Merisel Resells McAfee’s ASaP Solutions

Merisel, Inc. , a distributor of software licensing products to resellers in the U.S., and network security solutions provider, Network Associates , yesterday announced that Merisel will offer the McAfee ASaP family of managed services to resellers.

The new agreement means that Merisel will host the Web-based services, which include gateway and desktop anti-virus, firewall, and vulnerability assessment services, in their Security Operations Center (SOC).

McAfee says in addition to extending its online anti-virus managed service offering to Merisel’s reseller partners, its traditional software and hardware solutions will give resellers the opportunity to move into the growing online managed security services market.

“Merisel recognized that the market is moving beyond software and hardware solutions to include on-line services,” says Traci Barnett, vice president of sales and marketing at Merisel.

“We are extending our partnership with McAfee because they have been a pioneer in the area of security services, and they offer comprehensive security services for corporate users in an online delivery model that offers management, updating and detailed reporting,” she explains.

McAfee argues that its ASaP services move beyond traditional software and hardware solutions and are understanding of the fact that often information technology administrators do not have the internal resources to implement and manage solutions, and ensure they are protected.

McAfee’s services are delivered via the Internet and are updated by McAfee to ensure automated protection against evolving security threats.

“Merisel has the robust IT infrastructure, customer-centric business approach, and nationwide coverage to be a valuable hosting partner,” says Michael Menegay, McAfee’s vice president of channels and alliances at Network Associates.

“Their experience will enable them to take the lead in moving beyond traditional software and hardware solutions, working with resellers across the nation to remove the burden of security management for the end-users and placing it in the hands of the experts,” he says.

Merisel will begin delivering the McAfee ASaP online managed anti-virus and firewall services in the first quarter of 2002.