Open-source security provider Untangle is looking for a few good managed service providers.
The company plans to announce a new MSP partner program Sept. 24 that allows MSPs to offer and manage Untangles open-source network security product, the Untangle Gateway Platform, to protect customer networks from spam, viruses, spyware, adware and other threats.
“From the start, weve been a 100 percent channel company,” said Raul Mujica, vice president of product management and marketing at San Mateo, Calif.-based Untangle. “This is just a continuation of our original strategy with the recognition that MSPs have a unique set of needs because of the way they sell and manage their customers.”
Targeting the small to midsize business market, Untangle sees an opportunity as SMBs move toward managed services to save money.
“We also believe in the MSP market,” Mujica said. “The trend is SMBs outsourcing IT functions to companies that specialize in it, achieve economies of scale and deliver the service at a lower cost than an SMB doing it themselves.”
Read more here about the open-source version of the Untangle Gateway Platform.
As part of this new MSP partner program, Untangle is offering a “hardware-as-a-service” program, designed for MSPs interested in a monthly subscription program for server hardware placement, support and upgrades. For $50 a month an MSP can place an Untangle Pre-Installed Server at a client site. The program also includes a Planned Replacement service—Untangle will replace any server over 18 months old—and gives MSPs “on-site stocking units” in case a server fails at a customer site.
MSP partners can place Untangles software platform on their own hardware and rebrand the interface in a matter of minutes, Mujica added.
The company is currently involved in co-marketing with its MSP partners and is sponsoring more than seven regional conferences this quarter with partners as well as Webinars, direct mail and telemarketing programs.
“Our driving principle for the MSP program is No Upfront Costs, Mujica said. “MSPs have told us to please match their cash flow, and were doing that across every area.”
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