Sourcefire lights UK VAR programme

Vendor's UK partner programme to be run by EiP

Intrusion detection system (IDS) appliance vendor Sourcefire has launched a UK partner programme, which will be run by value-added distributor EiP.

Sourcefire was launched in 2001 and set up a UK operation last year. It has signed a deal with EiP to support its purely indirect sales model in the UK after developing an appliance based on the Snort IDS.

Graham Welch, European and EMEA sales director at Sourcefire, said the firm chose to take the appliance product route because of its ease-of-use advantages.

"The pre-configured boxes can be installed and up and running in 15 minutes," he said.

"We are looking for resellers that are focused on security and understand the networking and IDS markets."

The vendor currently works with resellers Managed Security Services, Persuasive, Hydra and ITC in the UK, but it is keen to sign more. "There is not a fixed number of resellers we want," Welch added.

EiP, which works with about 200 resellers in the UK, is looking for 20 to specialise in the Sourcefire product. It will offer resellers 24-hour technical support, lead generation and training.

Amar Rathore, managing director of EiP, said the products offer users a lower-cost IDS system based on the tried and tested Snort engine, with VARs benefiting from good margins.

The distributor will also work with resellers on a one-off basis where margins will be lower.

"Resellers that work closely with us will get the best margins, but even resellers that work on an ad hoc basis will get a 10 per cent margin," Rathore said.

Resellers can pay for two days' training on the product and receive free product updates from EiP. The distributor will hold its first training session on 23 May.