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Frequently Asked Questions
What are McAfee Partner Security Services?
McAfee® Partner Security Services are an exclusive channel offering to value-added service providers interested in expanding their profit margins and product offerings by providing security software-as-a-service to their small business customers. As a value-added provider, a McAfee partner can secure and monitor their customers using a single McAfee management console, while increasing their opportunities to generate more revenue.
From a small business customer perspective, Partner Security Services are a trusted way for companies to outsource their security management, freeing up valuable time and resources.
How do Partner Security Services fit into the McAfee SecurityAlliance?
McAfee SecurityAlliance™ is the channel program that offers partner benefits for the resale of McAfee products
and services, including McAfee Total Protection for Small Business.
Partner Security Services allow our partners to provide their own IT consulting along with the centralized management value found in Total Protection for Small Business. Partners simply offer our web-based service offerings within McAfee SecurityAlliance to sell and monitor desktop, file server, or email filtering solutions to their small business customers without additional investment in hardware and software.
Where can I get more information on Partner Security Services?
Visit http://www.mcafeepss.com for in-depth information on McAfee's Partner Security Services.
What value would Partner Security Services bring my business?
Through Partner Security Services, value-added providers can remotely manage and monitor customers' security deployment. Partner Security Services cover desktop protection, such as anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall activity, and provide asset management and email protection against spam, viruses, phishing, and more. With McAfee SecurityCenter, a free web-based management and reporting portal, a partner can evaluate risk and security concerns for each customer. By offering Partner Security Services, a reseller provides a complete managed solution, which builds customer loyalty and increases opportunities for additional services and product sales to the reseller's customers.
Partner Security Services provide reseller opportunities to expand their small business market by:
- Implementing a hassle-free security solution with Total Protection for Small Business
- Deploying highly effective and automated email filtering with McAfee Secure Messaging Service™
- Increasing value-added opportunities, revenues, and profit margins
- Offering enhanced services to increase average revenue per user
- Collecting on recurring revenue
- Improving loyalty from existing and new customers with a subscription-based software-as-a-service
Why are Partner Security Services valuable to customers?
Partner Security Services providers can assist small business customers with the immediate deployment and protection of their Partner Security Services solutions—providing an instant, strong, and well-defined security policy. With a partner's value-added 24/7 technical services, a customer can be supported around the clock and leave the security management hassles to a trusted partner.
Are there any fees associated with Partner Security Services?
Partner Security Services require no provider fees to participate. McAfee makes this exclusive offering available to expand revenue opportunities for our partners selling McAfee's hosted services. Using McAfee solutions, resellers provide the value-added services of installing and monitoring a small business customer's security. Partner Security Services can create partner opportunities to generate more revenue from small business customers as resellers may opt to charge end users a monthly fee for the value-added security service.
Do partners have to join Partner Security Services
in order to resell Total Protection for Small Business?
No, partners looking for an easy-to-sell small business security solution can offer Total Protection for Small Business or Total Protection for Small Business—Advanced as a standalone solution to customers wanting to monitor their own security environment. Simply continue to submit orders using the Total Protection for Small Business or Secure Messaging Service SKUs along with the customer's email address.
What are the key features and benefits of McAfee Partner Security Services?
- A unique small business solution—Partner Security Services provide a fast solution for small businesses that is web-based, easy-to-install, easy-to-use, and updated automatically, providing a unique small business solution
- Recurring revenue stream and renewal rates—Offering high renewal rates, Total Protection for Small Business
is a subscription service, sold in one- and two-year license agreements
- Low cost of sale—No hardware or software cost to the reseller. Instant provisioning means no overhead stock, no inventory to hold, and delivery is faster than your competitors who do hold stock
- Remote monitoring/visibility—Centralized management for an unlimited number of customers allows resellers to view forensic information to offer security advice
- Easy product knowledge—McAfee eLearning offers online training and certification for sales and technical staff
Target Profile
What is the profile of an ideal reseller for the Partner Security Services?
Partner Security Services are ideal for value-added resellers (VARs) looking to offer a complete security solution to their small business customers. A target reseller profile includes:
- McAfee SecurityAlliance partner
- Provides value-added IT services to customers
- Sells McAfee hosted services
- Targets new customers and small businesses
Who is the ideal customer for Partner Security Services?
Partner Security Services bring hassle-free solutions to small businesses looking for peace of mind in protecting their networks. The ideal customer is a small business lacking the resources to manage daily security updates. Candidate characteristics may include:
- Always-on, Internet-connected users that are vulnerable to security attacks
- Security management that distracts from core business
- Limited or no IT resources or security expertise
- Limited security budget
- Decentralized small offices
- Remote and traveling employees
- Needs visibility into protection
- Needs easy-to-acquire and affordable solutions as an initial cost and total cost of ownership
Why would customers need Partner Security Services if most of their desktops already have protection?
Partner Security Services alleviate the technology challenges facing the customer's core business. They automatically keep all security services up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest threats. The remote monitoring and reporting are valuable security tools for partners to examine and advise customers to keep their networks safe and in service.
What type of customer support is available in Partner Security Services?
Partners offering Partner Security Services to their customers will serve as the first point of contact to address customer support, either for sales or for technical assistance. McAfee will provide second and third lines of support to remedy open customer concerns.
Pricing and Availability
How much can I charge customers for Partner Security Services?
With Partner Security Services, a reseller simply sells Total Protection for Small Business and Secure Messaging Service to a small business customer. It is the reseller's decision to charge a nominal monthly or annual fee to customers for the additional value-added services.
When and where is the Partner Security Services program available?
Partner Security Services participation is currently available in North America, Latin America, Europe, and in various parts of Asia.
What McAfee solutions and SKUs are offered in Partner Security Services?
McAfee offers three solutions to be partner-managed within our Partner Security Services program, available in various one- and two-year SKUs.
| Total Protection for Small Business-Advanced: 1:1 Gold |
TSAECE-AA-XX |
| Total Protection for Small Business-Advanced: 2:2 Gold |
TSAFCE-AA-XX |
| Total Protection for Small Business 1:1 Gold |
TSBECE-AA-XX |
| Total Protection for Small Business 2:2 Gold |
TSBFCE-AA-XX |
| Secure Messaging Service for Small Business 1:1 Gold |
SMSECE-AI-XX |
| Secure Messaging Service for Small Business 2:2 Gold |
SMSFCE-AI-XX |
What is McAfee Total Protection for Small Business?
This solution is designed for small businesses (typically fewer than 100 nodes) that need desktop and server anti-virus and anti-spyware and a desktop firewall. Security updates are automatic and reporting and configuration control is delivered through a centralized, web-based management console.
What is McAfee Total Protection for Small Business—Advanced?
In addition to the desktop and file server protection against viruses, spyware, and hacker attacks, Total Protection for Small Business—Advanced adds proactive email protection by integrating Secure Messaging Service for Small Business (protecting against spam, phish, email viruses, directory harvest attacks, and more), as well as McAfee GroupShield,® for virus protection for a customers' Exchange server. The target market is also typically fewer than 100 nodes.
What is McAfee Secure Messaging Service for Small Business?
Secure Messaging Service for Small Business automatically protects your email from threats like spam, phishing, viruses, and more. Optimized for small to medium-sized businesses, there is no hardware or software to purchase.
Partner Security Services Process
What are the requirements to join Partner Security Services?
Partner Security Services require:
- McAfee SecurityAlliance partner membership
- Signed McAfee Partner Security Services Reseller Agreement
- Two resources to train on Partner Security Services
- Partner commitment to provide value-added services to small business customers by offering continued management and monitoring of the web-based reports on behalf of the customer
What is the process to join the Partner Security Services program?
Current McAfee SecurityAlliance partners should contact their channel account managers regarding Partner Security Services. To get started, enrollment forms are available at
https://secure.nai.com/us/partners/channel/become/
enrollment_form/BecomePartnerShort.asp
What does the McAfee Reseller Agreement require a partner to provide?
The McAfee Partner Security Services Reseller Agreement requires a partner to deploy the Partner Security Services solutions, and manage and monitor a customer's web-based reports in good faith on behalf of the customer. Partner creates an email address in the format below as a Partner Security Services ID (PSS ID) to order product and to receive license correspondence.
| Partner Location |
PSS Email Format |
| Americas |
mcafeems@partnerdomain.com |
| Europe |
mcafeemsEMEA@partnerdomain.com |
| Asia |
asap@partnerdomain.com |
Why is it necessary to create a PSS ID?
Partners shall set up and maintain an email account under the company domain associated with the McAfee Managed Services and using the recommended email address formats. This email address will be known as the partner's PSS ID. Along with each customer's email address, the PSS ID must be used to submit all orders that require partner remote monitoring to ensure correct provisioning and single management under the Partner Security Services program.
Can I register a PSS ID with a POP3 email account like Yahoo.com or AOL.com?
No. Partners must own their own business mail domains. Due to the inability of its uniqueness to represent our partners, McAfee will not accept PSS IDs in the format of POP3 email accounts. The PSS ID must be in an email domain that is owned or controlled by the partner and may not contain a domain that allows third parties to set up email accounts, such as MSN.com, AOL.com, Yahoo.com, Google.com, or Hotmail.com.
What is the Partner Security Services certification process?
McAfee requires two Partner Security Services sales training certifications per participating reseller.
What does the required Reseller-to-Customer Agreement define?
The customer assigns the right to access the web-based reports to the reseller. The reseller-to-customer agreement requires that the customer understand that he or she is giving up rights to monitor reports to his or her local reseller. This agreement is strictly between the Partner Security Services provider and the end user, and McAfee holds no legal responsibilities.
How does Partner Security Services work?
Once a reseller has become a SecurityAlliance partner, here are five quick steps for Partner Security Services success:
- SecurityAlliance partners join by signing the additional Partner Security Services agreement that describes the remote management service and commitment to customers
- Reseller signs the McAfee Reseller Agreement and returns it to McAfee Sales
- Reseller creates a PSS ID email address to submit Partner Security Services orders to McAfee
- McAfee creates a unique Partner Security Services account with the partner-created PSS ID.
- McAfee provides a not-for-resale license of Total Protection for Small Business—Advanced for internal use, demo, and trial usage
- McAfee resellers offer Partner Security Services as a complete, managed security solution to their small business customers.
- Partners order the McAfee solutions, using the SKUs previously listed, for their customers, using the resellers' PSS ID AND the customer's email address
- Reseller sells Partner Security Services to its sub-100 customer base
- Use standard SKUs listed, one- or two-year subscriptions
- Reseller has customer sign Partner Security Services Customer Agreement, in which customer agrees to reseller's access and monitoring of the web-based reports. Reseller keeps the Customer Agreement
- Partners assist customers with the security deployment.
- Reseller receives Total Protection for Small Business provisioning information via email on behalf of customers and assists customers with installation and configuration
- Reseller categorizes each customer as a unique group in the McAfee SecurityCenter web reporting portal; the email accounts are automatically provisioned for each customer as a separate group
- Installation can occur onsite by the reseller or can occur by forwarding the installation URL to each customer
- Reseller constantly monitors reports and quarantines, and advises customers of any security and updating issues identified.
- Partner leverages relationship in customer account and upsells additional products and services
What is a not-for-resale kit?
Along with collateral and co-marketing efforts, McAfee offers all certified resellers in the SecurityAlliance program a free, 20-node not-for-resale (NFR) account of Total Protection for Small Business—Advanced to the Partner Security Services provider. The NFR account may be used for in-house demonstration.
How do I order products to be remotely managed under the Partner Security Services program?
A certified Partner Security Services provider simply orders Total Protection for Small Business or Secure Messaging Service using its specific PSS ID and the customer's email address.
Remote Partner Management
Does it matter what email address is used when installing the Total Protection for Small Business solution used with Partner Security Services?
No, the email address used to install Total Protection for Small Business simply identifies workstations in the SecurityCenter. Using an email provides a hotlink to the principal user. However, any description may be entered in the field or left blank.
What is the significance of creating a Partner Security Services ID email address?
The PSS ID email address is a naming convention used as a database key to consolidate partner orders. Please note that it is necessary to include the customer email address as well as the Partner Security Services email address in all Partner Security Services orders.
Are there default security settings for the installation of Total Protection for Small Business?
Yes, Total Protection for Small Business is installed with default security settings. The partner distributes the Total Protection for Small Business to their customer's Microsoft® servers, desktops, and laptops. Total Protection for Small Business features a pre-configured, on-access scanner with an on-demand scanner available for scheduled scans. Total Protection for Small Business automatically checks to update and upgrade itself each time the system is rebooted and at regular intervals. Total Protection for Small Business uploads date status and malware detections to the McAfee Network Operations Center (NOC), producing security reports on virus, spyware, and firewall protection, per desktop and server that are viewed by the partner to advise the customer.
How are reports and configuration options viewed?
The McAfee SecurityCenter is accessed via SSL at the McAfee web site, http://www.mcafeeasap.com. Partner Security Services allow partners to remotely view and monitor the reports. Reports can be downloaded in Word, Excel, or Notepad format. McAfee SecurityCenter reports provide virus forensics on update status, detection history, and asset management.
Secure Messaging Service and the email portion of Total Protection for Small Business—Advanced are accessed at login.mcafee-sms.com. There you will find your customers' set up in individual groups, with default email policies assigned to each. You can add or delete users, view reports, and review quarantines, as well as perform any other functions through this portal.
Can a partner easily view account subscriptions per customer?
Yes, with the McAfee SecurityCenter, the web-based management portal, partners have access into each customer order based on profile, grant number, and account licensing terms. Easily track all orders for upcoming renewals or account maintenance.
How do I create groups of customers in the Partner Security Services reports?
The McAfee SecurityCenter has menu options to create groups of multiple customers and move machines with point-and-click ease.
Are the Partner Security Services reports easy to read?
Reports are easy to read, providing summary and detailed information to pinpoint risk concerns. Visit http://www.mcafee.com for more information on Total Protection for Small Business SecurityCenter reports.
Can the reports be co-branded?
Yes, Partner Security Services resellers can customize the reports to better market to small business customers. Simply log in to the McAfee SecurityCenter and upload a reseller logo to customize the look of the reports. Then, using the SecurityCenter, you can instantly send co-branded infection reports direct to all your customers.
The Quarantine Summary emails that are sent to end users by Secure Messaging Service can be branded with the Partner Security Service partner's logo. Please refer to the online help for instructions.
What upsell information could the Partner Security Services reports provide?
Partners may recommend additional services or products, such as operating-system patch deployment, firewall configuration changes to reduce risk, hardware improvements, or procedural changes. The partner services can be for goodwill or revenue.
Is there flexibility in the time period required to view Partner Security Services reports on behalf of the customer?
The essence of Partner Security Services is for a reseller to provide value in security monitoring and management to their customers. The daily monitoring outlined in the Partner Security Services Reseller Agreement is to ensure that the value-added service is provided to customers routinely. The agreement to the monitoring is the responsibility of the reseller to his or her customers—any flexibility in viewing Partner Security Services reports will be contingent on the customer and partner agreeing to an established time frame.
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