CloudCare Platform Drives MSPs to AVG's Worldwide Partner Program

Antivirus company AVG has added more than 1,000 new solution providers to its worldwide reseller program, since the company launched its CloudCare platform last November. The cloud-based security management platform from AVG is geared toward small businesses and is part of the company's focus on building its cloud presence as well as trying to attract managed service providers (MSPs) to its partner program.

AVG is sweetening the deal for MSPs by offering a new incentive program for its partners selling CloudCare. The platform, which is available as a free download with a "pay-as-you-go" model, now comes with a bonus for customers switching from competing antivirus programs.

Those customers who switch to AVG from a program from companies like Kaspersky or Symantec will receive free antivirus service from AVG. The incentive is enticing to customers, MSPs and resellers who are looking for ways to get new customers on board.

The free service is only available through the channel, according to Luke Walling, vice president of North American sales for AVG. "We'll match whatever the client is using," he said. "If they're using a competing AV program for the next year, we'll pay for it for the whole year."

The incentive offer covers competitors' antivirus subscriptions through 2014, so customers that recently purchased a two-year subscription will be covered for two full years of CloudCare antivirus service. To be eligible, small businesses must have at least five seats for a consumer-level antivirus program or one seat for the enterprise version. The CloudCare offering is geared toward companies with 100 employees or less.

While the offer is only valid through March 31, that may be extended according to Walling. He added that AVG hopes the program will attract more partners in both the managed services and cloud markets.

"CloudCare is a whole new SaaS direction for AVG," said Walling. "For partners, it's a step into managed security services, and as a cloud platform, it's easy to deploy and use. We are definitely seeing more demand for cloud apps and managed security platforms in the AVG channel, and it's being driven by both partners and their customers."

The CloudCare platform offers cloud-based administration, enabling MSPs and channel partners to remotely manage AVG antivirus and content filtering services across their entire client base. It provides a variety of features, including remote, single-click deployment for installation and deactivation, preset policies, real-time updates, automated upgrades, automatic alerts and customizable reports.