Symantec calls for partners to adopt SaaS

Security giant seeks VARs for revamped MessageLabs channel scheme

Spurgeon: partners may not have moved into Saas due to the investment needed

Symantec is urging more of its 40,000 EMEA partners to get on board with recent Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) acquisition MessageLabs, following a channel programme revamp.

MessageLabs, which Symantec recently rebranded as Symantec Hosted Services, has just completed an investment in online training, quote-to-cash configuration tools, and bundled solution resources for partners.

Katie Spurgeon, EMEA channel sales director at Symantec Hosted Services, said her next priority is to target Symantec’s traditional storage and secure networking partners.

“We have 1,500 partners in EMEA,” she said. “As we engage Symantec’s 40,000 resellers we are expecting that to grow hugely.

“They may not have moved into SaaS due to the investment needed, but with Symantec Hosted Services they can be revenue-ready in a couple of weeks.”

According to Spurgeon, IDC rankings show Symantec boasted a 26 per cent share of the global messaging security SaaS market last year ­ more than the combined share of its two nearest competitors, Microsoft and Google.

Spurgeon expects partner growth to come mainly from Authorised resellers, who earn 20 per cent margin. Associate partners earn 15 per cent for a referral-only role, while Certified partners earn up to 40 per cent.