Internet Security Software Can Be A Significant Revenue Generator For Resellers And Integrators

By Robert Gorby, global head of small business propositions, AVG Technologies

The technology landscape in smaller organizations and the resources available to tackle Internet malware are likely to be different from larger enterprises. However, a security breach is far more likely to have a devastating effect on the revenues, or even the survival of a small- to medium-sized business (SMB).

SMBs are increasingly becoming targets for cybercriminals. Consider a recent survey conducted by AVG and GFK showed that 25 percent of SMBs have suffered a security breach, and an astounding 14 percent of companies surveyed still have no online security solution implemented at all. For resellers and integrators focused on the SMB market, it's clear that a tremendous revenue opportunity exists to introduce security software solutions as a core component of your integrated technology offering.

Educating customers on both the importance of online security software and the differences between offerings is the critical first step. While 80 percent of those surveyed were aware of viruses, less than half were aware of internet based attacks, and one in ten were not aware of any threats. At AVG, we have found that nearly 40 percent of small businesses are using more than one security vendor, which provides resellers with the opportunity to consolidate the solutions used by a business to make it easier to manage.