By Cara Sievers

Security platforms developer Crossbeam Systems Inc. is upgrading its channel program and incorporating Trend Micro Inc. capabilities into its hardware.

On Tuesday, Crossbeam launched the new Crossbeam Authorized Partner Program (CAPP). The company has moved to a two-tiered model – silver and gold – and developed a certification program.

The tiers each come with different criteria and tools, although Crossbeam didn’t elaborate. Resources will include joint marketing, discounted pricing and lead generation.

Qualified partners further will be able to sell professional services under their own brands. They must complete the Crossbeam Accredited Service Partner (CASP) course, which Crossbeam debuted this week. There’s an additional accreditation partners can earn, CASP-Pro, so they can do service delivery on Crossbeam’s behalf.

“Our goal is to make it easier for security-focused solution providers to work with Crossbeam while creating ‘win-win’ partner relationships that benefit our customers,” said Tom Gillman, director of channel sales for Crossbeam, in a news release.

One way Crossbeam hopes to do that is by shoring up e-mail security with the Trend Micro name. Crossbeam has added Trend Micro’s gateway messaging security to its X-Series platform. This, the company said, will block spam, phishing, viruses, spyware and other harmful e-mail content.

Opus One, a Tucson, Ariz.-based consultancy, recently tested Trend Micro’s software on Crossbeam’s hardware. The application scanned 600 messages per second for spam and viruses, and 750 messages per second for viruses alone, said Joel Snyder, senior partner at Opus One, in a prepared statement.

When Opus One activated another Trend Micro program, Email Reputation, Crossbeam’s platform accommodated up to 1,645 messages per second, or 140 million per 24 hours.

The combination of Crossbeam and Trend Micro technology, Snyder said, is able to “handle the e-mail loads of the world’s largest enterprises.”