McAfee opens up on Secure Computing

McAfee will set up Secure Computing within the company as its network business unit

McAfee has opened up Secure Computing certification to its partners as the latter forms a new business unit in the security vendor’s structure.

“We will set up Secure Computing within McAfee as our network business unit,” McAfee senior vice-president mid-market, Darrell Rodenbaugh, said. “Those partners that are interested in selling the Secure Computing product lines will have to go through a certification process if they are not currently Secure Computing partners.”

Rodenbaugh said McAfee would have to walk gingerly during the transition as Secure Computing had a stable group of capable and strong partners.

“We want to make sure that we’re not making any moves that would negatively impact their business,” he said. “Over time we clearly want to be able to take those products more broadly into our customer base, the McAfee customer base. So over time you will start seeing us grow that. It won’t be overnight and as we do it we are going to be protecting the Secure Computing partner base.”

McAfee announced plans to acquire the appliance vendor for $US465 million in September and the deal is expected to be closed next week.

The incorporation of the new network business unit will involve the use of Secure Computing’s existing certification process, which will be available to all McAfee partners to pursue.

“What we are working on now is the assumption that those prerequisites for Secure Computing partners will continue,” Rodenbaugh said.

Partners should contact their McAfee channel account manager if they are interested in becoming certified in Secure Computing products.

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