Since Gartner officially defined Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) in 2019, many organisations have eagerly embraced this next-generation solution. SASE allows organisations to elevate existing problems, with simplicity, reliability, flexibility and automation. As many organisations turn to the cloud to streamline, consolidate, and secure their entire networks, SASE has become an increasingly vital resource.
Eyal Webber-Zvik, VP of Product Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Cato Networks, told IT Security Guru ahead of the 2024 EMEA Partner Summit that Cato has SASE “in its DNA.” So, what’s next? For Cato Networks, it is MSASE (Managed Secure Access Service Edge) and the announcement of their cutting-edge Cato MSASE Partner Platform.
The Cato MSASE Partner Platform provides channel partners with a new way to quickly deliver and profit from managed SASE services. Partners have access to both Cato Networks’ experienced insights and knowledge, providing them with vendor-level control over the platform. Not only this, but the platform is fully customisable, allowing partners to deliver highly differentiated managed SASE services effectively and efficiently. The Cato MSASE Partner Platform provides partners with a consolidated platform that soothes multiple pain points, including delayed and complicated go-to-market strategies.
The world of managed SASE is a minefield for channel partners, especially when it comes to profiting from these services. Notably, many offerings labelled as ‘SASE’ consist of multiple point products marketed as a single solution. This means that partners are expected to stock, integrate, and train on diverse technologies at significant cost when it’s not consolidated on a single platform. Given that the typical tech cycle is three to five years long, the installation and training required for such a volume of diverse technologies is costly, financially and otherwise. Additionally, partners are often expected to troubleshoot problems that arise themselves.
So, what sets Cato’s MSASE partner platform apart?
According to Cato’s senior team, it’s “helping partners to be the best possible partners” by providing a solution that allows partners to focus on customers. Additionally, Cato Networks strives to be a channel first organisation that empower customers to sell.
Firstly, Cato’s MSASE platform aims to help partners deliver excellent customer service through seamless integration and access to vendor-level insight and tools. One such feature is the centralised multi-tenant partner dashboard, where channel partners can manage the complete customer lifecycle from planning through deployment and into production. Similarly, the dashboard enables channel partners to easily view customer account status, including risk exposure and license expiration, and take immediate action. This visibility also allows partners to identify upsell opportunities.
Additionally, the platform is designed to enable partners to quickly enter the market and begin profiting from managed SASE services almost immediately after installation. Within the platform is an optimised go-to-market engine that helps partners quickly build out new managed SASE services and/or incorporate SASE into their existing managed services. Partners can also take advantage of pre-sales and sales enablement tools, as well as ready-to-use market campaigns that help get to market quicker.
Channel partners also can reap the benefits from Cato Networks’ market-tested proof-of-concept process, which includes free trial accounts, staging tools, and rapid deployment playbooks. This approach accelerates the speed at which partners can monetise and acquire new customers without needing extensive internal support. As a result, partners can effectively capitalize on the booming SASE market.
