Astaro and Arc unveil SME business initiative

Vendor and distributor team up for six-month scheme to help partners tie up extra SME sales

Unified threat management vendor Astaro and distributor Arc Technology have launched a joint campaign to help VARs secure SME business.

The campaign, which will run for at least six months, includes joint marketing, training and lead-generation activities.

Astaro said it will accompany several new partners to client sites each quarter. Telemarketing activities run out of Arc will focus on different sectors each quarter.

Andrew Fourie, UK country manager at Astaro, hopes the campaign will help double Arc’s Astaro reseller base to 50.

“The messaging around this recognises that the world in which we live is now focused on the ability to save money,” he said.

Fourie said Astaro focuses on replacing point products and stressed Cisco’s soon-to-be-discontinued PIX appliance would be a core target.

“Our sweet spot is 50 to 500 users. But we have released a new appliance that can support up to 3,000 to 4,000 users,” he said.

Arc managing director Stuart Reay said: “We have been on board with Astaro for 18 months. It has only begun to make an impact in the past three or four months and is now a core part of our portfolio.”