e92plus on the vendor trail
Distributor makes enquiries with other firms as NetScreen partnership in doubt
Specialist security distributor e92plus is seeking new vendor partners, following speculation that one of its current partners, NetScreen, is rethinking its distribution strategy.
The channel was awash with rumours last week surrounding a possible split between e92plus and NetScreen. Several sources told CRN the distributor is serving its notice, and the relationship could end by April.
CRN has also learned that e92plus has recently lost NetScreen expert Richard Snape, who is now heading up competitor Allasso's NetScreen division.
But Lee Harrison, business development director at e92plus, was quick to quash talk of parting with NetScreen and said there is no change in the relationship. "We are still under contract and it is business as usual," he said.
But several industry watchers revealed that e92plus is actively seeking new vendor partners.
One source close to firewall specialist WatchGuard confirmed it had been approached by e92plus regarding a possible distribution agreement. NetScreen rivals Fortinet and SonicWall have also been approached, sources reported.
Nick Banks, WatchGuard's UK sales manager, declined to comment specifically on e92plus but said: "Since the launch of the Firebox X we have been approached by a number of interested distributors."
The security appliance market is a hive of activity, and this follows a bout of consolidation in security, which saw Trend Micro split with equIP and Fortinet's decision to drop Wick Hill and Ideal late last year.
Bernie Dodwell, business development director at distributor Wick Hill, said there is a lot of realignment of vendor strategies in the security sector.
"You will see vendors moving to specialist distribution," he said.
"There's no point having distributors selling to the same VARs and markets. Vendors are changing their strategies, which means musical chairs in the channel."
A representative of NetScreen declined to comment.