Trend Micro readies channel for EU windfall

Next year's stringent new EU regulations will prompt security spending splurge, vendor claims

An upcoming EU data security crackdown will swell channel pockets next year, according to security vendor Trend Micro.

In January this year, the EU outlined legal changes - set to come into force next year - which will see a patchwork of data protection laws revamped into one general data protection regulation law.

The changes will see companies obliged to report any breaches of data protection regulations or data leaks to EU authorities as well as affected individuals within 24 hours. The EU will also be able to impose a fine of up to two per cent of a company's worldwide turnover in severe cases.

Trend Micro's UK channel director Tim Ayling (pictured) told CRN the EU legal changes will encourage organisations to think more carefully about security, beyond just buying anti-virus products, which he expects will have a positive impact on both it and its channel.

"[The new EU regulation] enables the channel to position the next stage of security to customers in a much better light," he said.

JD Sherry, the firm's director of public technology and solutions, added: "It is not so much if a [data breach] is going to happen, it's when and that is why you are seeing so many laws coming out about breaching implications.

"It is interesting as [companies] willl have to make people aware and share what they are seeing - that is driving companies to think about risk profile and security posture."

Ayling joined Trend Micro at the turn of 2012 following a restructure at the vendor. He told CRN that following last year's rejig, the firm is now very stable, which the channel appreciates.

"[The restructure] is when I was brought in, as well as Simon Young [enterprise sales director] and Billy Mullen [EMEA financial director], and we are still there 18 months on, it's a record. It's very stable, and since then, certainly nobody in my team has resigned. It's the same team, same structure and the same senior management," he said.

"If I'm honest, it probably took six months to - not necessarily win trust back - but to get it over that we are here to stay for a while. It's all about commitment and we have been true to that word."