Protected Networks launches first UK partner programme

Security vendor on hunt for consultancy partners for 8MAN product

Protected Networks is hoping to attract VARs to drive sales of its 8MAN product with the launch of its first UK partner programme.

The German vendor was founded in 2009, and claims its access rights management software 8MAN is designed to "help customers control access to their data." It hopes the channel programme will help partners get consultancy-based revenue from the product.

Keith Maskell, UK country manager at Protected Networks, explained: "8MAN makes it very clear who has access to what. This is very fundamental to the security of a network. It allows users to log who has accessed which directories, and it allows them to control the permissions from the active directory and from SharePoint Exchange."

Protected Networks currently has around 15 to 20 resellers in the UK, and Maskell hopes that its new partner programme will encourage more VARs to sign up.

"We want in excess of 40 partners within the next two to three years," he said. "We have a good number of partners already, but we also have areas where we need to recruit new partners for new vertical markets."

Maskell explained that the 8MAN product is currently sold into vertical markets including banking and insurance, professional services, industrial sector and utilities, and as the vendor increases its markets it will swell its VAR base as well.

The programme, which launched yesterday, has gold, silver and bronze tiers, and includes technical support for all tiers.

"There is also an opportunity for VARs to market consulting services, for installation of the product, advice on how to manage the directories, and maintenance," Maskell added. "This is entirely for the partner; we won't try to take any of that."

Protected Networks goes to market through Prianto distribution, but Maskell said the vendor will have direct relations with resellers and "fulfil obligations commercially" through Prianto.

Yuri Pasea, managing director of Prianto, said: "Many of our resellers have big customers, with big asset directories, so from our point of view 8MAN is a huge market opportunity for us. Over the next year or so we are looking to have around 30 resellers in total for Protected Networks.

"We are really looking for resellers who deal with the SMBs and enterprises. We anticipate 8MAN to be one of our better-performing products over the next 12 months."