Internet security vendor Webroot is embarking on an EMEA channel drive to grab a larger slice of the market.

The firm, which has just celebrated its best two quarters of growth in 2009, has also strengthened its channel support team to bolster its push in the web and email security Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) market. Among its latest signings are two new channel account managers and an EMEA director of customer support.

Mark Tickle, managing director of Webroot’s EMEA Enterprise Business Unit, said: “We are 100 per cent channel focused, and over the past six-to-nine months have been looking to grow our channel and reaffirm our commitment to them.”

Tickle said the vendor’s traditional sweet spot has been the SME space, but it is seeing increasing traction with firms with between 1,000 and 4,000 users, and also increased interest from hosting specialists.

Its single-tier Channel Edge partner programme currently has five Premium-level partners, 50 Authorised and 100 Associate-level partners.

“We are looking for more Premium and Authorised-level partners across EMEA,” he said. “Particularly with the growing opportunity in web and archiving security, and increasing demand for encryption technology.

“We are keen to hear from UK partners, despite the UK making up 70-75 per cent of our business,” he said.

One of Webroot’s most recent signings is Network Box. Simon Heron, country manager at Network Box UK, said: “Webroot is one of the few vendors that truly respect the channel’s role, helping us to make the most of opportunities, with a focus on delivering a suite of services backed up by technological support and a commercial approach.”