High-performance network security vendor Fortinet (FTNT) is reaching out to managed services providers with a new partner program designed to establish both Fortinet and managed security service providers (MSSPs) in the fast growing market for cloud security.

Fortinet says the program provides MSSPs in the Americas with special pricing and financing on the required infrastructure to host services, dedicated technical support and MSSP-specific marketing programs.  The company reports that 20 partners had signed up between the soft launch on June 20 and the formal launch last week.

Fortinet introduced the program as part of its effort to capture more of the growing MSSP market, citing Frost & Sullivan research that shows the global market is currently worth $9.5 billion and has a growth rate of 19.6 percent.

Stephan Tallent, director of MSSPs at Fortinet, told MSPmentor that he’s seen customers looking to shift their network security to outside service providers. “What we are seeing is reassessment,” he said. “The answer that both SMBs and enterprises come away with was: We want a service model.”

The Fortinet program offers two partner designations, Platinum and Gold. The company said in a statement that the tiered structure was built to suit the business models and operational capacities of partners ranging from smaller security integration companies to pure-play MSSPs and the largest telecommunications providers.

The program includes the following four support components: