Symantec Updates Partner Program
Symantec is at it again — looking to motivate their partners with new opportunities for growth. This time, enhancements to the reward partner program are being made for those investing in Symantec Solutions and Services. Here’s the scoop…
By the end of 2010, Symantec is looking to put a new focus on driving partner competence in key areas, while also giving those partners more resources, tools and incentives for sales and support. According to the press release:
“Symantec is enhancing the Symantec Partner Program to put a greater emphasis on rewarding partner capabilities and competence.”
So how do you get competent enough to reap the benefits? Part of that is through specialization. So partners with proven expertise in very specific areas of business, will become the ‘cornerstone ‘of the Symantec partner program. “Differentiated service” is the name of the game, so the more skills the better. And you can specialize in a few different fields:
- Endpoint Management
- SMB
- Data Loss Prevention
- Foundational Enterprise Security and IT Compliance
The move to specialization is hardly surprising. Companies like Cisco Systems have offered specialized partner tracks for several years. And the Oracle overhauled its partner program in December 2009, introducing the Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) Specialized strategy.
Meanwhile, Symantec is also talking up its partner levels. They start off at the lowest of low (Registered) and work their way up precious metals until you get to Platinum (level 4). And make no mistake about it, Symantec is letting you know that “within the enhanced program, specializations will become essential to attaining partner levels.” The more you grow, the more resources Symantec plans to provide you with to help you find more business and market opportunities. They call it ‘channel enablement tools’ and they — as you guessed — geared towards increasing revenue.
Like noted earlier, the whole thing goes into effect late 2010, and partners will have a transition period to mark the process of achieving these specializations. Symantec also notes, however, you can get a jump start on the new program by starting the specialization process today.
Meanwhile, more security partner program tweaks are coming. Two prime examples:
- Sophos began its new fiscal year in April. As part of that new calendar, Channel Chief Chris Doggett has been preparing recurring revenue strategies for managed services partners. We hope to have more news to share in a few days. At the same time, Sophos is educating partners about endpoint security opportunities.
- McAfee in May 2010 is expected to formalize some partner program updates and changes. MX Logic partners sound particularly upbeat. (McAfee acquired MX Logic in 2009).
We’ll be back with more insights as details surface.
Additional reporting by Joe Panettieri. Sign up for The VAR Guy’s Newsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center; and via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; Twitter and VARtweet.
