AVG plans channel training and incentive expansion

The security vendor is offering assistance for resellers of internet security apps and associated upgrades

AVG fights viruses and other malware with functionality to help businesses protect themselves when users are on social networking sites

Security vendor AVG plans to expand its assistance for channel partners, primarily targeting consumers and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) around the world.

Speaking at the UK launch of AVG Internet Security 2011, Mike Foreman, senior vice president of global sales at AVG, said the company will boost its reseller support with further training and incentives in coming months.

“We have had a really consistent channel strategy, going on since about 2003,” Foreman said. “We will be building out our training focus, and will have people go to the channel on larger accounts.”

Its basic consumer internet security package is provided to users for free, but resellers can also upsell the more sophisticated offerings, he said.

Its reseller base is primarily consumer retail distribution, but it has a secondary focus on sales to smaller companies with approximately 5-250 seats through the B2B channel.

Niche service providers or integrators that target the SMB market would also be welcome channel partners, Foreman said.

AVG is in expansion mode, with an 18,000-ft UK call centre opened last year that still has plenty of room for more staff, he said.

He said new AVG products include social networking protection for business users as well as consumers.