PGP strikes partnership with Avnet for new SMB offering 7 April, 2009 By Liam Lahey

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Under the agreement, Avnet will distribute the PGP Encryption Platform and Solutions to VARs in North America. Together, PGP and Avnet will provide industry-specific security solutions and services that address the growing customer demand to holistically protect their core asset: data.

Named the Whole Disk Encryption Workgroup Edition, the product is built off of the enterprise version of PGP's platform, PGP Universal. It provides small offices and divisions within large organizations with an easy-to-use, whole disk encryption application for laptops and PCs at an entry-level price, the company said. IT managers with less technical experience can now have enterprise-grade encryption to protect their most sensitive data from malicious insiders/outsiders and from accidental loss.

The PGP Encryption Platform provides the ability to centrally manage and automate data security policies by application, as well as location -- no matter where the data resides. Recognized in the market as the de-facto standard for encryption, PGP Solutions enable SMBs and large enterprises to safeguard their business and personal data, as well as comply with industry and regulatory compliance mandates.

PGP's new distributor relationship with Avnet will enable the company to tap into new markets and extend its core customer base, said John Dasher, director, product marketing, PGP. Avnet is a key VAD for storage companies such as EMC and the largest reseller of IBM's Series i platform in the U.S.

PGP said it is reinforcing its commitment and investment to the channel by announcing an enhanced global channel strategy that involves new recruitment, enablement and loyalty programs.

"PGP has always been selling through channels or indirect routes to market," said Lee Finck, senior director, worldwide channel sales for Menlo Park, Calif.-based PGP. "We've moved this year from 68 percent to over 80 percent of revenue driven through the channel and in '09 our plan would be to get to 90 percent or above.

"Our partners are becoming more self-sufficient and the makeup of those partners is moving towards the higher end of the value delivery scale."

Meanwhile, designed for environments with 10-150 users, the PGP Whole Disk Encryption Workgroup Edition is comprised of the Whole Disk Encryption Controller management application for Microsoft Windows and PGP Whole Disk Encryption client software. PGP Whole Disk Encryption Controller is a simple, intuitive management console that can run on the customer's Windows system and does not require any additional servers or databases -- only basic Windows administration knowledge is needed.

At $99 (US) per seat, small businesses can focus on innovating and growing their business, while the PGP Whole Disk Encryption Workgroup Edition transparently protects employee, partner and customer data, so that they can maintain compliance and safeguard their brand and customer trust, officials added.

For more information, go to www.pgp.com.