IDC Study: Microsoft security partner programs succeed in making partners more profitable

IDC and Microsoft released, today, a study that shows that the Microsoft Partner Program is enabling security partners to be more successful compared to programs from other vendors. The study finds that partners participating in Microsoft’s SSA and SSC programs experience over one-third higher profit margins, three times more revenue growth, one to four points lower sales and marketing overheads, and are getting four to five times more customers.

The study, commissioned by Microsoft, attributes partners’ success to Partner Program including the investments and enhancements Microsoft made to its partner ecosystem in July 2007, including a $50 million+ investment in sales, marketing, and training and the SCC program.

Microsoft also announced that, to date, over 6,000 partners have joined its SSA program, and the company is making additional enhancements to the SCC program.

The complete IDC study is available here.

For more on the results of the study and the new program enhancements, visit www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2008/jan08/01-14securitypartners.mspx.

For more on the security partner ecosystem enhancements announced at WPC in July 2007, visit https://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2007/jul07/07-11hassallqa.mspx.