Avnet Technology Solutions Launches SecurePath™ to Accelerate Partner Growth in Lucrative IT Security Market

New SolutionsPath™ Practice Includes Education, Security Assessment Services and Enablement Programs to Help Partners Quickly Generate Revenue and Develop Specialized Market Expertise

SAN FRANCISCO -- Avnet Technology Solutions, the solutions distribution leader and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today at RSA Conference 2009 (Booth 1051) launched SecurePath™, a new practice developed to accelerate the success of its reseller partners in the IT security market. SecurePath focuses on enabling U.S. and Canadian partners to deliver strategic solutions that help their customers create secure infrastructures, meet regulatory compliance requirements and reduce costs. Additionally, Avnet will help partners drive business through security assessment services.

“According to IDC survey research, the economic downturn affects security spending the least when compared to other IT areas,” said Christian A. Christiansen, program vice president of security products and services with industry analyst firm IDC. “This market offers tremendous potential for resellers, especially considering that security spending is expected to reach $82 billion by 2012 with a 14% compound annual growth rate. To successfully pursue this opportunity, resellers must understand the nuances of the security market and how to develop complete solutions that are specifically tied to their customers’ business challenges.”

SecurePath helps partners build and expand their security market expertise through a unique portfolio of services and training programs, along with access to experts and technology from industry-leading suppliers. The practice is designed for varying levels of partner experience, including partners developing practices and experienced partners looking to expand their capabilities to offer complete, cross-supplier solutions that address core end-customer IT security and compliance needs. SecurePath features:

Avnet SecurePath University: Based on Avnet’s proven university education model around the healthcare, government and virtualization markets, SecurePath University is a three-day course that provides partners with the in-depth market expertise needed to effectively target the security market. The training curriculum combines real-world knowledge of the security industry with critical technology and sales skills development.

Security Assessment Services: Offered through Avnet OneTech™ Services, six security assessment services are available to SecurePath partners to help them develop business and augment existing staff to deliver complete security solutions. The services include: a security health check, external vulnerability assessment, internal vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, Web application scanning and Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance services.

“Avnet SecurePath provides Clear Technologies, Inc. with a solid approach to the security market because it gives us the tools we need to begin generating revenue in this space immediately,” said Phil Godwin, vice president of sales, Clear Technologies, Inc. “The security assessment services provide us with an automatic door-opener to begin discussions with our customers based on concrete analyses of their environments. By being able to demonstrate customers’ security vulnerabilities in a safe atmosphere and present complete solutions to overcome the challenges, we’ll be in an excellent position to become trusted advisors to our customers and lead them to a buying decision quickly.”

SecurePath focuses on the areas of highest spend in the security market, including security and vulnerability management, Web and messaging security, network and endpoint security, identity and access management, and compliance needs and security services. It is the fourth practice launched under Avnet’s SolutionsPath™ methodology, which powers Avnet’s dedicated vertical and technology practices that help partners target specialized, high-potential markets such as government, healthcare, virtualization and now security.

“Security is top-of-mind with IT leaders, especially as threats continue to focus on endpoints, which are often less secure, and as regulatory controls become more stringent,” said Martin Koren, director, security solutions practice, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. “Avnet invested in SecurePath to ensure that our partners understand their customers’ security challenges. Through SecurePath, resellers can access the services, expertise and resources they need to profitably pursue security opportunities.”