WatchGuard Technologies, a business security solutions provider, has launched a new WatchGuard Managed Security Services Program. The program is available to its partners worldwide.†
At the center of the WatchGuard Managed Security Services Program (MSSP) are new remote management security features integrated into WatchGuard’s Fireware XTMbased multifunction security appliances. With it, WatchGuard partners can proactively manage, monitor, and mitigate security risks for customers regardless of location.
According to WatchGuard Technologies, the program aims to reduce IT operation costs while also increasing network, application, and data protection for SMBs.
“To survive in this economic climate, businesses are embracing low-cost, highly dynamic service offerings, which includes security as a service,” explains Mark Romano, director of global channel marketing for WatchGuard Technologies. “For channel partners, the WatchGuard Managed Security Services Program offers a package of high performance, yet easy-to-manage security services in a way that is profitable and cost effective for both channel partners and their customers.”
According to WatchGuard, security services can now be dynamically changed via MSSP to “meet most any business need or environment.” For example, WatchGuard MSSP channel partners can provide any combination of advanced firewall, intrusion prevention, networking security, Web blocking, URL filtering services, spam protection, or anti-virus services.
“This builds a solid foundation for partners to build upon and provide additional services, such as event monitoring, penetration testing, compliance management for PCI DSS, HIPAA, Sarbanes Oxley, or other security services,” states a recent WatchGuard press release.
Furthermore, WatchGuard is working to entice would-be MSPs into jumping into the managed services pool.
With WatchGuard financing, U.S. channel partners can now defer solution costs over time, enabling them, WatchGuard hopes, to provide managed services immediately to customers without having to first secure substantial upfront capital.
Romano believes with new MSSP and financing options, WatchGuard partners will be well positioned to take advantage of the changing IT and business environment. “As businesses turn to cloud computing and service-based models to reduce operation costs,” he says, “it only makes sense for WatchGuard partners around the world to be ready and able to provide the next big thing in security–that is, high-performance managed security services.”
