Check Point Software Technologies recognised the success of its leading African channel partners at its annual African Check Point Partner Day and Award Ceremony, held virtually on March 25.
Pankaj Bhula, regional director of Check Point Africa, says: “We are very proud, appreciative and thankful for each and every one of our partners. In 2019 we saw some amazing growth and amidst the challenges of 2020, our partners continued to deliver.”
Partners continue to be a key pillar in Check Point’s strategy for growth. In 2020 alone, Check Point and its partner ecosystem rolled out the Jumpstart Training to over 2000 students in Africa, starting in places such as rural Tembisa and Diepsloot, South Africa. In the same year, over 1291 certifications across the partner ecosystem were awarded, ensuring best practice learnings. These corporate social responsibility projects and Check Point’s diversity position reflect the true demographics of the continent, as we deliver the most relevant solutions in the cyber-security space.
“I want to personally thank the hundreds of partners who provided amazing feedback and showed confidence in Check Point. This is the year of responsibility and we have the opportunity to provide cyber-security solutions across the continent,” he adds.
Matthew Barker, head of channels: Africa presented the partner awards in various categories, including:
| Award | Winner |
| Most Engaged Partner, 2020 | Lumenave International |
| Growth Partner, 2020 | Infosystems MU |
| SMB Partner, 2020 | Mitakyo (MK) ICT Solutions |
| BTP Partner, 2020 | Data Group IT |
| Cloud Partner, 2020 | Sybyl Limited |
| MSSP Partner, 2020 | Syrex (Pty) Ltd |
| CCSP Partner, 2020 | Reportstar Technologies |
| Salesperson, 2020 | Hannah Wachira – Dimension Data, East Africa |
| Security Engineer, 2020 | Alexandre Cipriano – Data Group.IT, Angola |
| Distributor, 2020 | Westcon Group, Inc. |
| Partner, 2020 | Reportstar Technologies |
Barker says: “last year has shown the real strength in relationships that we have with our channel partners and created stronger bonds, both professionally and personally. Working together with our loyal partners has enabled us to combine our skills and strengths, making our go to market approach stronger and creating a better experience for our customers.
“We can expect to see further investment in services across the continent, further investment into resources including people and programs designed to enhance our partners’ position and our customers’ outcomes for safe and agile security,” he adds.
Enterprises have accelerated their digital transformation programs and changed IT priorities in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has increased their cyber risk exposure and increased the complexity of managing employees remotely.
“With a surge in sophisticated cyber-attacks, the need for securing businesses and remote workers has become the number one priority. It is up to us to redefine the role of cyber-security in 2021,” says Rafi Kretchmer, vice-president: product marketing at Check Point.