Avnet Strengthens Security Presence Through Links With RSA

Following the expansion of its security and networking solutions division in Emea last June, Avnet Technology Solutions has announced extensions to its distribution agreement with RSA.

The distributor will be releasing products in the UK, France, Belgium and Luxembourg. Italy and Spain will also be included following Avnet’s relaunch of its business there following the Magirus acquisition in 2012.

Going Dutch

As part of EMC, RSA manages organisational risk for many of the world’s leading organisations. Avnet’s Emea Competence Centre in the Netherlands will be the focus of the two companies’ efforts. This will cover safeguarding mobile access and collaboration, preventing online fraud, and defending against advanced threats.

Steve Wheeler, channel sales director at RSA, said, “Avnet’s proven expertise for helping resellers target growth opportunities and deliver complete business solutions aligns with our business strategy for channel development. Avnet’s new security business model and strong positioning in the data centre will help RSA address new partner and market opportunities.”

Miriam Murphy (pictured), Avnet’s senior vice president for enterprise sales and marketing across Emea, commented, “Our existing distribution agreement with RSA continues to expand in Europe, which means we’re well positioned to address additional high potential growth markets. We will continue to help security partners, such as RSA, develop and manage new business models for security technologies as the market evolves.”

Avnet’s new security & networking solutions (SNS) division in the Netherlands was opened this quarter as an integral part of nurturing channel opportunities.  The centre will act as an Emea hub for delivering value across the region. The Commercial Competence Centre will be backed up locally by Avnet’s specialists to provide the necessary support in this highly complex and technical marketplace.

“The launch of our new division in this high growth, strategic market for security and networking is a natural fit to complement our extensive Emea partnerships in this space. By leveraging our resources, value-added services and skills we can help partners enter or expand in this complex marketplace, accelerating their time to market,” said Graeme Watt, president of Avnet Technology Solutions in Emea.