Mumbai: Symantec is moving to officially integrate its two partner ecosystems following its blockbuster acquisition of Blue Coat Systems with the announcement Wednesday of a revamped Secure One partner program.
Symantec closed on its $4.65 billion acquisition of Blue Coat Systems in August 2016, creating a single vendor with endpoint, email, DLP, data center, cloud security and secure web gateway solutions. The new Secure One partner program, which will take effect April 1, is the latest step to integrate the two companies, said a recent CRN report [Read the full report here].
Symantec launched the first update of its Secure One partner program in September 2015 to position it to be a standalone security vendor after its divestiture of storage business Veritas. Torjus Gylstorff, Vice President of Worldwide Partner Sales said the latest update is focused on bringing together the two partner ecosystems into a program that focuses on predictability, transparency and margins.
The move will not only simplify partnering with Symantec, but also aligns with the transforming vendor and its integrated solution portfolio, Gylstorff told the news site.
The new program features a four-tier model including Registered, Silver, Gold and Platinum. It also boasts only two competencies — Core Security and Enterprise Security.
According to Symantec, the new program features an Opportunity Registration to a front-end discount as well as new opportunities to earn with a Platinum Performance Rebate. Also new is a Renewal Incumbency, initially only available for Blue Coat solutions, but to include additional services at a later time. Finally, the company is enabling partners to submit an unlimited number of activity proposals for partner development funds.
For former Blue Coat partners, the unified partner program provides access to Symantec’s Margin Builder program, with a lucrative discount. Additionally, Platinum partners can earn a Performance Rebate, which is based on specific sales plays, and is calculated on the partners’ growth performance within those sales plays.