Tag Archives: Fred Gerritse

AVG

New Distributors Join AVG Channel, Extend SMB Footprint in Europe

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 The spotlight is on Europe this week as we welcome new distribution partners to our AVG channel  . . . Sigma Software Distribution in the UK and Dexceo in Denmark.

As our GM Fred Gerritse has shared this year, our distribution go-to-market model has been top of mind for us this year and key to driving value for our partners.

Building a strong distributor network lets us better respond to the security needs of business customers as our AVG channel grows and scales globally. Central to this is finding distribution partners that share our security commitment and bring the expertise and capabilities to sell our full line of AVG Business solutions.

This week, we are announcing the addition of two new European value-added distributors to our AVG channel: Sigma Software Distribution in the UK and Dexceo in the Nordics. Both distributors will provide our full line of AVG Business solutions.

Sigma, who was named CRN UK’s Specialist Distributor of the Year, is a great example of a partner that aligns to our vision with the track record to show they mean business.

Sigma General Manager Jane Silk shared her thoughts on the new Sigma-AVG relationship, “We always strive to truly understand our partners’ needs and establish long term relationships that drive opportunities. The AVG relationship is one where we can work transparently, develop the best model for the channel and then prove this in the marketplace.

“AVG’s proven security expertise and its advanced technology will help us immediately respond to challenges our partners face in the current threat landscape. Product innovations such as AVG Managed Workplace that offer a centralized, automated platform to manage security while also helping our partners provide more services to their customers, have us very excited.”

Sigma has demonstrated consistent and sustainable growth in its specialty field. As proof, the company has delivered seven consecutive years of revenue and profit increases. Sigma’s operating model includes a dedicated sales development team with the knowledge base to work closely with re-sellers to support training, identify cross-sell opportunities, manage deal registration and more.

Our UK team is at the Insight Technology Show in Manchester today and will be sharing more about the Sigma-AVG relationship.

Dexceo, a leading Scandinavian security distributor and our first AVG Business solutions distributor in Denmark, is also ready to start marketing AVG Business solutions. The Dexceo team shared its AVG news this week with Danish media.

Dexceo specializes in IT security and network solutions for an international business client base and carefully selects its IT suppliers and re-sellers to maintain the company’s high quality and service standards. Dexceo is a relatively young company but we are impressed by the team’s experience, knowledge base and growing partner network. The company has also acknowledged a need to complement its security portfolio with cloud security and remote monitoring and management solutions. Both AVG Managed Workplace and AVG CloudCare will support Dexceo’s needs to deliver increased visibility across IT environments and efficiency in deploying and maintaining security services.

Dennis Wøldike, founder of Dexceo, shared his view of the AVG opportunity for Danish businesses, “We are looking forward to building our relationship with AVG and extending new benefits and opportunities to our partner network. As an AVG trusted partner, we can offer new security innovation and a range of solutions and services for the Scandinavian market.”

The additions of Dexceo and Sigma are a natural extension of our partner-focused model and complement our specialty focus, as well as our existing and valued broad line distributors.

We look forward to building strong relationships and sharing big results.

AVG

AVG Signs New Distributors, Strengthens Channel Program

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This year, we are leveraging the power of distribution to help our channel partners take their security business to the next level. This is also aligned with our partner-focused approach.

Our distribution strategy will provide access to specialized, geo-specific distribution companies. This will increase ease of doing business for our partners.

Our distribution partners can provide services ranging from logistics to pre-sales, finance and technical support. Our AVG Business Sales team will remain heavily engaged with our growing partner base, and at the same time, develop new accounts and relationships within our distribution partner network.  We will also continue to work with our large top-tier distributors to complement our model.

We have recently onboarded new distribution partners in the UK, Ireland, the DACH region and North America.

And today, EarthBend joined our channel as a new AVG Business distributor for North America and Canada.

Here are a few facts about our new partnerships:

  • EarthBend:
    • EarthBend, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a fast-paced, fast-growing distributor that serves businesses in the U.S. and Canada
    • AVG will be the primary business security and managed services solutions provider in EarthBend’s product portfolio
    • The specialized distributor is an experienced MSP with a history of selling AVG Managed Workplace and known for its highly skilled, certified account and engineering team
  • CMS Distribution
    • Joined our channel program in March 2016
    • Independent value added distributor in the UK and Ireland
    • Serves 3,000 resellers, including the top 100 value added resellers in the UK
  • ADN Distribution GmbH (ADN)
    • Joined our channel program in May 2016
    • Value added distributor in Central Europe
    • 20+ year history in security, managed services and RMM solutions
  • Infinigate
    • Joined our channel program in May 2016
    • Value added distributor in Europe serving 7,500 resellers (2,500 in Germany)
    • 20-year history in IT solutions
    • Sole focus on IT security (including managed services and managed security solutions)
  • ASBIS
    • Existing AVG distributor, expanded its AVG Business EMEA footprint in May 2016
    • Specializes in IT/communications technology in EMEA emerging markets
    • 27,000 active customers in over 65 countries

 

We look forward to extending the benefits of our distribution model for our partners as we build out our strong, channel program.

AVG

Introducing the New AVG Partner Certification Program

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AVG has seen the role of our channel partners evolve from being “solutions providers” to “trusted advisors.” We believe this is a critical transition that our partners must make; and one that requires the ability to make “consultative sales.”

To do that, partners need to be able to put any product or service recommendation into a broader business context while demonstrating measurable ROI.

It also requires more in-depth knowledge of their product portfolio than ever before.

Partners have told us they need a fast, efficient, and systematic approach to knowledge acquisition and skills development – coupled with ongoing support on multiple levels. They want to be able to ramp-up quickly on AVG products and technologies, clearly understand our product value propositions and how to position these with customers.

Our answer to this need is the AVG Partner Certification Program (PCP) – a certification program that rewards each partner for developing their knowledge.

The PCP has three tiers: Select, Premier, and Elite. Each tier provides additional benefits based on the number of individuals who achieve certification. For example, Elite level requires the certification of 3 Engineers and 3 Sales professionals.

Certification is achieved through on-demand Technical and Sales Training.

Partners who pass all course assessments of our Fundamentals training become an AVG Certified Technical Associate or AVG Sales Associate.

This program is an important element of our strategy to help partners sell, cross sell and upsell our product portfolio and continue activating and retaining new partners.

Please visit our AVG Partner Portal today.

AVG

APH improves margins, drives revenue with AVG Business solutions

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One of the things I enjoy about my role is receiving feedback from our AVG partners. A recent example is APH in the UK.

The team at APH was ready to take a more modern and proactive approach to their operations. But one challenge was the ability to expand their customer base – 110+ small-and-medium businesses operating in the distribution, manufacturing, engineering and services sectors – with the same APH staff of 15.  The team had to be able to close the loop on the better management and delivery of a complete managed services solution.

AVG Managed Workplace and its integrated Premium Remote Control, plus the quality of the technical and sales support from AVG Business, convinced APH to migrate its entire base of managed service clients from a standard antivirus product to the full-service AVG Business solutions platform.

Chris Carter, the Technical Infrastructure Consultant at APH, explains how APH’s move to AVG CloudCare and AVG Managed Workplace is a win for their clients and for them: “AVG AntiVirus picks up more threats than other products we were using, plus the AVG Business stack gives us wider, proactive control over the complete infrastructure at our client sites.”

As a trusted technology partner, we provide the support our partners need to confidently build relationships with their clients.  Chris is being supported by his AVG partner account manager who “wants to know where we’re trying to take our company and is helping us decide which services and features of the AVG Business stack can strengthen our customers’ infrastructure while creating profitable, long-term revenue streams for us.” 

Having completed the first phase of the AVG Business rollout, APH is now able to pre-empt client system faults as it takes advantage of AVG’s single pane of glass view, its automatic network discovery and monitoring, remote management and network audit reports.

And next, the remote, automation and reporting capabilities of the AVG Business solutions will allow the APH team to better schedule PC maintenance, coordinate patch management and control the rollout of Windows updates.

As Chris explains, APH has made the decision to “cover the cost of client installations because within a year we’ll be supporting only one product. We have higher profits from the new licences because the margin difference between where we were and where we are now with AVG Business is significant.”

Chris also says the detailed reporting within AVG Managed Workplace “will allow us to see what’s happening with all assets on every customer site and give us the opportunity to upsell services.”

Where are they headed as an AVG channel partner? There are no limits.

AVG

Glideslope drives growth from a niche customer base

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Many of our channel partners are driving successful businesses by building their reputations from a niche customer base – by proving their understanding of those clients’ special needs they grow a portfolio of very happy, referenceable sites. Here’s how one partner is using our AVG Business AntiVirus and Internet Security solutions to ensure its not-for-profit customers can operate virus and spam free and focus on their valuable work.

Glideslope Software Ltd, in Manchester, England, has developed highly specialized expertise in delivering quality IT support to charitable organizations. Now, with those services underpinned by the right security solutions, Glideslope is leveraging customer satisfaction to get a foot in the door at other businesses.

To give you an idea of the security issues, some of Glideslope’s charity customers have as many as 12 administrative sites and hostels, with staff travelling between locations and who introduce data to the network from a risky mix of devices and memory sticks. The problem is how best to secure and manage the data of geographically dispersed sites, as well as staff who are operating on disparate and often ageing hardware. Data security is further complicated by UK’s strict laws covering end client privacy and the use of cloud-based services. And, of course, every proposal has to deliver the greatest value for the money.

Glideslope’s answer to bringing a consistent level of service to all its client organizations has been to install AVG Internet Security Business Edition and AVG AntiVirus Business Edition. As its clients’ current policies expire, Glideslope is migrating all 35 of its regular clients – with 1,000 end users – to AVG Internet Security Business Edition or AVG CloudCare, depending on the best fit.

John Miller, Glideslope Software’s Director, describes his approach: “We see efficient IT support as the key to our clients’ growth, agility and happy employees. For our charity sector customers in particular, AVG Business solutions are essential in ensuring they can operate virus and spam free so they can seamlessly and effortlessly continue their valuable work.”

He’s also pretty pleased with how the AVG suite is helping his operations: “AVG works brilliantly in the background, so no calls from clients checking on pop ups. The admin console shows us which machines have problems. The Anti-Spam plug-in removes over 2500 spam emails before they reach end user machines. And I can’t remember the last time a client called to say they’d found a virus that AVG had missed. Everyone saves time and money.”

So, while areas of specialization can create differentiators for you in the marketplace, what every channel partner needs to do is back that expertise with quality services, at an affordable price, and a trusted, knowledgeable team.

AVG

Protecting business against the new “Locky” ransomware threat

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Ransomware attacks are on the rise and it is quickly becoming all too real for many businesses and organizations who aren’t prepared.  As new threats continue to emerge, our AVG channel partners play a critical role in helping their clients avoid the negative business impact from security threats like ransomware.

For several years now, ransomware, a type of malware that encrypts files and demands a ransom for the decryption key (usually in the form of a Bitcoin payment), has been on the steady increase. And in recent news, IT pros have just identified an even deadlier ransomware, dubbed “Locky.”

Incidents of recent ransomware attacks in the UK and U.S. have also sparked a media cycle, which in itself may drive further attacks.  One of these latest ransomware victims has reportedly been a U.S. medical center, which paid $17,000 to gain back control of its computer systems.

With smaller companies becoming attractive targets to cybercriminals due to their perceived lower levels of protection, no one is immune to the danger of ransomware or the latest Locky malware.

This also means that your end customers will require an increased level of service and expect your immediate response to their security needs. If your business is focused on security protection for SMB customers, isn’t it time you refreshed your antivirus and Internet security offering?

AVG has been working in the security space for over 25 years and our award-winning AVG AntiVirus and AVG Internet Security business solutions continue to benefit from the full force of this expertise.

Offering cloud-based, real-time Outbreak Detection and proactive AI Detection, the solutions deliver robust protection. Real-time Outbreak Detection is AVG’s new crowd intelligence that’s designed to identify even the newest malware variants and outbreaks in real-time. AVG’s Artificial Intelligence detection proactively identifies malware 24 hours a day 7 days a week – even before samples have been analyzed by AVG’s Virus Lab team. For example, our technology is also already detecting known variants of Locky.

These are just a few of the advanced features that help our partners respond to these new security demands and we are continuing to receive positive feedback.

John Miller, Director of Glideslope Software, is one AVG partner putting our AVG AntiVirus and AVG Internet Security business solutions to great work for its client base. As John shared with us recently, “We see efficient IT support as the key to our clients’ growth, agility and happy employees. For our charity sector customers in particular, AVG is essential in ensuring they can operate virus and spam free so they can continue their valuable work. I can’t remember the last time a client called to say they’d found a virus that AVG had missed.”

Help us put the best security defense in place for today’s businesses. We will continue to share updates on new AVG Business product features and services.

AVG

The need for managed services will continue to grow in 2016 — AVG Business is here to support you

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Industry research is already indicating the growth of managed services in 2016 as the channel continues to recognize its potential for SMB clients.  According to one recent study from market research organization Techaisle, as much as 71% of U.S. SMB channel partners surveyed are currently offering one or more managed services solutions and another 18% are planning to offer the services within the year.

Here at AVG Business, that’s no surprise. More of our partners are moving toward a proactive approach and transitioning to managed service models, moving away from reactive strategies that are difficult to manage and maintain for their SMB clients.

Yet, successful implementation is key to unlocking the power of managed services. Simplifying the experience for both the partner and SMB customer is critical.  Depending on the technology in place or the type of service contract, there could be multiple steps required before both the channel partner and SMB can realize the benefits of a centrally planned and automated security defense.

The benefits of this type of defense reach far and wide.  A centrally planned solution enables AVG channel partners to efficiently deliver their unique service offerings within one standardized service delivery platform. This puts automated, service standardization in place to enable a scalable offering to better address the security needs of their SMB customers.

At AVG Business, we’re committed to helping our partners effectively unlock the power of all AVG security solutions in their marketing, selling, and implementation of managed services so they too can see the magic behind this proactive, planned and automated approach.

Here are just a few of the AVG partners experiencing great results:

  • Dave Barnard, owner of DB Computer Services came to AVG Business because he’d been told by a friendly competitor that our AVG Managed Workplace solution had “every tool a MSP needs” – something we were happy to prove. According to Dave, DB Computer Services is now able to “offer an outsourced IT support solution that is complete, simple to understand, predictable, affordable and scales with the growth of our clients’ businesses.” 
  • For Darren Nichol, the Technical Director of pckwikfix, the move to managed services was about “standing out in the crowd by continuing to truly care and put our customers before sales targets.” The proof of this came just a few weeks after purchasing AVG Managed Workplace – the team was able to convert more than 50 clients to the streamlined monthly subscription model. With routine jobs now automated, fully integrated systems and access to unprecedented detail, Nichol says the team is “starting to get a feel for the freedom we now have to be more hands on with customers’ more interesting challenges.”
  • Meanwhile Chris Carter, technical infrastructure consultant at APH, was so convinced by AVG Managed Workplace’s new premium remote control feature, plus the quality of our technical and sales support, that it migrated its entire base of managed service clients from a standard antivirus product to the full-service AVG Business platform.

We have done a lot of work toward addressing the business needs of AVG partners, including within our AVG Managed Workplace technology platform, as well as best practices on how to fulfill service contracts in the most efficient and profitable way.

We are listening and responding – and we will have more updates and news to share this year.

Until then, please continue to share your feedback in 2016!

AVG

Making the case for channel-delivered cybersecurity

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For our AVG partners and distributors these findings may not come as a surprise, but it presents another opportunity for the channel to help fill these security gaps with value-added solutions, best practices and excellent customer service.

According to the topline results of the survey, 36% of global organizations lack confidence in their ability to detect sophisticated cyber attacks. Linked to this, 36% don’t have a threat intelligence program, and 18% don’t have identity and access management programs – little wonder then that 69% thought that their IT security budgets should be increased by half.

Protection from cyber attack should be a priority for all businesses and as the EY data has shown, many organizations could benefit from the guidance of the channel. AVG partners, including A+ Computers and Services, DB Computer Solutions, MCC Computers Ltd., SortMyPC and many more, are already addressing the gaps using AVG Business products.

Channelnomics editor Jessica Meek also highlighted findings from the EY survey in her recent article, again, emphasizing the opportunity for the channel to help IT professionals prioritize security, provide solutions and services, and also act as trusted advisors on industry developments.

A few key stats to note:

  • 88% of respondents did not believe their information security infrastructure fully meets their organization’s needs
  • 57% said that the information security function suffers from a lack of available talent
  • 47% said they don’t have a security operation center
  • 54% said they lacked a dedicated function to focus on the impact of emerging technologies

AVG Business products like AVG Managed Workplace and AVG CloudCare are great examples of how our partners are using end-to-end solutions to help resolve security issues, staffing and infrastructure challenge for their clients.

AVG CloudCare offers a modern approach to security with streamlined access to advanced features through one centralized pane of glass. Ease of deployment, through one click installation and activation, helps our partners become more agile. The product can be used for managing services, proactive monitoring, content filtering, cloud backup, daily reporting, providing secure sign-on and more, essentially helping our partners act as outsourced IT departments for their clients.

AVG Managed Workplace also offers powerful automation to help partners proactively manage and monitor clients’ networks.  Deployment and update of security tools are easily handled by automation helping to ensure a strong security posture at all times. With premium remote control integrated at no additional cost to the remote monitoring and management platform, partners gain cost savings as well as reporting tools to streamline billing and prove client ROI.

These flexible and powerful AVG solutions empower businesses to address security issues and run more effectively and efficiently. That’s powerful reassurance to give your clients.

AVG

AVG Managed Workplace wins CRN Tech Innovator Award

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Since joining AVG Business, the team and I have been focused around the clock on the products, services, and sales & marketing strategies that will drive success for our partners in 2016. While we still have work to do as we head into next year, I’m taking a few minutes today to congratulate our team and partner community on a recent product award from CRN.

Just two months out in the market and AVG Managed Workplace 9.2, our remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform with premium remote control, is the winner of the CRN Tech Innovator Award for Managed Services.

The platform is our best remote monitoring and management (RMM) solution to date. With premium remote control integrated directly at no extra cost, we have made it easier than ever for our partners to provide remote IT management services to their business customers. Our development process, as always, was heavily influenced by the input of our partners from across the globe.

Winning product recognition like this is a true testament of our partners’ support and their feedback helps us keep innovating and responding to the market needs.

Don’t just take it from me. We have many partners that are already using AVG Managed Workplace 9.2 to protect, secure and manage their clients’ networks and systems, and have great things to say.

Here is a quick look at the feedback:

“The new remote control feature is fabulous and we use it continuously. Almost instantly at the time we get a help desk call, we are remoting back into that desktop. We have a 12 minute SLA for an initial communication. To be able to get back in and have the engineer fixing the problem that quickly is amazing. Exceptional, responsive customer service is a top priority for Mirazon. AVG Managed Workplace is the product that allows us to do that. It gives us the critical information and details we need to resolve problems quickly and keep our customers very happy.”
– Karen Albers, Partner, Mirazon

 

”Without a doubt, AVG Managed Workplace’s reporting features are what enable us to close more business deals with healthcare providers. The Inventory Control, Content Filtering, and Network Health reports in particular are invaluable and what our clients want to see day-in and day-out. Plus, the remote control features allow our Support Engineers to proactively work on machines in the background and fix issues while physicians are still treating patients.”
– Shawn Miller, President and CEO, ConXit Healthcare Technology Group Inc

 

“We recently previewed AVG Managed Workplace 9.2 and immediately noticed the advantages of the remote control features, the faster speed and the added tools. We are looking forward to making this available to our IT support teams as soon as possible to deliver excellent customer support.”
– Luis Flores, Help Desk Analyst, Tecnet Canada

 

“We’re very pleased with the new release of AVG Managed Workplace and specifically with the improvements with Patch Management and Maintenance releases. Now we’re able to automate more tasks, more easily and provide proactive services to end customers.”
— Elias Grim, Director of Support, Alura Business Solutions

 

As businesses continue to struggle with security and protection, we will continually strive to provide superior products and services that help our customers successfully and securely compete in today’s rapidly changing environment. This latest award from CRN is further recognition that our strategy is paying off. Thank you for your support!