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Pwnie Express has launched its first partner program, Stampede, for MSSPs, VARs and OEMs to offer Internet of Things (IoT) security that can be integrated into existing IT security offerings.

Pwnie Express’ Kurt Lee

The company also announced the hiring of Kurt Lee as vice president of sales and strategic accounts. He brings nearly three decades of large-enterprise and partner experience across the health care, financial services, government and energy sectors, with executive positions at ArcSight, Q1Labs, NetWitness and RSA.

Lee tells Channel Partners that now was the right time to launch the program because his company has been attracting a lot of inbound interest from partners “who are looking to add IoT security into their arsenal.”

“Pwnie and our new partner program are here to enhance the current offerings of our partners,” he said. “We are an elegant and interesting extension to what they already have. This is a great way for partners to get out ahead and differentiate with IoT security.”

Pwnie Express said the program provides resellers with strong margins, sales tools and marketing resources aimed at identifying opportunities to generate new revenue and help protect customers from IoT threats. Qualifying Stampede partners will receive incentive programs, lead rewards and joint personalized market development support, it said.

The company’s SaaS offering allows partners to enhance their existing security offerings to cover IoT. With open APIs, Pwnie Express can be integrated with security products of all kinds — including security information and event management (SIEM) and network access control (NAC).

“IoT security is quickly becoming a key business priority for CSOs, CISOs and CIOs,” Lee said. “Enterprises are looking for IoT security solutions that address this new threat, deliver recurring revenue and integrate with existing security infrastructure. All this equates to a huge business opportunity for MSSPs and VARs.”

“For many enterprises, IoT security is a quickly growing concern, and for the rest, it should be,” said David Monahan, research director at Enterprise Management Associates. “MSSPs and VARs must solidify their IoT security offerings now to meet the competitive need that is knocking on their doors.”