Webroot Launches Into IoT Market With New VP, Security Toolkit For Partners

Endpoint security and threat intelligence vendor Webroot is aiming at tackling the Internet of Things security challenge head on, rolling out a program Tuesday to help partners capitalize on the growing opportunity around securing IoT devices and appointing a new executive to lead the charge.

John Sirianni will now lead the company's push into IoT as vice president of IoT strategic partnerships, including defining strategy and ecosystem development. He brings more than 30 years of experience to the role, most recently serving as vice president of strategic business development at Carrier IQ.

The new toolkit, which is now available, includes software-based device agents to detect data and connect with the company's BrightCloud Threat Intelligence Cloud Platform, integrated threat intelligence services and cloud-based secure Web gateway to inspect and intercept malware.

[Related: IoT Reality Check: How Solution Providers Are Making Money With Internet Of Things Today]

The launch represents the next natural step in the former Web security company's evolution to an endpoint security and threat intelligence company, Sirianni said. Webroot has already established a strong presence on the OEM side, working with companies such as Cisco, HP, F5 and Palo Alto Networks that bring the Webroot solution to market as part of their networking equipment solutions. With this announcement, Sirianni said, Webroot is drilling deeper into the devices themselves.

"Our message to the market is we're open for business. We're taking a model that scales with our OEMs and we're going wider with it," Sirianni said. "We have the technology and the door is open and we're excited to work with our existing strategic partners and engage with others and take the model wherever it makes sense."

To start, the toolkit will target systems integrators and device manufacturers, Sirianni said. For systems integrators, Sirianni said, the toolkit is an opportunity to offer an additional service on top of their products with enhanced features and capabilities to build a competitive advantage. For device manufacturers, Sirianni said, they will be able to set themselves apart from their competition by offering more secure devices.

Addressing this market is critical for both partners and Webroot, as more and more devices connect to the Internet, resulting in an exponential growth in threats, Sirianni said. That is why Webroot has positioned itself to provide the core technology to protect the devices, and an avenue for partners to offer those capabilities focused on critical infrastructure, he said. That push will ultimately trickle down to the consumer, he said.

"The opportunities are enormous," Sirianni said. "We believe that our approach essentially future-proofs any solution that we're in and provides an up-to-the-moment awareness. Who knows where IoT will ultimately develop? ... But we think we have a technology that can grow with it."

While Webroot already has OEM partners using the technology, he said, the company is "actively working" with other partners who are starting to incorporate the solutions in their go-to-market strategy. Those partners will be announced later this fall, he said.

PUBLISHED SEPT. 1, 2015