Check Point Channel Chief: Avanan Acquisition Gives Partners New Opportunities

Check Point Software Technologies is bolstering its cloud email security capabilities with the acquisition of Avanan.

The companies have signed a definitive agreement that will ultimately integrate Avanan’s features into Check Point’s Infinity consolidated security architecture.

The deal expands an existing relationship between the companies. Check Point had already been using Avanan’s products as an OEM for the last three years. Now it made sense for Check Point to officially bring Avanan into the fold, given the proliferation of email-based cyberthreats. According to APWG, phishing attacks doubled in 2020.

Check Point’s Dorit Dor

“More and more businesses are moving to cloud-email platforms, and with email becoming a major channel to launch devastating cyberattacks, this acquisition represents a huge potential as organizations are looking for a new approach to email and collaboration suite security,” said Dr. Dorit Dor, Check Point’s chief product officer. “By integrating Avanan into Check Point Infinity, organizations will be able to modernize legacy solutions with email security as a service and protect cloud email and collaboration suites from the most sophisticated attacks.”

Six-year-old Avanan developed an API that uses artificial intelligence to keep malicious emails from reaching the inbox. Now it can harness Check Point’s scale to reach “all sizes and geographies,” CEO and co-founder Gil Friedrich said.

Avanan’s Gil Friedrich

“Avanan’s journey to reinvent email security is starting a whole new chapter. By merging with Check Point Software, we are combining Avanan’s … AI that catches the sophisticated email-borne attacks everyone else misses, with Check Point Software’s unparalleled security capabilities and threat intelligence,” Friedrich said.

They did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction.

Check Point maintains its headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel, while Avanan operates an R&D center in Tel Aviv.

Channel Impact

The deal also brings together two companies that have increased their investments into the indirect sales channel in recent months.

Check Point bills itself as a 100% channel-driven company. Last year it announced a cloud distribution marketplace partnership with Ingram Micro and Arrow, and it recently has been working to enhance its deal registration system. Avanan in June announced its first channel program, which caters to VARs, MSPs and MSSPs.

Frank Rauch, Check Point’s head of worldwide channel sales, said partners have responded positively to the acquisition news.

“Partners continue to embrace our Harmony solutions and messaging,” Rauch told Channel Futures. “The Avanan acquisition expands the revenue, profitability and managed services opportunities for the Check Point partner community.”