SBSC & MSP Buzz

Vendor/Partners - Who Can You Trust? Not Symantec?

As you know, I’ve been a big proponent of partnering with Vendors that are VAR friendly such as Microsoft and CA but when I read CRN today even this one caught me by suprise.  I appears Symantec is doing a Partner End-Run to the Customer goal zone.  Calyptix Security in an email blast this morning cleverly titled “Trojan Alert – Symantec Sacks Partners” said:

Pick your vendors wisely – Symantec Trojan Alert!

Symantec in a classic “Trojan Horse” attack will move away from its traditional partner program in exchange for direct sales in an effort to  ”cut go-to-market costs, ” according to CRN Channel News.  Symantec has already launched an assault against its partners that manage its 900 largest customers and now plans to target YOU as it goes after subscription renewals for SMB customers.  Symantec hopes to automate much of the company’s SMB business.  For many in the industry (hopefully you),  this is not seen as a big surprise. 

This information was shared by executives of Symantec with Wall Street analysts on June 12, 2008 at a private investor conference.  This information was required to be disclosued under Regulation FD - “Full Disclosure” - under the Federal Securities Laws and is accessible through the Symantec WebSite (see page 25).   

For more information from CRN see http://www.crn.com/it-channel/209100062