5 Takeaways From the AVG Cloud Partner Summit

With Amazon Web Services (AWS), VMware (VMW) and partner portal plans on the docket, AVG Technologies (AVG) already has a full slate of releases scheduled for 2015.

AVG provided its managed service provider (MSP) partners with details about these plans and more during this week’s Cloud Partner Summit in Phoenix. The antivirus software company also previewed its upcoming CloudCare and Managed Workplace releases and announced a new partnership with identity management platform provider Centrify.

What else should MSPs expect from AVG? Here are five takeaways from the Cloud Partner Summit:

1. AVG plans to host Managed Workplace on AWS

Mike Foreman, AVG’s general manager of small and medium-sized business (SMB), told MSPmentor that his company is planning to host Managed Workplace on AWS.

He pointed out AVG is currently in the midst of an AWS pilot program and wants to fully leverage these cloud computing services next year.

“What we’re looking to do is host Managed Workplace on the AWS platform. We want to ensure that we can expand quicker. We’re going to look to leverage AWS,” he said. “We want to make sure that we get the functionality working, and so far, there have been successful results.”

2. AVG plans to release a VMware service module

David Haadsma, AVG’s vice president of product management for SMB, provided a glimpse into AVG’s VMWare service module during his summit presentation.

“[This module] will give partners a top-down view of their customers,” Haadsma said. “It will give partners more power and completes the Hyper V service module we released earlier this year.”

AVG partners should hear more about the VMware service module next year, according to Haadsma.

3. AVG seeks SaaS-based billing partner

Foreman pointed out AVG wants to overhaul its billing system and is actively searching for a software-as-a-service-based (SaaS-based) billing partner.

“We put a search out to find out what it would take to build a billing system. Our billing system has reached its ceiling, so we’re going to remove that and replace it with a best-of-breed, cloud SaaS hosted billing and invoicing solution,” he said.

AVG is currently evaluating its possibilities and plans to partner with a SaaS-based billing company in 2015.

4. AVG will launch a partner portal

AVG is planning to launch a partner portal in the first quarter of 2015 that will allow its partners to manage multiple customers simultaneously, Haadsma said.

“It will be cost-effective for you and your business,” he noted. “You can learn how to use it and sell it to your customers.”

Foreman added the partner portal “should be a tool and a platform that both supports [partners] in the field and allows them to take [AVG’s] products to the market.”

5. AVG is expanding and wants to help SMBs

AVG last week opened a new office in Brazil, and Foreman said his company is exploring other opportunities in Latin America as well.

“We started with Brazil, and we’re looking to expand out in that area,” he said. “In the Latin America markets, there is great acceptance of the cloud. This is a fast-growing area for the cloud, both from the business side and the consumer side.”

AVG CEO Gary Kovacs also pointed out his company has been “unclear” about its commitment to SMBs in the past.

He noted, however, that AVG is planning to invest in the SMB segment going forward.

“SMB is an area where we’ve significantly underinvested in the past,” Kovacs said. “You’re going to see a very different AVG and a much bigger commitment to SMB.”

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