The benefits of partnering with us, and our partner-exclusive event
IT Governance launched its partner programme in 2017, which now includes more than 400 organisations.
To recognise and celebrate all our partners’ contributions, on 9 April 2024 we’ll be presenting awards and prizes to both organisations and individuals in a partner-exclusive, in-person awards ceremony.
What else can partners expect from the event? And why should organisations consider partnering with IT Governance?
We put those questions to channel sales director Sophie Sayer.
Tell us a bit about what you do for IT Governance
I’ve been head of channel since December 2019, though have worked for the Group since October 2009. My job involves putting together the annual budgets, managing the channel team, and building relationships with partners and end clients.
I took the reins just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which was a difficult time. Leading a team through such uncertainty required resilience and adaptability. My channel team rose to the challenge admirably.
Over the past five years, we’ve continued to serve our existing MSPs [managed service providers] and have gained new networks and relationships. In more recent months, we launched the channel partner programme in Europe and America, with training and security testing proving especially popular.
What is it that makes IT Governance special? And why should organisations partner with us?
We are the market leader in data privacy and cyber security risk management solutions, so it makes sense to partner with us. Our portfolio includes a broad range of integrated, high-quality solutions that we can deliver worldwide, and we always aim to meet organisations’ real-world needs.
We’re proud of how much our partner programme has developed over the past six years. We have 400 registered partners, and this number is growing month on month.
When you partner with us, you get full access to our data privacy and cyber security offering of consultancy, training, penetration testing, staff awareness courses, software, tools and books. You can also sell and deliver these products and services to your clients with our full support. Registered partners get a 10% discount on all our products, as well as two Complete Staff Awareness E-learning Suite licences.
I’m incredibly excited about the opportunities ahead. With the increasing demand for a preventive approach to cyber security, more and more organisations are outsourcing their security to MSPs.
How can organisations partner with IT Governance?
There are many different ways – we recognise that every partner is looking for something a little different, and we look to meet their needs.
But to give you an example, one of our partners, Tela Technology, an IT and telecoms solutions provider, was unable to offer ISO accreditations for its clients – something that could be a dealbreaker for certain clients with specific legal or business requirements. IT Governance was able to support Tela Technology with those and other clients, and they highly recommend working with us in a video case study.
Whatever the specifics, partnering with us gives you access to our full, large suite of products and services, which gives organisations a chance to expand their business, boost their sales and increase customer loyalty.
To find out more about becoming an IT Governance partner, and the different ways you can do so, please get in touch by emailing partnersupport@itgovernance.co.uk.
Do you have a lot of face-to-face contact with partners?
Our account managers are on the road every month to visit partners. The main objective is to educate their sales teams about new products and/or services. Once a year, we also like to get all our partners in one room at our annual partner event.
Our next event is on 9 April 2024 in our Ely training centre, and it’s free to all our partners. That’s another benefit of partnering with us.
Tell us more about the event
This year’s event is the biggest yet! One highlight for me is that, for the first time ever, we have our very own author, Bridget Kenyon, doing the keynote speech. She has more than 20 years of experience in information security, and has been contributing to international standards since 2006. She was also in the PCR’s top 25 Women in Tech in 2018.
Excitingly, for the first time since launching the partner programme, we’re going to be recognising our partners’ achievements through our awards. We’ve got 14 categories, including partner of the year, the Cyber Essentials partner award, best newcomer, and many more.
As always at our events, we’re also going to be educating our partners about our products, as well as discussing key changes in the industry. So this year, for example, the PCI DSS v4.0 deadline will be cropping up, as well as new developments like DORA and Europrivacy [Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, Digital Operational Resilience Act, Europrivacy™/®].
The event will be an opportunity to get everyone up to date and – the bit I personally am most looking forward to – get all our partners in the same room and have a lot of meaningful discussions.
Also, if any of our partners want to be involved in presentations, in panel discussions or with sponsoring opportunities, please get in touch with me at ssayer@itgovernance.co.uk. We’re always keen to learn from our partners!
Where can people find out more about partnering with IT Governance?
The brochure about our partner programme, available on our website, is a good place to start.
Alternatively, organisations eager to partner with us, or that simply want to find out more about our partner programme, can get in touch by emailing partners@itgovernance.co.uk or phoning +44 (0)333 800 7000. We’re always happy to help!
