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Palo Alto Networks to increase local footprint

The vendor plans to boost the number of sales, systems engineers and channel managers in the Australian market

Security vendor, Palo Alto Networks, is boosting its Australian presence through hiring more staff.

Palo Alto A/NZ director, Rick Ferguson, has been in the role for three months and plans to boost the number of sales, systems engineers and channel managers to the team. It has four positions vacant and is looking to recruit across Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Queensland.

“We have plans to open up a spares depo in the future, but that will be done in conjunction with our distribution partners which are Westcon Group and Lan 1,” Ferguson said.

The company recently released its Next Wave partner program, which consists of Platinum, Gold and Authorised tiers. Some of its top resellers include Loop Technology, O2 Networks, Bridgepoint and GA Systems.

To reach Platinum or Gold status, partners are required to meet a certain amount of revenue as well as technical and sales training.

Some of the benefits include market development funds and customer leads.

“We see significant growth opportunities in Australia,” he said. “We want to create opportunities for the channel and certainly won’t fulfil directly.”

Locally, it has seen success in financial services, mining, health, education and government markets, he said.

“The company is growing very fast and we’re experiencing good growth in all three theatres – US, Europe and Asia-Pacific,” he said.

In the week of May 23 it will be flying in a trainer from the US that will spending two days in Sydney and Melbourne and one day in Brisbane where it will be offering partners a training program - free of charge.

It will also be staging partner events in the next few weeks with special guest, Palo Alto marketing director, Chris King.

Nominations for the 2012 ARN IT Industry Awards open on Tuesday, June 12.

More about: Bridgepoint, ecruit, Lan 1, O2, Palo Alto Networks, Technology, Westcon, Westcon Group
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