McAfee’s new SMB channel program

McAfee resellers will have access to free SMB marketing campaigns including co-branded direct-mail campaigns and McAfee funded round-table discussions as part of McAfee's revamped channel program launched today.

The new initiative will see McAfee’s current channel program, Security Alliance, move towards a more segmented and specified path such as equipping resellers with the tools to successfully target Australia’s booming SMB and mid-market.

According to Nigel Youlden, channel and SMB sales manager, ANZ at McAfee it’s certainly new, typically it had a high touch with end-users but now the vendor wants to ensure it's talking more to partners.

“We need to make programs about their [partners] needs,” said Youlden. “We are trying to identify that we have specific programs for SMBs – SMBs themselves can get confused so we are enabling our partners to understand the value-added propositions of the products.”

The refreshed program also includes online demonstrations about SMB family of products known as Total Protection for SMB outlining key reseller benefits of products.

Furthermore, McAfee has made available Secure Internet Gateway 3000 specifically build for SMBs and claims to protect against spam, viruses, spyware, and malicious Web sites as part of an integrated managed appliance.

VIP resellers, can further benefit from a handbook guide, claiming it will simplify information about the SMB and mid-sized market to give resellers useful insights into increasing sales.

Youlden added that enterprise is important but so is ensuring that SMBs receives the same airtime. “Mid-sized businesses do not have the same resources of an enterprise, but face many of the same increasing security risks,” said Youlden.