WatchGuard partners with Visa for card program

WatchGuard Technologies has partnered with Visa to offer channel sales people WatchGuard-branded credit cards for access to credit and promotions.

On track to launch next month, the so-called Security Pays program offers cash and credit for registered sales and promotions. The program is open to WatchGuard Secure Partners only.

Scott Robertson, ANZ regional director at WatchGuard Technologies, said he was "excited" to offer such a program to partners in Australia and New Zealand "for the first time".

The program was launched on the back of a successful second quarter 2010 for the security vendor, which also announced a holiday promotion for top-performing channels partners.

The WatchGuard Elite 2010 program, launched in July, offered WatchGuard's top partner and reseller performers an all expenses paid retreat to Bali in October.

The program is broken into six categories, including 14 getaway packages across two regions: the Northern (ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory, NZ and Queensland) and Southern regions (Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia). Awards will be announced for each region in early October.

"Our new channel programs complement the changes we successfully introduced last year, including try before you buy, front-end rebates, and deal registration, which continue to add great value for our partners."

WatchGuard reported its most successful quarter on record in Australia experiencing 35 percent growth in revenue in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the corresponding quarter in 2009.

This leap in growth follows the company's launch of its XTM 5, 8 and 10 Series enterprise-class multi-function firewall appliances, the company said.

"So far, 2010 has been a great year for WatchGuard ANZ not only in terms of revenue growth but also in market recognition for our product offering and the ongoing support from our channel who remain loyal and committed," said Robertson.