New Netsurion Program Helps Partners Meet Global Security Standards

**Editor’s Note: Click here for a list of August’s important channel-program changes you should know.**

Network security provider Netsurion has launched a new partner program to expand the reach of its Brand Guard offering to as many merchants as possible.

Netsurion’s cloud-managed IT security services protect small-and medium-size businesses’ information, payment systems and on-premises public and private Wi-Fi networks from data breaches and other risks posed by hackers. The new program, titled PROTECT, is in addition to its existing partner program.

Chris Melson, Netsurion’s president, tells Channel Partners the new program focuses on ensuring partners can meet PCI Security Standards Council requirements to protect their point-of-sale (POS) business from potential liability resulting from a customer data breach.

“Netsurion has a strong base of partners, including some of the largest POS resellers in the industry,” he said. “The demand for our services continues to grow through the channel, especially from among smaller regional resellers where PCI compliance is becoming a big issue for their customers, and protecting their customers’ credit card data is becoming paramount.”

The program brings an increased focus on protecting the reseller as well as their customers, not just ensuring PCI compliance, but “going beyond PCI compliance to ensure that a brand is secure and safe from external and internal threats,” Melson said.

“The risk of a security breach among Level 4 merchants continues to increase and with the changes in PCI, resellers incur a higher risk of liability from a breach as well,” he said.

Level 4 merchants include those with fewer than 20,000 Visa or MasterCard e-commerce transactions annually, and all other merchants processing up to 1 million Visa or MasterCard transactions annually.

PROTECT includes two levels, standard and preferred, with sales and marketing benefits tiered according to need. Resources include: pricing structures and sales incentives to maximize profits and create sustainable revenue; quarterly webinars and customized training; trade show marketing support; co-branded marketing materials; and more.

“The PROTECT Partner Program is designed for both small resellers that do not wish to provide support for PCI and are looking for a partner to handle PCI support, as well as larger resellers that take first call for their customers,” Melson said.

PROTECT now is available to Netsurion’s current ecosystem of partners, which includes Retail Data Systems, DUMAC Business Systems, Apex Digital Solutions and others.

“Security has become a C-level priority in the boardroom, across the industry and across companies large and small,” said Drew Clausen, Retail Data Systems’ vice president. “Netsurion’s proven security technology and services allow us to expand our sales by protecting our clients’ networks and customer data.”