NetScreen nets Allasso UK

UK distribution agreement targets Cisco's security appliance market share

Specialist security distributor Allasso has signed a UK distribution agreement with security vendor NetScreen to help it eat into Cisco's dominance in the appliance market.

NetScreen, which is now the second-biggest vendor of security appliances behind Cisco, according to analyst IDC, said it will not drop any existing UK distributors. Its current line-up is equIP, e92plus and Sphinx. Allasso offers pan-European coverage.

Peter Crowcombe, product marketing manager at NetScreen, said: "There is room for another distributor in the UK.

"This will extend our reach further into the UK market and builds on our southern European agreement with Allasso. Allasso reseller partners need products to take on Cisco and we offer a range to do this."

Allasso's appointment came as no surprise to Neil Ledger, director at equIP. He said NetScreen informed its distribution partners about its wish to sign a pan-European distributor some time ago.

"I am not concerned about the possibility of over-distribution because the growth of NetScreen sales means there is space for another distributor in the UK," Ledger said.

"It will actually help us to have someone such as Allasso promoting the products. NetScreen sales are not ready for broadline distribution but, despite its size, Allasso is a specialist."

Scott Duncan, managing director of Allasso, said the company had taken time to ensure that the new products do not cause problems for existing vendor relationships, such as those with Nokia, Check Point, Symantec and RSA.

"This will not reduce our existing vendors' sales," he claimed. "All of our security appliance partners are targeting Cisco's market share."