Mindware, one of the leading value-added distributors (VADs) in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), has announced that it has signed an agreement with ESET, a global provider of information security software, to offer the entire suite of the vendor’s business products to enterprises across the Middle East.
The latest deal builds on the existing partnership between the two companies that extends to Saudi Arabia, which saw the distributor successfully grow ESET’s business and market share in the Kingdom.
In terms of the agreement, Mindware will target enterprise customers, small and medium businesses (SMBs) and government organisations through its expansive channel network.
Nicholas Argyrides, General Manager – Gulf, Mindware, said: “Remote working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented security challenges to organisations across the Middle East. Cybercriminals are exploiting the fact that companies are still scrambling to put the right security technologies and procedures in place. There has been a surge in cybercrime since the start of the pandemic with countries like the UAE for example witnessing a 250% increase in cyberattacks in 2020. Unfortunately, this trend is unlikely to subside this year.”
Argyrides added that ESET with its wide array of world-class solutions including end-point security and multi-factor authentication, has been helping organisations across the globe with their data protection requirements as part of their Digital Transformation initiatives. “This partnership signing strengthens our security portfolio. We are excited to offer our channel partners and their customers ESET’s award-winning security solutions that ensure protection of company endpoints, business data and users,” he said.
Argyrides said Mindware will focus on the entire suite of ESET business products, with emphasis on increasing regional adoption of the company’s end-point detection and response solutions and other key technologies like cloud sandboxing and threat intelligence.
In addition, the distributor will help the security vendor penetrate deeper across all industry verticals. “There will be more emphasis on sectors like financial services, healthcare and utilities, due to inherent industry-specific vulnerabilities and risks, causing them to be a target of COVID-19 themed scams,” Argyrides noted.
Demes Strouthos, General Manager, ESET Middle East, said: “We are immensely excited to partner with Mindware. Over the years, the distributor has developed an intimate knowledge of the market and understanding of both, the partner and the end client needs. We believe they are seamlessly well-placed to on-board and support a fast-growing reseller base for our company in the Middle East. ESET is among the top cybersecurity vendors in the world, recognised by several independent agencies like Gartner, Radicati and Forrester amongst others for its technical capabilities year after year. We are certain that with our technology and advanced solutions, channel partners will be able to drive better business and higher margins.”