WGRD Watchguard Technologies

WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:WGRD), a leading provider of Unified Threat Management (UTM) solutions, today announced enhancements and updates to its award-winning WatchGuard Secure Partner (WSP) program designed to make it easier and more profitable to sell the company's line of UTM appliances and security services. Specific features of the program include a new three-tier structure with corresponding discounts and sales volume requirements to reward partner performance. All WSP program members will have access to training materials, webinars, marketing literature and other sales tools to help them improve their performance as an expert network security solution provider. WSP partners also have access to WatchGuard's LiveSecurity Service, which provides fast response vulnerability alerts, expert security instruction, and individualized and self-help customer care. This includes the highly acclaimed SecurityWise sessions, specially designed training modules to help VARs train their customers and end users on the fundamentals of network security. WatchGuard Secure Partners also have access to the Customer Renewal Tool, an online application that helps channel partners proactively manage customer subscriptions for additional security services on WatchGuard's entire product line. "Partnering with WatchGuard has been very rewarding for us," said Jack Safrit, president of Axxys Technologies, a WatchGuard reseller partner. "The company has an excellent UTM product line which addresses some of the most pressing security requirements of the SMB today, allowing us to sell solutions that provide recurring revenue and help us build trusted relationships with our customers. WatchGuard also offers a fantastic remote access solution, the Firebox SSL VPN, which has been very popular with our small business customers." Implementation of this new program is another example of WatchGuard's continued support of its channel partners. Over the last 12 months WatchGuard's channel program has received numerous accolades -- it was praised in the VARBusiness Annual Report Card for the outstanding satisfaction levels it provides its channel partners and received the top ranking in the "Support and Partnership" section for security appliances. WatchGuard was named "Partner of the Year" by 1NService, an innovative group of technology solution companies, and was named "Best SMB Channel Partner" by ASCII, the largest community of independent computer resellers in the world. "We are always looking for ways to improve the way we serve our WSP partners," said David Ridout, WatchGuard vice president of worldwide sales. "With these enhancements to our program, we've increased the potential for profit and made it easier for new VARs to expand their business and increase their network security expertise." WatchGuard's line of Unified Threat Management solutions provides comprehensive security integrating stateful packet firewall, VPN, Zero Day attack prevention, gateway antivirus, intrusion prevention, anti-spyware, URL filtering, and spam blocking, designed to reduce the time and cost associated with managing multiple-point solutions and significantly increase protection from blended network attacks. WatchGuard's UTM solutions provide true Zero Day protection from new and unknown threats such as viruses, attacks, Trojans and spyware through its unique Intelligent Layered Security. WatchGuard's Firebox SSL VPN Gateway is designed to provide dependable, secure access from anywhere, anytime, with no complex reconfiguration, custom application connectors, or development work. About WatchGuard WatchGuard provides network security. The company's Firebox X family of upgradeable appliances delivers the performance, functionality and security strength to meet the needs of organizations of any size. WatchGuard's Intelligent Layered Security protects against emerging threats and provides the platform to integrate additional services offered by the company. All WatchGuard products include a LiveSecurity Service subscription for vulnerability alerts, software updates, expert security instruction, as well as individualized and self-help customer care. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.watchguard.com. WatchGuard, LiveSecurity and Firebox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.