Sophos branches out into appliances space
Vendor claims its enterprise-level ES4000 device offers channel good margin-making opportunities
Security software giant Sophos branched out into the appliance space with the launch of its first managed email security device last week.
The vendor has claimed its ES4000 appliance, which is aimed at the enterprise space and features a web-based interface and automated security updates, will offer its channel good margin opportunity and full marketing support.
Stuart Small, sales director at Sophos, said: “We have been operating in the gateway market for years, but with software solutions. This move will see us broadening our offering into the appliance market.”
Small added that the initial offering, which is due to ship to customers in late March or early April, is targeting enterprise-level firms with between 750 and 1,000 users.
However, Small did reveal that the vendor is also planning to increase its range of appliances.
“In the UK we have a very broad channel. Our current channel does have a lot of experience in selling security solutions and can easily handle sales of this device,” Small said.
He added that as well as earning reward points on each new business sale for all orders placed until June, resellers will also earn an additional 10 per cent sales rebate. Sophos will also make marketing and development funds available to help sales and promotional activities.
Small added that the vendor will handle the logistics side of the sale for channel partners, but he refused to rule out the possible appointment of a distributor at a later date.
“We have no plans to offer this through distribution at this stage, but we will never say never,” he said.
Paul Prior, managing director of VAR Foursys, said: “To have a glob-ally recognised company such as Sophos supplying appliances is good news for us. There are too many less well-known organisations offering similar devices, and the market is fragmented,” he said.
“This means we can go to our existing Sophos customers and offer them an appliance from a company that they know and trust.”