Symantec looks for broader partner growth

Security and infrastructure vendor, Symantec, has highlighted datacentre solutions and compliance as some key areas of focus for channel partners in the new year.

Symantec director of strategic sales, David Dzienciol, said end-point protection, datacentre standardisation, Windows protection and end-to-end compliance were all topics partners needed to be talking to customers about.

The vendor will look to expand existing partner programs and bring in new initiatives to cover these areas of focus.

"On a local level we've made a continuous coverage model. We've got a wide offering in programs and we're focusing on getting out and educating our partners," Dzienciol said.

Symantec has hired five new staff between April and July this year for this purpose.

The vendor has also introduced a round of initiatives this year, including the Aspire program to help Silver and Channel Registered partners boost SMB sales. Last week, it launched the Symantec System Builder program, which provides customers with Symantec solutions for blocking malware and hackers, keeping PCs running at peak performance, backing up important data, and protecting business from online risks.

It will be provided through Ingram Micro.Vice-president of Symantec's global channel office, Julie Parrish, said Ingram's capabilities and breadth, both internationally and locally, were key reasons for the partnership.

Parrish said the challenge facing the channel over the next year would be for partners to work on value proposition and differentiating themselves, and that Symantec's programs were designed to help partners achieve this.