Symantec Enhances Small Business Specialization

Security and storage management specialist Symantec announced security and backup tracks within its SMB Specialization, which is organized to provide partners with the skills and experience to drive greater revenue by tailoring their services and support to small and midsize businesses. In addition, the SMB Specialization now includes the Symantec Technical Support Center, providing partners with access to an SMB support team and sales support.

To better align with their expertise and business models, SMB partners have the ability to earn financial benefits by focusing on the security track, backup track or both. The Specialization benefits are unique to the individual tracks, and SMB Specialists can take advantage of the ability to deliver Symantec security and backup solutions to SMB customers in their platform of choice—including cloud services, appliances or traditional software—and receive the same financial, technical support and enablement benefits independent of product form factor.

The security track emphasizes Symantec SMB security solutions, including Symantec Endpoint Protection and Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition, Endpoint Protection.cloud, Protection Suites (SBE/ABE) and Messaging Gateway Small Business Edition. The backup track includes Symantec Backup Exec, Backup Exec.cloud, Backup Exec 3600 Appliance and System Recovery.

Partners who achieve the SMB Specialization will have access to a support team through the Symantec Technical Support Center (STSC) for SMB Specialists. The STSC is a new support benefit designed to provide SMB Specialists with access to a team of technical support professionals dedicated specifically to helping them resolve their SMB customers' technical questions with many of Symantec's SMB products.

The SMB Specialization also provides qualified partners with greater access to Symantec sales and technical resources to help them accelerate the sales cycle, as well as incentives, tailored promotions, tools and access to the Opportunity Registration Program or upfront discounts at distribution. Partners who achieve the Specialization will also be able to differentiate themselves with an SMB Specialization member certificate and logo and customizable campaigns.

"Symantec's SMB Specialization makes it easier for us to work with our small business customers and stand out among the competition. The expertise we have demonstrated gives our customers the peace of mind that they are protected, enabling them to focus on running their businesses,” said Spencer Ferguson, president of Wasatch Software. SMB Specialization Partner Requirements Eligible partners must be enrolled in the Symantec Partner Program as a Corporate Platinum, Platinum, Gold, Silver or Registered level channel partner or Global Strategic Partner, the company noted. They must also meet defined profile requirements for participation and complete Symantec training and accreditation requirements for SMB solutions.

"We are committed to giving our partners more opportunities to be profitable selling Symantec's SMB solutions. The SMB Specialization is designed to provide Symantec partners who serve the SMB market with enablement, incentives and support tailored to their unique business needs as well as those of their customers,” said Steve Cullen, senior vice president of worldwide marketing for SMB and cloud at Symantec.