TrendAI, the enterprise division of Trend Micro, is entering into a strategic partnership with Dutch managed service provider ITXtension. The two companies are focusing primarily on mid-sized organisations. TrendAI supplies the security portfolio, while ITXtension provides advice, implementation and management. ITXtension thereby gains official status as a strategic MSP partner.
The partnership builds on an existing relationship between the two companies. TrendAI focuses on securing AI environments, identities, infrastructure and data. According to the company, large enterprises and governments in 185 countries use its solutions. TrendAI also cites partnerships with companies including NVIDIA, Anthropic, AWS, Google and Microsoft.
Division of roles between vendor and MSP
Under the partnership, TrendAI supplies the technology and specialist expertise. ITXtension acts as IT orchestrator for customers and takes responsibility for defining the security strategy, implementation and ongoing management. The companies state that this gives customers a security offering that fits their existing IT environment and business objectives, without adding complexity for the end customer.
As background, TrendAI points to the growing complexity of IT environments and the rise of AI. According to the vendor, mid-sized companies do not always have the knowledge and capacity to keep up with these developments. The company therefore expects the advisory role of managed service providers to become more important.
Growth through channel partners
The partnership is part of TrendAI’s strategy to expand its position in the Netherlands through specialist channel partners. The company is looking for partners that, in addition to technical expertise, have customer relationships and the capacity to support organisations over the long term.
Arjen Koen, Channel Director Netherlands at TrendAI, says the vendor wants to strengthen its position in the Dutch mid-market by working closely with partners who know the market. According to Koen, the value of this partnership lies in combining TrendAI’s technology with ITXtension’s expertise and services. He also highlights the human factor: in his view, both organisations speak the same language and share the same values, allowing them to make rapid progress. Koen expects TrendAI to reach more organisations through ITXtension.
Overseeing the security strategy
Serge Schulte, Managing Director at ITXtension, sees growing demand among organisations for a partner that not only supplies security solutions but also takes charge of the overall security strategy. According to Schulte, the partnership with TrendAI enables ITXtension to advise customers better, implement solutions that match their business needs and support them over the long term.
ITXtension describes itself as an independent IT orchestration partner and works on the basis of five pillars: Advisory & Services, Digital Workplace, Data Management, Connectivity and Security. For security issues, the company uses ITXtension Security Compass. This approach begins with an assessment of business objectives, policy and the existing IT environment. According to ITXtension, the assessment shows which measures are already working and where the main risks lie.
The findings form the basis of an improvement plan covering security, data protection, compliance and governance. ITXtension says it first makes use of the existing capabilities in the customer’s environment and only adds technology where, in the company’s view, it delivers demonstrable value.
This article was originally published in Dutch on MSP Business. Read the original →
