EMC's RSA security division offers new channel incentives 23 June, 2009 By Liam Lahey

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"RSA is extending the global wave of stimulus spending to our valued RSA SecurWorld partners," said Joe Gabriel, director of worldwide channel marketing for RSA. "Just as global stimulus packages are helping to fuel economic growth, the RSA SecurWorld Stimulus Rebate Program is designed to provide further incentives for our channel partners to develop additional sales opportunities amid the sometimes grim economic and market conditions."

RSA SecurID technology is comprised of a broad range of hardware and software authenticators that provide end users with a one-time password that changes every 60 seconds, as well as its software engine -- RSA Authentication Manager -- which scales to support millions of users and provides the benefit of technical certification with more than 300 products. RSA SecurID authenticators include hardware and software authenticators as well as on-demand authenticators that provide strong authentication using familiar devices that users already have.

"The need for authentication solutions is heightened during difficult economic times when enterprises worldwide are more susceptible to the threats of insider fraud and data theft," continued Gabriel. "RSA SecurID technology protects access to customers' critical information and directly enables them to plan around business continuity. This incentive program is designed to help our channel partners provide profitable security solutions to their customers."

Paul Myerson, senior channel analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group, said the rebates would help RSA's channel to focus on solutions important to their customers.

"In tough economic times, the budget dollar only goes so far," he said. "They're looking to help their mutual partners focus on the right solutions . . . the channel is going to gravitate towards that which is most profitable as long as their customers have the need."

"The rebates will help keep RSA attractive to its partner community and keeps them in the forefront of security solutions," added Michelle Warren, principal analyst, MW Research & Consulting. "While security solutions are critically important in today's corporations, and are often built into the budgets, there is also a tendency to cut back on spending right now and IT can take the hit. RSA -- EMC -- is taking a leadership role in (combating this by) offering price incentives to its partner community."

Warren also noted RSA's SecurID is available for the Apple iPhone, but it draws criticism as not being 'as easy to use as on the Blackberry'. Regardless, SecurID is going to have to have a seamless integration with the iPhone, particularly as more IT departments are forced to integrate iPhones.

"One of the benefits of this announcement could be increased application development for the Apple platform/iPhone product," she said.