Kaspersky says partner recruitment up 300 per cent in 2013

Russian security vendor Kaspersky Lab has set ambitious goals around growing its presence in the business to business segment this year, and it released figures this week to demonstrate that it’s well on track to meeting those goals.

At the mid-point of 2013, Kaspersky says it achieved year over year overall business growth of 22 per cent in the B2B space, with sales to private sector accounts up 34 per cent. Customer renewals were up 24 per cent, mid-market sales were up 30 per cent and private-sector enterprise sales rose by 121 per cent.

“There’s a reason why we are one of the world’s top four vendors of security solutions and see consistent year-over-year growth—it’s because we focus on what we do best, and that’s endpoint security, said Steve Orenberg, president of Kaspersky Lab North America, in a statement. “We don’t dilute our focus. We don’t try and broaden our portfolio with other solutions. Instead, year after year, we remain laser-focused on strengthening our own technologies to build the best B2B and B2C products in endpoint protection.”

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On the channel front, Kaspersky reports that partner recruitment is up 300 per cent year over year, and deal registration revenue has increased by 20 per cent.

“In 2013, we refocused many of our sales resources, simplified our geographic model and honed in on distinct customer segments and industry verticals. All while remaining 100 per cent committed to providing our partners and customers the best protection from sophisticated malware and cybercrime,” said Chris Doggett, senior vice-president of corporate sales with Kaspersky Lab North America, in a statement. “As a result, we’ve seen banner growth and record sales in the first half of 2013, and we are well positioned to exceed our 2013 sales goals.”

Finally, in the consumer space Kaspersky says it grew unit sales by eight per cent, drew its online business by 28 per cent while improving retention, and captured 30 per cent of US retail unit sales in the first quarter.

Kaspersky will be looking to continue the momentum in the second half of the year when it launches its 2014 lineup of security offerings including Kaspersky Internet Security Multi-Device, which will offer users protection across their device platforms with one license.

Author: Jeff Jedras

A veteran technology and business journalist, Jeff Jedras began his career in technology journalism in the late 1990s, covering the booming (and later busting) Ottawa technology sector for Silicon Valley North and the Ottawa Business Journal, as well as everything from municipal politics to real estate.He later covered the technology scene in Vancouver before joining IT World Canada in Toronto in 2005, covering enterprise IT for ComputerWorld Canada. He would go on to cover the channel as an assistant editor with CDN.His writing has appeared in the Vancouver Sun, the Ottawa Citizen and a wide range of industry trade publications.