2012 Channel Champions: Network Security Software
By: Antone Gonsalves, CRN
Kaspersky Lab, on the strength of its technical scores, topped the charts in the Network Security Software Channel Champs category. Kaspersky, which did not make last year's list, beat competitors in each of the subcategories, scoring highest in technical satisfaction. Within the subcategories, Kaspersky scored highest for product quality and reliability in technical satisfaction, with its lowest score in product margins, SPIFs and rebates in the financial factors rating.
In support satisfaction, Kaspersky had the highest scores in evaluation and demo equipment policies, and education and enablement, slipping only in postsales and presales support, and general availability of technical training.
Kaspersky, Trend Micro and McAfee all had overall ratings higher than the 2010 winner Novell (NSDQ:NOVL), indicating that the bar was raised this year. Last year's winner, Novell, was not included in the ranking this year because an insufficient number of its partners responded to the survey. The same was the case with Check Point and Symantec. Trend Micro rose from fifth last year to take the No. 2 slot from McAfee, which fell to third.
