Intellect Security inks Channel Islands partnership

'Bring it on', says Sapphire, after rival security VAR Intellect says it has displaced it as security partner for Jersey IT supplier C5 Alliance

Security VAR Intellect Security says it has displaced Sapphire as the strategic security partner for Channel Islands IT supplier C5 Alliance.

Intellect and C5 have inked a pact that will see them pool their respective skills on local client engagements.

Intellect described C5 as the "largest IT solutions provider" in the archipelago, which it sees an important market due to its thriving financial services sector and because it acts as a base for a number of globally dispersed companies.

Under the partnership, C5 will offer Intellect's security analysis, design and implementation services to its clients, while providing networking and storage expertise to Intellect's clients. The pair will share intellectual property, marketing activities and technical resources.

Intellect said the contract supersedes a similar partnership C5 had in place with Sapphire, but Sapphire told us it is still open to working with C5's clients.

"We've got a partnership with C5 and I wasn't aware it had been brought to a close," said David Lannin, director of technology at Sapphire (pictured).

"Given Intellect offers different services to us, I should imagine if one of C5's customers wanted something that Intellect weren't able to offer, the door won't be closed to work with Sapphire. We're doing a lot around the consultative side of things - Cyber Essentials, ISO 27000 and penetration testing - whereas Intellect look to be more around point technology solutions."

Intellect says it has already worked on several projects in 2016 with Jersey-based C5, which counts Microsoft, Citrix, HP and VMware among its vendor partners and claims to employ over 160 consultants.

"We have been working together for a number of months and not only do our technical skills fit very well, we also see a similar culture and ethos in the two businesses," said Richard Callis, managing director of Intellect, which was recently acquired by a newly founded investment vehicle, Metaphor IT.

Rob Leader, group managing director at C5 (pictured, top, on the right, with Intellect sales director Stuart Grist), added: "We are seeing more and more cyber threats across the world, so it became clear that we needed to find an expert security partner that we could trust to look after our clients' security requirements. Intellect Security have real pedigree in the security marketplace, managing security solutions for many global businesses."

But Lannin said: "We welcome the competition and there's plenty of business on the Islands - so bring it on."