NetComm looks for partner Assurance

Networking hardware vendor, NetComm, is looking to recruit a new base of systems integrators to take on its NetAssure managed services offering.

General manager, Danny Morrison, said it was in discussions with a dozen resellers already and hoped to announce new partnerships soon. It has also approached its traditional ISP partners to take on the offering.

NetAssure is a remote network managed services offering developed by New Zealand-based company, Mako Networks. NetComm acquired licensing rights to NetAssure from Make Networks late last year and is now rolling the service out to the local channel.

NetAssure can be used in conjunction with any vendor's networking equipment and provides Web content access control and reporting, VPN encryption, and remote network, wireless and security monitoring and management.

Morrison said partners could choose to co-brand the NetAssure service and undertake most of the back-end work, or opt to resell the service only.

"We see scope for small to large partners. They can be as involved as they want," he said. "We can offer the back office work if they just want to be at the coalface."

NetComm managing director, David Stewart, said a target market for NetAssure was organisations with remote sites or branch offices. SMBs looking to have greater control over network access and Internet connectivity could also benefit.

"Some people will want to use this service to block websites and online content; others just want to provision and manage a site without having to station people out there," he said.

"For a partner, NetAssure means they can have some degree of control in the client's site without having to send out a Cisco engineer. It's also based around a recurring revenue model so partners will have access to annual revenue streams."

NetAssure is available on a 12-, 24- or 36-month contract. The service starts from $255 for 12 months for less than 10 sites, or $160 on a 26-month contract for over 50 sites.

"ISPs and systems integrators can add to that price and offer the service as part of their own offering," Stewart said.