Avnet Technology Solutions and Palo Alto Networks™ Strengthen Their Partnership with Comprehensive Training Programme

Palo Alto Networks leverages Avnet Technology Solutions' proven training methodology to support resellers and boost business growth

Brussels, Belgium, 15 May 2012 - Avnet Technology Solutions, a global IT solutions distribution leader and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced that they are launching a comprehensive training programme for Palo Alto Networks™ resellers in UK, Germany and across EMEA. The agreement will strengthen the existing distribution partnership between the two companies while creating new opportunities for channel partners looking to target the high-growth network security market.
Palo Alto Networks™ delivers next-generation firewall solutions that help organisations improve visibility and control of network traffic while ensuring secure access to applications, users and content. The training programme will enable Palo Alto Networks to enhance its level of support for new resellers and channel partners while optimising business development opportunities and market reach.
Based on Avnet's proven training methodology and industry expertise, the comprehensive training curriculum will leverage in-depth market insight and practical workshops to help channel partners incorporate Palo Alto Networks' technology into integrated data centre solutions. The training, aimed at security engineers, network engineers and IT support staff, will be delivered in the local country as well as on-demand.
Professionals attending these classes will gain an in-depth knowledge of how to install, configure and manage their Palo Alto Networks firewall, as well as configuration steps for the security, networking, threat prevention, logging and reporting features of the Palo Alto Networks Operation System (PAN-OS).
"Palo Alto Networks offers best in-class next generation firewall solutions. This technology will help channel partners across EMEA drive business growth in the network security market," said Anthony Greenhalgh, director of supplier acceleration, networking and security, Avnet Technology Solutions, EMEA. "The training programme will enable Palo Alto Networks to leverage our understanding of local markets and sound technology expertise to build additional routes to partners across EMEA."
"We are very excited about the partnership with Avnet Technology Solutions", said Brett Eldridge, vice president of global customer engineering & support at Palo Alto Networks. "Avnet's comprehensive training programme and distribution network will provide our channel partners with best-of-class support to enable them to quickly gain an in-depth understanding of our product portfolio and the network security market."
The training programme is currently being rolled out in territories across EMEA from Avnet's UK Resource Centre. Contact traininguk@avnet.com or visit our website to book a course.
About Palo Alto Networks™
Palo Alto Networks™ is the network security company. Its next-generation firewalls enable unprecedented visibility and granular policy control of applications and content - by user, not just IP address - at up to 20Gbps with no performance degradation. Based on patent-pending App-ID™ technology, Palo Alto Networks firewalls accurately identify and control applications - regardless of port, protocol, evasive tactic or SSL encryption - and scan content to stop threats and prevent data leakage. Enterprises can for the first time embrace Web 2.0 and maintain complete visibility and control, while significantly reducing total cost of ownership through device consolidation. Most recently, Palo Alto Networks has enabled enterprises to extend this same network security to remote users with the release of GlobalProtect™ and to combat targeted malware with its WildFire™ service. For more information, visit www.paloaltonetworks.com.
About Avnet Technology Solutions
As a global IT solutions distributor, Avnet Technology Solutions collaborates with its customers and suppliers to create and deliver services, software and hardware solutions that address the business needs of their end-user customers locally and around the world. For fiscal year 2011, the group served customers in more than 70 countries and generated US $11.5 billion in annual revenue. Avnet Technology Solutions (www.ats.avnet.com) is an operating group of Avnet, Inc.
About Avnet
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 2, 2011, Avnet generated revenue of $26.5 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.
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