Symantec Partner Management Console Available

As part of its ongoing commitment to Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Symantec Corp. announced several new cloud capabilities, including the availability of the Symantec Partner Management Console.

It is a tool designed to simplify the management and monitoring of Symantec Endpoint Protection.cloud and Symantec Backup Exec.cloud through a single web-based portal.

Late last year, Symantec announced its MSP strategy to enable service providers to differentiate their services, maximize opportunities and accelerate profitability in a competitive market. Symantec has released the new console which provides features and functionality for MSPs making it easier and more cost effective to deliver and manage security and backup solutions as managed services.

Additionally, new integrations with Kaseya Int’l Ltd., LabTech Software, Inc. and Level Platforms, Inc. extend Symantec’s relationships with these remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform providers,

Partner Management Console
for Managed Service Providers
The Partner Management Console for Symantec.cloud services allows partners to monitor and manage their customers using Backup Exec.cloud and Endpoint Protection.cloud through a single console hosted in the cloud by Symantec. The console enables fast customer set-up, provisioning of customer accounts, conversion of trials and management of subscriptions to reduce administrative overhead, drive growth and accelerate profitability. The console also enables partners to provide customized and branded usage, status and security reports, reducing the costs of managing multiple customers and services.

New Integrations with RMM Platforms
For established MSPs, Symantec has added new integrations with several market-leading RMM platform providers. The Backup Exec 2012 Management Plug-in 1.1 for Kaseya enables partners to leverage the combined data and application protection capabilities of Backup Exec with the management and remote monitoring capabilities of the Kaseya management solution. The plug-in lets Kaseya users monitor and manage Backup Exec servers in the customer environments remotely from within the Kaseya Virtual System Administrator (VSA) console. With this plug-in, Kaseya MSPs can ensure all systems are functioning and within compliance standards and take proactive action when needed without incurring the costs associated with visiting a customer site.

In May, Symantec announced the availability of the Endpoint Protection Management Plug-in 1.5 for Kaseya, which positions MSPs to be more profitable and efficient by keeping endpoints updated, being proactive in responding to and fixing issues, and monitoring their customers’ environments from a single console. Both Kaseya plug-ins are available at no cost to registered partners on Symantec PartnerNet.

Symantec is also extending its MSP reach through integrations with Level Platforms and Lab Tech Software.

Symantec and Level Platforms announced their second integration with the release of the Endpoint Protection Service Module (Backup Exec has had integrated RMM support with Level Platforms for more than a year). From a single dashboard, MSPs can access up-to-date information on the health of all their customers’ endpoint protection deployments providing more efficient service for monitoring, managing and troubleshooting their endpoint protection infrastructure on the Level Platforms RMM platform.

Lab Tech Software announced Symantec’s partnership in LabTech’s Technology Alliance Partner Program (TAPP). Through Symantec’s participation, existing and future Symantec customers will be able to leverage the LabTech Software RMM platform to deploy, set up, manage and monitor backup and endpoint security across multiple domains, customers and offices from a single console and location.

ExSP Licensing Program for .Cloud Services
Another benefit to MPSs is the availability of Endpoint Protection.cloud and Backup Exec.cloud through the ExSP licensing program, a pay-as-you-go model which offers partners flexibility to buy software in a monthly subscription-based model and rewards service partners for their growth by reducing licensing costs as their volume of business increases. The ExSP Licensing Program is open to qualified service provider partners enrolled in Symantec’s Partner Program and requires no upfront licensing or support costs. Backup Exec 2012 and Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition (SBE) are also supported through this program.

Partners enrolled in Symantec’s SMB Specialization program now have access to partner-only support, providing them access to more qualified technical support professionals and enabling them to manage costs and maximize profits. SMB Specialization provides opportunities for SMB partners that display knowledge and experience in a solution area or market to drive predictable, profitable growth.

Pricing and Availability
Partners interested in the free Partner Management Console, available in English, are encouraged to check with their distribution partner to ensure availability of Endpoint Protection.cloud and Backup Exec.cloud in their region.

ExSP licensing for Endpoint Protection SBE and Endpoint Protection.cloud ranges from $1.11 to $1.35 per user per month. Backup Exec 2012 ranges from $31.44 to 36.66 per server per month and Backup Exec.cloud costs $ 3.20 per 10 GB per month.

Symantec offers several programs that provide financial incentives, technical support, sales and technical enablement, along with demand generation and marketing tools.

"As many of Symantec’s partners transition their businesses to a managed service provider model, Symantec’s commitment to MSPs delivers more opportunities to drive greater profitability and efficiency, and an improved customer experience for all types of service providers," said Stephen Banbury, VP, channel and alliance marketing, SMB and .cloud, Symantec.

"The combination of the Kaseya IT Systems Management framework and Symantec’s Backup Exec solution represents a key opportunity for IT professionals. The Symantec plug-in module for Kaseya is another example of the growing demand for seamless centralized systems management and further adds to Kaseya’s ecosystem. The Symantec Backup Exec plug-in extends the overall functionally of the Kaseya system for centrally managed backup and recovery from within a single pane of glass," said Jim Alves, EVP OEM & Strategic Initiatives, Kaseya.

"Working with Symantec, a leader in backup and security solutions, we can differentiate our services, maximize opportunities in the market and drive profitability better than ever before. Symantec listens to the needs of the MSP market and continuously delivers solutions to meet those needs. With our latest integration, we are positioned to offer market leading protection to our partners backed by the trust that Symantec is known for," said Matt Nachtrab, CEO, LabTech Software.

"MSPs face a daily stream of information about their client’s IT infrastructure that they need to prioritize and react to in real time. We designed our Service Module architecture to ensure that vital information from critical tools, such as Symantec Endpoint Protection, is presented to the MSP within their regular workflow in Managed Workplace. Compared to competing approaches, our collaboratively designed Symantec Endpoint Protection Service Module delivers a fully integrated solution with complete alerting capabilities, customizable reporting, simple installation and integrated workflows," said Gordon Rielly, CTO of Level Platforms.