Azlan creates specialist security unit
Distribution giant looking to capitalise on opportunity around highly virtualised and hybrid infrastructures
Azlan has formed a specialist security business unit in a bid to grab a larger slice of the exploding cybersecurity market.
Analyst MarketsAndMarkets estimates that the global cybersecurity market will be worth $202bn (£164.4bn) by 2021, and Azlan is keen to get closer to security-focused VARs.
Robert Stockford, former director of channel sales at Forcepoint, has been appointed as head of the new 20-strong practice, formed through a selection of in-house staff from within Azlan, along with 10 new recruits from outside the company, covering key vendors such as Cisco, IBM, Landesk, McAfee, SonicWall, Symantec, Veritas, VMware and BlackBerry.
Stockford's role will include driving growth in this segment of the market as customers make the transition to highly virtualised and hybrid infrastructures.
"With more customers now looking to make the most of virtualised and hyper-converged infrastructures, software-defined solutions and cloud-based appliances and services to enable much more flexible, scalable and networks and mobile environments, the need for expert advice and professional services on security has never been greater," he said.
"By bringing together the skills and experience we had within Azlan and Tech Data, and the new team we have brought in as well, Azlan is providing the specialist support and professional services that will allow resellers to address the security challenges faced by end users and the opportunities that presents for resellers. We will also draw on the expertise we have in virtualised datacentre, workspace mobility and data management, to create joined-up propositions that address the whole spectrum of security needs, across platforms, networks and devices of all kinds."
Rob Tomlin, managing director of Azlan UK, said the move means the distributor can implement its strategic plans for next year.
"Security is the one key strategic area in which we needed to ensure we had a clear and defined focus," he said. "We now have the team and the partnerships in place and, combined with our unrivalled capability and scale, we're ready to execute on our strategic plans, build business for our partners and become a real force in this important sector of the market. We'll be looking to extend our portfolio and drive growth with a set of credible, reliable and scalable solutions and services, and a clearly differentiated approach in the value distribution sector."