percent of its business through direct sales with the majority in the enterprise market.
