WatchGuard® Technologies, a global leader in extensible network security and connectivity solutions, has appointed Sydney-headquartered Harbour IT as a new Australian Expert Partner.

Harbour IT is a national IT solutions organisation with extensive experience in all areas of IT. The combination of WatchGuard’s technology leadership in network security appliances with Harbour IT’s extensive reseller network and value-added services means that organisations will receive the best network security solution on the market with the most comprehensive set of services and support available.

At the same time, the partnership will increase WatchGuard’s presence in Australia through Harbour IT’s extensive customer base, allowing both companies to better meet the growing demand for unified threat management (UTM) appliances.

Recently, RAMS Home Loans worked closely with Harbour IT in reviewing its infrastructure and helped determine the optimum combination of security products which included WatchGuard’s Firebox X Peak™ 5500e Unified Threat Management appliances.

"Harbour IT is a trusted security partner to Australian organisations and their reputation speaks for itself.  We've enjoyed working with Harbour IT and we’ve collaborated and shared ideas on the current state of network security. Our award-winning products are a great addition to Harbour IT’s products and services and we look forward to further developing this relationship,” said Scott Robertson, Regional Director Australia and New Zealand, WatchGuard Technologies.

WatchGuard supports its channel with dedicated, proactive account management, direct-touch sales assistance and access to its engineering, support and marketing specialists.

As a WatchGuard Expert Partner, Harbour IT will be able to leverage WatchGuard’s sales leads, deal registration, generous discounts, rebates, and marketing funds having previously achieved technical certification and sales authorisation, met sales targets and acquired new customers.  WatchGuard also provides Expert Partners with a successful onsite and online curriculum for sales and technical training.

“Our vision is to build a successful IT services company that provides a proven and reliable range of solutions for managing and maintaining customer IT infrastructure. Data loss, botnets and SQL injection attacks are all on the rise and this partnership will allow Harbour IT to better serve local organisational need for forward-looking protection through WatchGuard’s UTM solutions.  

“Harbour IT is a perfect strategic fit for WatchGuard because it understands that in order to optimise business processes, organisations must first protect their data. This partnership will allow organisations to easily escape from their outdated security technology to the no nonsense protection of the WatchGuard range of extensible network security solutions,” said Scott Newell, NSW Sales Manager, Harbour IT.

“By having the right mix of localisation, in-country experts and superior network security offerings, Australian customers stand to gain a new and compelling choice through Harbour IT to better protect their business networks in 2009,” said Robertson.