Channel plays an integral part in K7’s growth trajectory

Founded in the year 1991, K7 Computing is providing security to more than 25 million clients worldwide. K7 offers cybersecurity solutions like K7 Total Security, K7 Internet Security, K7 Mobile Security along with Enterprise and SME security solutions like UTM, On-Premise Endpoint Security, Cloud Endpoint Security and MDM. K Purushothaman, CEO, K7 Computing opens up his mind and speaks about K7’s go-to-market strategy, its channel strategy, India market and future roadmap etc.  

In the era of digital transformation, Information security has become a key concern for all business identities and K7 Computing has profound knowledge to figure out the exact security requirements of their valued customers.

CHANNEL STRATEGY 

According to K Purushothaman, CEO, K7 Computing, Channel has always played a critical role in K7 Computing's go-to-market strategy. “To meet the growing security requirements, K7 is actively spreading awareness through various online and offline media formats, and we firmly believe this effort will proactively generate more qualified leads for the channel partners. We also stay close to our partners and help them achieve more revenues all the way. Besides catering superior Cybersecurity solution for our customers, our goal is to help partners get aligned with our Exclusive Partner Program in both Consumer and Enterprise segments,” he says. 

To reach the goal of expanding and maintaining a nationwide network, K7 keeps partners motivated and involved in every stage of the business. While the K7 team interacts widely with the industry, their revenue route lies solely through the network of K7 authorized partners. In line with this, K7 Computing invests significantly in developing and enhancing partner relationships and engages with them on an ongoing basis for a fruitful and symbiotic relationship.

Purushothaman comments, “K7 computing recently launched a Partner Incentive Scheme for the enterprise partners and revamped its tiers to address the Channel business more closely. However, K7 marketing team keeps on reviewing the programmes from time to time on how well they are doing. Since there is scope for improvement, we keep on improvising and making changes to these programmes.”

MARKET EXPANSION 

K7 Computing has a strong foothold in all the prime markets in India and is also increasingly focusing on entering in unexplored markets, and consolidating its presence in the tier-II, tier-III and tier IV cities. Purushothaman cites, “Both of our consumer and enterprise business is majorly driven through our distribution and channel partner network. We always try to maximize our Tier-III/ Tier-IV partners base to ensure our product availability in every IT shops and partners place. To activate the last-leg partners in the consumer segment, K7 is executing a loyalty program called "Virus Hunter," in coordination with Compuage Infocom as its national distributor.”

K7 & COMPUAGE

Since the last 27 years, K7 Computing has built its success on the back of long-standing industry and partner relationships. K7 Computing is gratified for all its distributors, resellers, retailers and users who have played a significant part in the journey. Having a strong Channel ethics, K7 computing has achieved a stable distribution network through its national distributor Compuage Infocom, which has strengthened K7’s position in the Indian market.

Discussing on Compuage’s relation with K7, Purushothaman comments, “We have an ongoing relationship with Compuage for over a decade. And I would like to appreciate the strength and robustness of its Channel Distribution & Network across the Indian market. Also, K7 Computing in association with Compuage is planning to arrange training programs for the consumer segment Bag engineers and system engineers to spread the best possible knowledge about the product. It serves to help our partner network ready to handle the most pressing needs of the customers in India.”

K7 Computing is also increasing its partner base in every city and town in India to meet the demands of the customers, and it can be foreseen that cybersecurity industry would grow manifold in next few years as people are more aware and conscious about the cybersecurity nowadays. That will fuel more to the cybersecurity business.

Growth plan for 2019-20

Talking about K7 Computing’s growth plan, Purushothaman depicts that they are on the right track of growth.  He gives the full credit to K7's never-ending zeal for securing their valued customers from all sorts of security challenges and threats. He claims, “We have also grown to a market share of 23% in India, giving the realization that we are on the right track of growth. In addition to our decent business through the Channel, we recognize the trend of online consumerism. K7 has taken a focused approach towards the online sales, support and services to the consumers. K7 Computing has also grown its roots in the Enterprise segment pan India in the previous year, and in a short span, we were able to create a strong impact in this segment through our products and solutions awarded by the top testing bodies in the world.”

AT LAST

Confirming about the new product Purushothaman concludes, “This year we are planning to launch a dedicated product for the Small Office Home Office (SOHO) category. This product is aimed at providing cost-effective enterprise-level security to the growing SME segment. Realizing the huge skill gap in cybersecurity expertise, which is hobbling the entire IT industry, K7 Computing has also established K7 Academy to create future cybersecurity experts. We have tied up with some of the services companies which have been recruiting from this academy. K7 Computing, the first indigenous cybersecurity product company is now also aggressively keen on establishing itself in new geographies this year.”