Westcon Middle East Signed as Blue Coat distributor for MENA Region

Westcon Middle East, a leading value-add distributor of convergence, security, networking and mobility products and services, today announced that it has been signed as a distributor for Blue Coat Systems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Blue Coat is a leading provider of Web security and WAN optimization solutions. 

The relationship enables Westcon Middle East to enhance its Web security and WAN optimization solution offerings. As per the agreement, Westcon Middle East will distribute the entire Blue Coat solutions portfolio, including Blue Coat's family of ProxySG Web security appliances, MACH5 wide-area-network (WAN) optimization devices and PacketShaper appliances for network application visibility and control. Westcon Middle East will offer the Blue Coat solutions through its extensive network of resellers and system integrators in the region. 

“Reports of the dramatic rise in cyber crime in the Middle East, which have dominated mainstream media in the past couple months, have made enterprises in the region aware of the importance of a secure network. Partnering with Blue Coat perfectly positions our resellers to address these concerns by offering organizations a host of world-class security solutions”, said Steve Lockie, Managing Director, Westcon Group. 

Blue Coat's 2012 Security Report estimates that in 2012 nearly two-thirds of malware incidents will be launched from existing malware networks (malnets). Search Engines/Portals were the most common entry points used by malnets. Blue Coat also predicts that a typical business will be exposed to at least 5,000 Web-based threats each month. Blue Coat Web security solutions uniquely provide the intelligence of identifying and tracking malnets and defending against them. 

At the same time, companies are struggling to ensure the performance of critical business applications from within their own datacenters as well as those that are hosted in the cloud, In addition more companies want to expand the usage of video and other rich-media content to train, communicate and motivate employees, partners and customers. Next generation WAN optimization from Blue Coat helps companies optimize, accelerate and manage a full range of business applications. 

Commenting on the relationship, Mr. Marc Andrews, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Field Operations, Blue Coat Systems said, “We are delighted to take on Westcon as our new distributor in the MENA region. We are confident that their deep understanding of the market and their excellent technical expertise will greatly strengthen Blue Coat’s reach throughout region.”