Riptech Introduces Certified Security Provider Program

Business Wire, Oct 29, 2001

Business Editors

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 2001

Certified Security Provider Program Offers Robust Support for

Organizations Seeking to Resell Real-Time Managed Security Services;

Four New Solution Providers Added, Further Expanding Successful

Program

Riptech, Inc., the premier provider of scalable, real-time managed security services, today announced its Certified Security Provider Program, a comprehensive sales, marketing, training, and technical support infrastructure to support service providers and solution providers who resell Riptech's real-time managed security services. Riptech also announced the addition of four new solution providers to its channel program: The Ergonomics Group, International Technology Partners (ITP), NovaForge, and Structured Communications Systems.

The Certified Security Provider Program is tailored to the unique needs of service providers, including Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and hosting and collocation organizations as well as solution providers with security expertise including systems integration companies and professional services firms. Riptech's managed security services can be integrated into an existing offering to maximize profitability and expand the scope of the service or form the basis of a new service designed to expand market reach.

The Certified Security Provider Program offers a range of features and benefits including:

-- Support for a wide range of best-of-breed firewalls, intrusion detection
systems (IDS), and other security products

-- Extensive marketing support, including joint marketing events and sales
collateral

-- Industry-leading service level agreements (SLA) built on Riptech's
reputation for customer support excellence

-- An aggressive discount pricing structure based on sales volume

-- Dedicated technical and sales engineering support from Riptech's world-class
security experts

-- Extensive sales and sales engineering training led by Riptech security
specialists

-- Close operational integration with existing customer support systems

"The launch of the Certified Security Provider Program and the addition of four new solution providers is further proof of Riptech's unwavering commitment to the growth and success of our sales channel and the strong demand for our real-time managed security services," said Jim Charlton, senior vice president of sales at Riptech. "Riptech's strong support for members of the Certified Security Provider Program, including extensive sales, marketing, and technical assistance, is unmatched in the industry."

Riptech's channel program, launched in March 2001, has successfully supported a variety of service providers through the development and launch of customized managed security offerings. Verio, a subsidiary of NTT Communications and the world's largest web hosting company and leading provider of global IP services, successfully launched its IntelliSecurity managed security service with support from Riptech. Backed by extensive engineering and sales support from Riptech, Verio developed a customized offering of managed and monitored firewalls and IDS designed to integrate closely with Verio's existing portfolio of data center offerings while appealing to its target market segments.

"The extensive engineering support and training provided by Riptech helped accelerate the launch of the IntelliSecurity managed security service and make it a success, " said Matt Williams, director of product management for colocation, at Verio, Inc. "Working with Riptech, we are able to provide a leading security service that meets the rigorous security needs of our customers while integrating smoothly with our existing offerings and customer support infrastructure."

In addition, Riptech announced the further expansion of the program to include four new solution providers, bringing the total to over a dozen. The new solution providers are: The Ergonomics Group, ITP, NovaForge, and Structured Communications. Backed by training, marketing, and sales support, as well as discounts, solution providers resell Riptech's real-time managed security services in combination with their value-added products and services.

"As a leading systems integrator, The Ergonomics Group provides a broad range of solutions to meet the needs of our customers," said executive vice president, Robert T. Girards at The Ergonomics Group. "Riptech's real-time managed security services, in combination with our state-of-the-art network security solutions, provide our customers with the advanced information security protection they require."

"International Technology Partners helps companies streamline their operations by selecting best-of-breed outsourced services, including network security," said H.P. Asghar, CEO at ITP. "The advanced real-time managed security services offered by Riptech provide our clients with the high levels of expertise and service they require, especially when selecting an outsourced provider for an area as critical as information security."