Firewall Systems to move into NZ

Firewall Systems is to launch a New Zealand operation within the next two months.

The specialist security distributor is currently interviewing for a country manager to head up its new offices based in Auckland.

A technical engineer position based in Auckland, and an account manager based in Wellington, are also due to be filled.

While on the cards for some time, the move across the Tasman comes almost a year ahead of schedule marketing manager Nick Verykios said.

“This has really been led by our vendors,” he said. “F5 was originally going to lead the push but they have all seen what we add to them in Australia and want us to do the same in New Zealand.”

Thirteen of the distributor’s 15 vendors would be offered in New Zealand. Air Magnet and Blue Socket were already offered under a different distributor in the country, Verykios said.

New Zealand’s market of around 90 percent SME businesses, according to Verykios, was an attractive opportunity for the distributor.

“There are so many small businesses and they all want to entirely outsource their security,” he said. “The opportunity for Network Box-based services in particular is massive.”

For enterprise customers the distributor would offer solutions based around F5, Crossbeam and TippingPoint, Verykios said.

Firewall Systems currently has offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.