Let’s cut to the chase: not all VARs are created equal. Some are invaluable partners, while others can be more trouble than they're worth.
You might be wondering, “Where’s the added value? Am I getting a better deal, or is the cost just hidden somewhere? Aren’t they just creating extra complexity?”
Maybe you’re not convinced. We’ve sorted through endless Reddit questions from security professionals like you, to shed some light on the true value of VARs.
REDDITOR: Where’s the “added value” coming from?
Misconception: VARs are just middlemen looking to make a quick profit.
Truth: While some VARs may prioritize short-term gains, reputable VARs are strategic partners invested in the long-term success of their customers.
Look, there will always be people looking for a quick buck. Let's be honest, we’ve all experienced a sales-first sales guy. 🤮
A top-tier VAR is your one-stop shop for all things cybersecurity. Imagine having a single partner to:
✅ Manage all your renewals: No more juggling multiple contracts and renewal dates.
✅ Negotiate the best pricing on your behalf: Benefit from a VAR's buying power and industry relationships.
✅ Tailor solutions to your exact needs/budget: Receive customized recommendations and pricing to fit your organization's unique requirements.
✅ Ensure you’re up-to-date on the latest solutions: Stay ahead of the curve with access to the newest cybersecurity technologies and trends.
✅ Provide expert implementation and support: Get the most out of your investments with seamless deployment and ongoing assistance.
✅ Act as a trusted advisor:Receive guidance on your overall security strategy and best practices.
With a deep understanding of your security stack, they ensure you have the right tools without overspending. Their technical experts can troubleshoot complex issues, integrate new solutions with existing systems, and guarantee compliance.
Essentially, a VAR becomes an extension of your team and helps you build a cohesive security stack that works seamlessly for your organization.
We know you don’t have time to handle it all, so we do our best to manage the time-intensive details, so you can focus on what really matters– protecting your organization.
REDDITOR: Am I actually getting a better deal? 🙄
Misconception: Using a VAR is more expensive than buying directly from vendors. They just give customers a “fake” discount.
Truth: Yes, you are. VARs often offer competitive pricing, bundled packages, and potential cost savings through efficient implementation and support.
VARs get greater discounts from vendors that aren’t eligible to customers otherwise. That savings to the VAR is then split with the customer leading to more savings, less risk on the vendor, and business for the VAR.
Top-tier VARs help organizations save time and money in more ways than an initial discount:
- Optimized Solution Build-Out: By understanding your specific needs, VARs can recommend the most suitable cybersecurity solutions, preventing overspending on unnecessary features or products.
- Reduced Implementation Costs: VARs possess the expertise to streamline the implementation process, minimizing labor costs and downtime.
- Long-Term Cost Management: Through ongoing support and maintenance, VARs can help identify potential issues before they escalate into costly problems.
REDDITOR: Why would a vendor sell through a VAR? Why not just go direct?
Misconception: Vendors use VARs solely to increase profit margins and pass the buck to customers.
Truth: Vendors often partner with VARs to expand their market reach and help them maintain close relationships with customers.
Effective VARs handle the day-to-day interactions with customers, from account management to billing inquiries.
Effective VARs are invaluable assets to vendors. By managing the complexities of larger customer bases and assuming financial risk, they allow vendors to focus on growing without losing customers. This mutually beneficial partnership drives growth and customer satisfaction.
At Castor Security, we're passionate about finding the perfect fit for our clients. Unlike many VARs who claim to be "vendor agnostic" but often lean towards opportunistic partnerships, we're selective about the solutions we offer.
Our commitment to excellence means we only partner with industry-leading innovators. We have strong opinions about what constitutes the best in cybersecurity, and we're not afraid to share them.
That’s why we only recommend solutions that we truly believe in.
REDDITOR: What’s in it for the VAR?
When a VAR is motivated by their customer’s success, they benefit from long-term partnerships, repeat business, and referrals.
At Castor Security, we live by our core values. Our team is committed to delivering exceptional solutions that meet these essential criteria:
- Efficacy: The tools have to work. We prioritize solutions with a proven track record of delivering real security results.
- Ease: Security shouldn't slow you down. We focus on user-friendly solutions that are easy to procure, implement, manage, and get support for.
- Affordable: Budget matters. We work within your constraints to find solutions that deliver value without breaking the bank.
We’re all stronger together against the bad actors.