Wallix signs Metro VAD as first UK distributor

Paris security vendor complies with desire for local support

French compliance specialist Wallix has signed its first UK distributor in the form of Blackpool-based Metro VAD.

Tom Coleman, founder and managing director of Metro VAD, said he felt the Wallix information security portfolio would complement the unified threat management (UTM) sought by its customers currently.

"We feel this could be a very good opportunity for us," Coleman said. "This gives us another great security offering, which is compliance based, from inside the network."

He said the information security marketplace still has room for more channel players – especially if they can deliver on their service promises to customers.

"It is not really an overcrowded marketplace," Coleman said.

Nick Lewis (pictured), UK general manager at Wallix, which makes information security software, said Metro VAD was chosen for its access to the right resellers and complementary offerings.

"Our products will scale from small companies to large companies, but we sell mostly to the mid-market, and I think that fits with Metro VAD as well," Lewis said.

He hoped that Metro VAD would be able to turn over about £100,000 through the Wallix account in the first year. For Wallix, it gets the ability to offer support locally instead of routed via Paris, he added.

"Our research of end-user prospects has revealed quite a lot of interest [in compliance or offerings that help organisations comply]," Lewis said. "And we are 100 per cent focused on making this a very successful relationship."

As reported by ChannelWeb, Wallix announced its UK channel programme in August.

Metro VAD, a year-old company, also holds distribution rights for UTM vendor Netasq. The company has eight staff in total, Coleman said.