Blue Reef signs expansion deal for Asia

Victorian network security developer, Blue Reef, has struck an OEM deal in Malaysia that will bolster its product line and expansion plans. The vendor and its Malaysian distributor, Datascan, launched a joint venture company, BRG Asia, in Kuala Lumpur last week.

BRG will develop network security products, based on Blue Reef technology, to target vertical markets in the fast-growing Malaysian market.

Datascan's 51 per cent stake investment in BRG should help Blue Reef expand its portfolio of network security hardware and software products.

"We want to be a major Australian network security player," Blue Reef CEO, Robert Smyth, said.

"We've applied for a RM3 million ringet [Malaysian government] R&D grant for our network acceleration product. [And] in six to nine months BRG will have a full suite of products."

The products will be available in Australia and abroad.

Blue Reef has invested several million dollars in its identity management technology in recent years, according to Smyth.

So too have major vendors such as IBM and Micrsoft, which have touted identity management as the future of network security.

Analyst firm, IDC, has projected the identity management market will grow by 32 per cent to $US4 billion in 2007.

"The traditional approach is static," Smyth said. "Users work around the set policy. Our technology, called User Personalised Networking, applies policy to users as they log in and out."

The company's Sonar product is an all-in-one security gateway appliance, similar to that of US vendor Fortinet.

With its product line to widen, Blue Reef is looking for more resellers to share in its expansion.

"We've used the education sector as a proving ground, but now we're looking towards commercial markets," Smyth said.

Several broad-based resellers, such as Commander and Volante already carried Sonar, but couldn't give the product the focus it deserved, Smyth said.

Blue Reef is also seeking venture capital to improve its channel program.

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