Tech Data has formed two new specialised business units (SBUs), Unified communications and Network Security, in a move to further strengthen the go-to-market support its networking product marketing division provides resellers and vendors. The company made this announcement at its 2009 vendor partner summit in Orlando.
The company said that its new Unified communications SBU will encompass a range of communications products, including PBX and IP PBX switches, SIP trunking, IP Fax and hosted PBX; high-definition video conferencing; peer-to-peer collaboration suites; and on-premise software and managed services to deliver fully integrated communications.
According to Tech Data, the Network Security SBU’s team will allow resellers to implement network protection strategies that include, intrusion prevention, encryption, wireless access control, VPN and SSL VPN, firewall, gateway anti-virus, web content filtering, e-mail spam filtering and messaging security.
In addition, the unit will also support network security appliances from vendors like Fortinet, SECNAP, SonicWALL, WatchGuard, and solutions from security vendors like McAfee, Symantec and Trend Micro. The Network Security unit is expected to begin supporting resellers by year end.
The Unified Communications and Network Security SBUs are part of Tech Data’s networking product marketing division, which supports the channel strategies of manufacturers. The division’s broad product offering includes bridges, gateways, routers, switches, security appliances and network management devices, as well as infrastructure hardware, components and accessories.
Reportedly, with this addition the company has four SBUs that include, Network Security, Physical Security, Unified Communications and Wireless. These units offer resellers access to sales, technical, marketing, product management resources, services and support for their applications.
John O’Shea, vice president of networking product marketing at Tech Data, said: “Tech Data is responding to the growing demand for unified communications and network security. Unified communications – the seamless integration of voice, data, messaging, mobility and video over a converged network – delivers new operational efficiencies for end users of all sizes.
“Meanwhile, the network is becoming more exposed than ever with the explosive growth of wireless, mobile devices and demands for access all the time from anywhere. That creates an array of security issues, especially for key vertical markets implementing these technologies like government, education and healthcare that need to protect sensitive information.”
