Kaspersky Lab Launches MSP Managed Security Partner Program

Kaspersky Lab has launched a managed security services partner program for MSPs. The partner program enables MSPs to provide Kaspersky's remote security monitoring, virtualization security and mobile device security and management services to customers.

By doing so, the program can help MSPs attract new customers in the small and medium-sized (SMB) markets and support existing customers who want to outsource all IT functions to a trusted third-party, Kaspersky said in a prepared statement.

Kaspersky has been experimenting with MSP partner programs since at least 2012. ChannelE2E's content team witnessed some of the early MSP partner gatherings and discussions during Kaspersky's annual partner summits in the 2012 and 2013 timeframes.

Although Kaspersky has a strong channel partner following, the company never quite perfected its MSP approach during those early efforts. Meanwhile, rivals such as Sophos and Webroot have developed massive MSP followings, and entrenched giants like McAfee and Symantec also are upping their MSP efforts.

A Closer Look at the MSP Partner Program

The Kaspersky partner program ensures MSPs can add security services to their existing portfolios or become managed security services providers (MSSPs). It provides various incentives to MSPs, including:

In addition, MSPs can choose between cloud and on-premises models and offer customers "a full range of services to protect all types of corporate devices and appliances," Kaspersky indicated.

"Our program provides the necessary training, resources and access to cutting-edge security solutions to make it possible for MSP partners to completely secure the customer infrastructure," Michael Canavan, Kaspersky North America's senior vice president of B2B sales, said in a prepared statement.

The initial phase of the Kaspersky MSP partner program is now available in North America and Europe.

Will Cybersecurity Spending Top $1 Trillion?

Now may prove to be an ideal time for MSPs to add IT security services, as global cybersecurity products and services spending is expected to increase over the next few years.

Cybersecurity researcher Cybersecurity Ventures noted the global cybersecurity market was worth $3.5 billion in 2004. Meanwhile, the worldwide cybersecurity sector is expected to total $120 billion this year – a 35x increase since 2004.

Also, Cybersecurity Ventures has projected global spending on cybersecurity products and services will surpass $1 trillion from 2017 to 2021.

Additional insights from Joe Panettieri.