Overseas startups take first UK market steps

Underground8 targets Check Point and Fortinet, while Napera Networks appoints a UK distributor

David Griffiths: Determined to break into the UK security market for a 10 per cent share

The influx of international security startups launching in the UK shows no sign of slowing, with both Austria-based

Underground8 and US-based Napera setting up shop this month.
Underground8 is gunning for UK Check Point and Fortinet resellers after securing venture capital backing to expand across Europe.

UK managing director David Griffiths claimed its appliances are ideally suited to SMEs.
“Eighty per cent of UK firms have less than 50 people and a lot of those companies do not have the correct security products in place.

“We will look to gain a five to 10 per cent share of that market in our first year,” he said.
Griffiths accused established vendors of being over distributed in the UK. “Check Point has 399 resellers who are all fighting for the same business,” he said.

Meanwhile, network access control vendor Napera Networks has opened a London office and has appointed VCW Security as its first UK distributor.

Check Point’s managing director for northern Europe, Nick Lowe, said: “While I applaud Underground8 for taking a swipe at the market leader, that is all this is.”