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Opaq Networks, the network security and cloud company, has launched its first partner program, along with a 100 percent channel sales model.

The Opaq Channel Partner Program allows service providers to deliver end-to-end network security across distributed infrastructures – including data centers, branch offices, mobile and remote workers, and IoT devices – without buying, deploying, configuring and managing multiple security point products from different vendors. It includes a comprehensive set of go-to-market support, financial incentives and training resources, the company said.

Opaq’s Ken Ammon

Ken Ammon, Opaq’s chief strategy officer, tells Channel Partners his company was founded one year ago to deliver network security as a service, and has spent the past 12 months building out its core service delivery platform – the Opaq Cloud – which includes a private networking backbone and integrates technologies from leading security vendors.

“Following successful proofs of concept with early customers, the platform is now ready for wide-scale adoption, so the company has transitioned to a 100 percent indirect sales model,” he said. “The (partner program) is tailored for three types of partners: managed IT service providers that want to supplement their existing offerings with managed security services; MSSPs that want to eliminate hardware/software deployment, configuration and management; and also, traditional resellers that want to get into the managed security services business.”

Opaq Cloud combines next-generation network security, application and SaaS firewall, web application firewall, DDoS mitigation and software-defined segmentation capabilities in a cloud-delivered service, Ammon said.

According to MarketsandMarkets, the security-as-a-service market is expected to grow from $3.12 billion in 2015 to $8.52 billion by 2020, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.2 percent.

“Opaq allows its channel partners to profitably scale their business by eliminating hardware/software investments and onsite service calls through centralized provisioning, configuration and management of security services from a web-based portal,” Ammon said.

Arlington Computer Products is an Opaq partner and is using the Opaq platform to offer managed network security services to its customers.

“Security is a top priority for our midsize customers, but the enterprise-grade protection they really need has been out of their reach because of its cost and complexity,” said Tom Turkot, Arlington’s vice president of client solutions. “The Opaq Cloud is a game-changer. It allows us to make robust network security accessible to our midsize customers in a very simple and flexible way.”