Partners mould RSA's SMB push

Authentication vendor claims partner input was key to development of AMX appliance

Two-factor authentication vendor RSA Security has launched an SMB appliance whose development was heavily shaped by partner feedback.

Launched last week, RSA Authentication Manager Express (AMX) is billed as a cost-effective and rapidly deployable option for organisations with between 250 and 2,500 users.

It employs the same risk-based technology that RSA has used in the consumer space for six years.

Jo Pettifer, channel operations manager at RSA, said the appliance would allow RSA to penetrate the SMB and mid-market, and extend its appeal to SMB resellers.

"This product is a direct request from the channel and adds more opportunities in organisations with up to 2,500 users," she said.

"Channel partners were very involved with development of the product."

According to IDC research, the EMEA ID and access management market, of which two-factor authentication is a sub-segment, is forecast to grow 13.1 per cent annually until 2014.

Steve Wheeler, EMEA distribution manager at RSA, said partners should aim AMX at sectors such as legal and healthcare, where the need to protect data is paramount, but there is no IT department.

Nick Bannister, divisional director for security at Arrow ECS, one of two UK distributors for RSA alongside Computerlinks, said he was impressed AMX's development was informed by a partner roundtable and conference.

"RSA really listened to what partners wanted and delivered," he said.

Andy Bryars, security consultant at security VAR Sysec, said appliances were becoming more commonplace in the two-factor authentication space.

"AMX lends itself well to rapid deployment, so for smaller and mid-sized businesses it is an excellent idea.

"ActivIdentity launched something similar last quarter. All vendors in the authentication space are trying to spread so they have as many touch points into customers as possible."