Pedestal puts trust in partners

Security vendor looks to recruit UK resellers

System security management software vendor Pedestal is looking to recruit resellers in the UK as part of a European push.

The US-based vendor launched its Worldwide Trusted Security Partner Programme this week to push its main products into the UK channel.

These include: Security-Expressions, a security policy management solution; Intact, a system change detection and recovery solution; and Ntsec, a commercial scripting tool for administering system settings.

Partners will be offered support including technical and marketing training, and will also be assigned a Pedestal technical partner.

In addition, resellers will have access to demonstration and evaluation software, and will receive marketing development funds from the vendor.

Bill Andrews, vice-president of marketing at Pedestal, said: "In the past there has been an industry focus on securing the network, overlooking the need to secure systems. But that has changed following security breaches.

"Also, threats such as Nimda and Code Red have demonstrated the need for security at all levels, including desktops, workstations and servers."

Andrews told CRN that the firm used to follow a 100 per cent direct strategy, but is planning to alter that to a 50/50 indirect/direct split by 2004.

"This is a highly targeted programme. We are looking for partners that have a security-focused background that can offer the best service to customers," he said.

Andrews added that the firm was looking to recruit a small number of partners in each European country.

Simon Jenner, principal security consultant at Pedestal's only current UK partner, Trinity Security Services, said: "We have been working with Pedestal for a while and the partner scheme benefits us further.

"Before, something would take four or five hours to install, but we can now do it in 10 minutes with Pedestal's tool."