MSPs Get A Helping Hand

MegaPath's SecureConnect delivers just that with secure access and managed network capabilities that enable businesses to cost-effectively connect branch offices, mobile workers and home-based workers.

The company and its partners supply businesses with a comprehensive network migration strategy while providing top-notch management, security and reporting of the supported network.

MegaPath's services range from the basics of networking to a full gamut of protection from some of the biggest known and unknown threats by making integrated security features such as unified threat management, intrusion detection, firewall, Web filtering and A/V available to all customers.

The SecureConnect Firewall, for example, safeguards business-critical data. Administrators can spontaneously adjust rules of how inbound and outbound network traffic behaves through the customer Web portal. There are up to 500 policies, which makes the offering extremely granular. In addition, the firewall is intelligent enough to track sequence of events during ongoing connections, and to provide a denial of service if there is a network attack.

SecureConnect Intrusion Prevention provides realtime multilayered attack detection and protection. The IDP service is unique in that it blocks known attacks that do not violate protocol or behavioral rules but in fact carry malicious content.

SecureConnect Anti-Virus offers realtime protection against all inbound and outbound malicious content such as worms, Trojans and spyware. It scans POP3, SMTP, IMAP, HTTP, FTP and IM.

The offering comes in two levels: SecureConnect Basic, which includes the basic firewall and antivirus bundle and costs $99 per month per location. The second package, SecureConnect Plus, costs $149 per month per location and also includes basic firewall, antivirus and intrusion prevention.

MegaPath has a number of well-known customers such as McDonalds, Burger King, Subway and Radio Shack, to name a few. However, the company truly excels for midmarket companies in need of a secure T1 and a voice connection.

MegaPath is actively pursuing channel partnerships with its four-tier program, which includes Master partners, Advantage partners, Referral partners and VBC Resellers. Master partners must have at least 10 direct reps and/or 100 subagents and generate at least $25 million annually in MegaPath sales. Advantage partners must dedicate five to seven reps and/or 50 to 100 subagents and attain at least $5 million in MegaPath sales each year. Referral partners follow a different path and are expected to provide at least three leads per month. VBC partners are resellers who must provide tier-one support and directly bill to the customer. Margins for partners are based on a commission structure, which varies according to partner level, length of commitment, number of users served and prices set by the partner. Partners also can expect an ongoing revenue stream from the managed services.

Each partner level is offered a range of benefits. Referral partners must push leads over to MegaPath, and the company does the rest. Referral partners need the lowest level of support, which comes in the form of basic sales support and portal access. Master and Advantage partners are offered a channel manager, the ability to order online, Web training, a product certification program, access to MegaPath Enterprise field reps and support from presales support engineers. VBC partners' unique needs are met by MegaPath through tier-two tech support, a custom portal and consolidated billing services.

MegaPath seems to have all the proper cogs in their channel machine to attract and maintain partner relationships.