Webroot signs Distology for MSP assault

Distology becomes third UK distributor alongside Prianto and ISDG

Security vendor Webroot has added Distology as a third UK distributor to help it tunnel deeper into the managed service provider (MSP) space.

In an annual results statement published today, anti-virus and web security specialist Webroot said it added 3,100 MSP partners in its financial year ending 30 June 2015.

Distology has been enlisted to bolster the MSP efforts in the UK, where it will work alongside incumbent distributors Prianto and ISDG.

"The uptake of the MSP model is far deeper in the US and we have been appointed to spearhead the drive into managed services in the UK," said Distology founder Divyesh Lakhani.

Charlie Tomeo, vice president of channel at Webroot, added: "[Distology's] focus will be on the acquisition of new MSP partners that are well suited to their background in service delivery and security."

Launched in February, Distology now has eight vendors on its books, including 8MAN and NETconsent, and Distology managing director Hayley Roberts (pictured) said Webroot is one of the last pieces in the jigsaw.

"What we did with [previous venture] Codework is do a few things really well," she said. "We want to stick to that highly focused boutique feel, where we really know our stuff. Webroot offers us a great opportunity to go into the MSP space with a really good technology, and that's different from the midrange reseller base we normally serve. We have space for a couple more, and then we will batten down the hatches."

Webroot claimed in its results statement that it enjoyed double-digit year-on-year revenue growth in its fiscal Q4 as it surpassed 2.2 million business endpoints under protection.

Yuri Pasea, managing director of Prianto, said his firm's Webroot sales had grown every quarter since it took the vendor on.

"People understand it's not your common or garden anti-virus. Webroot was associated with its old email scanning business but now it's getting away from that image. It's got such a light touch in the PC it sucks hardly any resource, that's why it's getting a lot of attention," he said.

"We've known they wanted another distributor for some time and we're glad a company like Distology was chosen, rather than a broad-based distributor who would probably just sit there and not achieve much."