Trend Micro has launched a global partner program with its refreshed Partner Portal at the centre of it.
Strategic business and alliances director, Greg Boyle, said the changes reflect a “massive shift” in how the security vendor’s partner community can expect growth.
“We now leverage the best program benefits and elements from around the world by aligning our channel partners, competencies, rewards and education with the key strategic direction of our corporate business,” he said.
Dubbed as the Trend Micro Partner Program, it comes with better defined partner segmentation and an enhanced compensation structure.
There are tiered, standardised reseller levels spanning Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, with deal protection compensation for Gold and Platinum levels, and extension of deal registration for Bronze partners with one or more specialisations.
Boyle said there has been positive feedback from local partners who see “real value” in the specialisations Trend Micro is creating.
“Being able to differentiate based on real technical capabilities and investment, gain increased financial reward by doing so, and build a more strategic and focussed partnership is a key driver for partners,” he said.
A referral partner program to target “born-in-the-Cloud” technology service providers and other trusted advisors has also been added.
A long time coming
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Boyle said the new partner initiative comes as the security vendor faces a “fast paced and dynamic market.”
As for why the partner program has been introduced now, Boyle said it is the culmination of development that has gone on for some time.
“The announcement and staged roll out comes as our business evolves to focus on three key areas of complete user protection, Cloud and datacentre, and custom defence for advanced persistent threats,” he said.
Care was taken to include specialisations to support these areas, as well as the security vendor’s Worry-Free SMB product range.
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Patrick Budmar covers consumer and enterprise technology breaking news for IDG Communications. Follow Patrick on Twitter at @patrick_budmar.
