ZyXEL, (Wokingham, Berks, UK) a leading supplier of networking and communications solutions, is creating more potential for its partners to accelerate their security sales with the latest firmware upgrade for its ZyWALL USG (Unified Security Gateway) family of appliances.

The ZLD3.0 firmware upgrade delivers major enhancements, including IPv6 certification and additional network protection against the emerging cyber threats and intrusions. Like all ZyXEL security upgrades, it is being made available free of charge to all ZyXEL accredited resellers. Partners can subsequently offer the upgrade as an additional service to customers or as an integral part of existing maintenance or management agreements.

Antony Byford, Channel Sales Manager, UK & Ireland, ZyXEL

Antony Byford, Channel Sales Manager, UK and Ireland for ZyXEL, says it’s a good opportunity for resellers to revisit existing customers and to underline the superior value delivered by ZyXEL USG appliances. “Over the lifetime of a security appliance, ZyWALL USG appliances deliver great value to customers and exceptional margin-making potential for resellers. Unlike many vendors of security appliances, we provide our regular upgrades at no charge to our partners, leaving them free to decide whether they wish to pass on the cost advantage to customers or to include the regular upgrades as part of their own network and security management service offerings. Either way, it enables them to deliver more added-value and improved TCO to the customer – and to compete more effectively for new business.”

ZyXEL issues firmware upgrades for its ZyWALL USG once every quarter, with major upgrades taking place every six to twelve months. This ensures the appliances are kept fully up-to-date and capable of dealing with the latest unified threats to networks. Many vendors charge a standard subscription fee for regular firmware upgrades which can, over the expected lifetime of the appliance, amount to almost as much as the initial capital cost of the products. For customers with a number of appliances, this can mean significantly higher operational costs.

Importantly, all ZyWALL USG products come with firewall and VPN capabilities provided as part of the standard functionality. The ZLD3.0 firmware provides enhanced VPN configuration features and support for running VPN connections on iPhones, Android-based smart phones and other mobile devices.

ZyXEL has been offering free training courses for resellers keen to obtain its ZyXEL CNE Level 1 Security accreditation and is planning to step up its recruitment programme over the next few months. Completing the course, for which the normal charge is £300, qualifies resellers to sell and install the ZyWALL USG solutions as an accredited as a ZyXEL Solution Partner. Qualified partners also have access to additional discounts, account management, preferential support, and exclusive promotions and offers.

Resellers that are interested in learning more about the ZLD3.0 firmware upgrade for the ZyWALL USG family should contact ZyXEL’s partner account management team on 01189 979 7277 or email sales gaj zyxel.co.uk. More information on the ZyXEL Partner Programme can be found at www.zyxel.co.uk/partprog.

About ZyXEL Communications UK

ZyXEL Communications UK Ltd, is the UK subsidiary of ZyXEL Communications Corp. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Taiwan, ZyXEL is the leading provider of complete broadband access solutions. As one of the early modem manufacturers, ZyXEL has undergone many transformations in the fast-paced networking industry and today, ZyXEL is one of the few companies in the world capable of offering complete networking solutions designed for telco, SME/enterprise and digital home users in a wide range of deployment scenarios. Telco solutions include wired and wireless access network equipments, networking customer premises equipments and carrier switches; SME and enterprise solutions consist of Unified Security Gateway, LAN Switches, WLAN, and IP telephony, while digital home solutions come in a variety of network connectivity devices and multimedia solutions. The company has 3200 employees and distributors in 70 countries, reaching more than 150 regional markets. The ZyXEL Communications Corp. owns 33 subsidiaries and sales offices, as well as two research and development centres worldwide.

Source: ZyXEL, Channel EMEA