Computerlinks heads for the clouds with Google

Security distributor signs pan-European agreement with Google Enterprises

Lorant at Google Enterprises said: “Together, we are able to extend the reach of our offerings to cover new markets and further accelerate the adoption of SaaS."

Security distributor Computerlinks has signed a pan-European agreement with Google Enterprises to supply its software-as-a-service (SaaS) security offering.

In a bid to grab a slice of the growing SaaS market, Computerlinks will now carry Google Apps' security offering, which is designed to keep email free from spam, viruses, phishing and other email threats as well as providing email archiving.

David Caughtry, director of e-business at Computerlinks, said: “This will give our VARs a choice of security offerings. This is something extra resellers can take to their customer base, giving them the pan-European reach they need."

Market watcher Gartner predicts by 2012, the market for enterprise applications delivered by SaaS will reach $14.8bn (£10bn).

Caughtry added: “Due to new economic challenges, customers are looking to maximise by only paying for what they use. Extras such as an unlimited archiving package can also be added, so resellers can offer storage.

“Large enterprises, particularly, will welcome services enabling them to only pay for what they use.”

Peter Lorant, head of EMEA partners at Google Enterprise, said: “We are excited to be working with Computerlinks across Europe as they have a strong and well-respected relationship with their network of resellers.

“Together, we are able to extend the reach of our offerings to cover new markets and further accelerate the adoption of SaaS. With the ever-growing prevalence of viruses and spam, this agreement creates new revenue opportunities for resellers to help their customers be more secure, compliant and productive.”

Caughtry concluded: “We will fit with what the channel and the customer wants. There is still money to be made from implementation as well as services – those that plan on surviving this economic challenge will identify that quickly.”

Computerlinks’ resellers will be introduced to the Google Apps security offerings through a series of webinars, event and other launch initiatives.