Security vendor Kaspersky has extended its reach into the UK public sector, announcing a strategic partnership with Civica Services.
Civica is a major provider of consulting, software and services for the public sector. The partnership will mean that public sector organisations will be able to purchase Kaspersky security software at discounted rates.
UK higher educational institutions working with Civica will also be able to receive further discounts thanks to being part of Kaspersky's 'Chest Agreement'. This offers preferential prices on software and information licensing to universities and colleges.
Chest Services is run by not-for-profit IT group Eduserv, which aims to provide leading edge technology to educational institutions and public sector bodies. Kaspersky will also run technical support.
"Public sector organisations face the same threats and challenges to their IT networks security as commercial businesses," said Simon Geach, sales director UK and Ireland with Kaspersky.
"Kaspersky Lab has achieved success in the public sector and now, working with Civica, there is great potential to capitalise on an even wider market reach and further grow revenues for both companies."
IT PRO has already reported on some of Civica's work in the public sector and education. Last November, the group signed contracts worth 50 million to provide ICT services for the next decade.
Ray Guidice, director of strategic sales and relationships at Civica Services, said: "Together we are able to deliver even the most complex public sector IT network infrastructures with the most scalable and comprehensive protection available on the market today."
