Corero links arms with Cohort for DDoS assault

AIM-listed security vendor still on the acquisition trail

Security vendor Corero has launched a hunt for "dynamic and reactive" resellers after appointing Cohort Technology as its second UK distributor.

The AIM-listed vendor's technology is based on last year's acquisition of Top Layer, a US-based outfit that made its name in the intrusion prevention (IPS) space.

Andre Stewart, vice president of sales at Corero, said firm is now focused on the DDoS mitigation market, which he claimed is expanding at anywhere between 48 and 120 per cent annually, depending on which analyst you ask.

Stewart said: "We have an appliance focused on IPS that competes with McAfee, Sourcefire and ISS. We also have an appliance that does anti-DDoS that competes with Radware and Arbor Networks – and that's where we stand out."

Cohort will work alongside existing distributor Exclusive Networks, providing resellers with training and support.

"The DDoS side is relatively complicated and Cohort has excellent 24x7 support," said Stewart.

According to Infonetics Research, the DDoS prevention market ballooned 52 per cent last year. The analyst predicted the technology, which is being adopted mainly by online retailers, banks and hosting companies, will enjoy compound annual growth of 23 per cent between 2010 and 2015.

Cohort managing director Grahame Smee said: "The growth and interest – and, ultimately, the reseller opportunity – lie in what Corero does best, which is attack mitigation, particularly against DDoS.

"Resellers do need to take time to understand and it is quite specialist. But the rewards are there."

Corero's existing UK resellers include Blue Cube, Integralis, Armadillo and Ampito Group.

Stewart said: "We are getting calls from end users that are being attacked every week and need dynamic and reactive partners that can deal with that."

Further acquisitions are likely, Stewart added: "We are about cyber defence and want to deal with zero-day attacks. So the types of areas that make sense to us are event management companies, those that deal with detecting vulnerabilities, and botnet research companies."